Football
A family of team sports using only the body to move a ball.
Football refers to a group of team sports where the main goal is to move a ball across a goal line, into a netted goal, or between upright posts, using only the body—by carrying, throwing, or kicking. Without further qualification, the term typically points to the most popular version in a given region. The sports commonly called football include association football (often called soccer in places like the United States, Canada, Australia, and South Africa), Australian rules football, Gaelic football, gridiron football (which covers American, arena, and Canadian football), international rules football, rugby league, and rugby union. These different forms share some common origins and are collectively known as football codes.
References to ancient ball games exist from many parts of the world. The modern codes trace back to rules developed at English public schools in the 1800s, which themselves grew out of medieval football. The British Empire’s expansion helped spread these rules to areas under British influence. By the late 1800s, distinct regional codes had emerged—Gaelic football, for instance, intentionally kept local traditions alive. In 1888, England saw the founding of the Football League, the first professional football league. Over the 1900s, several football codes became among the most popular team sports worldwide.
Common elements unite the codes, which fall into two main classes: carrying codes (like American, Canadian, Australian, rugby union, and rugby league), where players move the ball while holding or passing it by hand; and kicking codes (like association and Gaelic football), where the ball is moved mainly with the feet and handling is restricted. Shared rules include: teams of 11 to 18 players (with smaller variations of five or more also common); a clearly defined playing area; scoring by moving the ball to the opponent’s end and into a goal area or over a line; points from putting the ball between two goalposts; the goal or line defended by the opposing team; players using only their bodies, no bats or sticks; and an inflatable ball. Common skills across all codes include passing, tackling, evading tackles, catching, and kicking. Most codes also have offside rules restricting player movement, and scoring usually requires the ball to go under or over a crossbar between the goalposts.
The name “football” likely comes fr
- Common elements
- Two teams of 11–18 players; inflatable ball; scoring by moving ball to opponent's end; no equipment like bats or sticks.
- Etymology
- Derives from ball moved with feet, or from being played on foot, not horseback.
- Earliest known form
- Chinese cuju, possibly played around Han and early Qin dynasties, cited by FIFA as earliest form of football.
- Spread
- Codified at English public schools in 19th century; spread via British Empire.
- First professional league
- Football League founded in England in 1888.
- Main classes
- Carrying codes (e.g., American football, rugby) and kicking codes (e.g., association football, Gaelic football).
Lore & Background
Football's origins include ancient games such as Chinese cuju, where players kicked a ball through a net or into a goal, and Japanese kemari, played in the imperial court from about 600 AD, where players passed a ball without letting it touch the ground. The Romans played harpastum, adapted from a Greek game, and indigenous peoples in the Americas and Australia played various ball games, such as Inuit Aqsaqtuk and Aboriginal Marn Grook.
Reader's Guide
Football encompasses a diverse range of codes that share common elements: two teams, an inflatable ball, scoring by moving the ball to the opponent's end, and using only the body. The two main classes are carrying codes (e.g., American football, rugby) and kicking codes (e.g., association football, Gaelic football). The word 'football' itself derives from the ball being moved with the feet or from being played on foot. Ancient precursors include Chinese cuju, Greek episkyros, and various indigenous games, but the modern codes trace to 19th-century English public schools. The expansion of the British Empire spread these rules globally, and by the end of the 19th century, regional codes like Gaelic football emerged. The founding of the Football League in 1888 marked the first professional football association. During the 20th century, several forms of football became among the most popular team sports worldwide. The article notes that common skills across codes include passing, tackling, evasion, catching, and kicking, and most codes have offside rules and goals with crossbars.
Did You Know?
- The Chinese game cuju is cited by FIFA as the earliest form of football.
- The Roman game harpastum is believed to have been adapted from a Greek team game called episkyros.
- The Football League, founded in England in 1888, was the first professional football association.
- The word 'football' may derive from the ball being moved with the feet or from being played on foot, not on horseback.
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