you call it football and we call it soccer

[bleu_is_da_color]

why? can someone explain thatto me

[vilafria]

why? can someone explain thatto me

Do a search ; there are several threads on the subject.:)
BTW welcome to BigSoccer newbie,

[m1150]

In the 19th century, there were several types of "football," some of which allowed players to carry the ball and some of which didn't. In 1863, English advocates of kicking-oriented games formed the Football Association and adopted a set of rules for what became known as "association football," or "soccer" for short. Eight years later, those who preferred the carrying game (popularized at Rugby School) formed the Rugby Football Union.

Various football games were played in America, too, but in 1874, students from Montreal's McGill University introduced their hosts from Harvard to the Rugby rules. Harvard found the carrying game superior to the kicking-oriented version of football it was used to. The game spread to other elite American colleges -- Yale, Princeton, Columbia. In the 1880s, the colleges tweaked the rules, adding the scrimmage and the system of downs. This was the only version of football widely played in America at the time, so there was no need to call it anything other than "football."

Soccer was reintroduced to America in the early 1900s, when some universities looked for alternatives to violent American football (which was claiming several players' lives every year). By this time, however, the word "football" had already been reserved in America for the gridiron game. So Americans adopted the British slang term "soccer" for the round-ball version of football.

[Craig the Aussie]

In the 19th century, there were several types of "football," some of which allowed players to carry the ball and some of which didn't. In 1863, English advocates of kicking-oriented games formed the Football Association and adopted a set of rules for what became known as "association football," or "soccer" for short. Eight years later, those who preferred the carrying game (popularized at Rugby School) formed the Rugby Football Union.


And when various clubs played against each other in the early days they had a meeting beforehand to determine the rules they would play under.

Interestingly the original rules of Association Football allowed use of the hands to stop the flight of the ball - you just couldn't pick it up or run with it.

The break with the rugby clubs was more around "hacking" than handling - the rugby rules followers believed kicking opponents in the shins was perfectly reasonable.

[Roger Allaway]

Soccer, which was abandoned in favor of rugby by American colleges in the mid-1870s, was not "reintroduced to America in the 1900s." It was reintroduced to American colleges in the 1900s. It had been played continuously in the United States throughout the 1870s, 1880s and 1890s, but not by the colleges. It was mostly played by factory workers and British expatriates in places like New York; Chicago; St. Louis; Newark; Pawtucket, R.I.; Fall River, Mass.; Harrison, N.J.; Paterson, N.J., and Kearny, N.J.

[Excape Goat]

Soccer is short for Association Football.

This is not an American term. In fact, most English-speaking countries use "soccer" to describe the sport. In rugby-playing countries, namely New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, football actually meant rugby. The Australian NT is called socceroos for a reason. In Ireland, football meant Gaelic football. In the UK, I've been told that football also meant rugby in certain circles, but I cannot vertify it.

[Wee Blue Devil]

The game has always been known as Football in the UK in the 1800s it was known as Association Football and Rugby was known as Rugby Football. To be honest i hate the name soccer.

[SweetBride202]

I'd rather loved to call it as football rather than soccer then.
_____________________________
Get the best wedding dresses (http://www.bestforbride.com/), evening dresses (http://www.bestforbride.com/evening-dress.html) and wedding invitations (http://www.bestforbride.com/wedding-invitations.php).

[Viscaelbarca]

Soccer is short for Association Football.

This is not an American term. In fact, most English-speaking countries use "soccer" to describe the sport. In rugby-playing countries, namely New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, football actually meant rugby. The Australian NT is called socceroos for a reason. In Ireland, football meant Gaelic football. In the UK, I've been told that football also meant rugby in certain circles, but I cannot vertify it.

That has changed about a four years ago, Kiwis and Aussies have started calling it football again...

[Lusankya]

Why is American Football called "football" anyway? If you look closer you see they play with their hands and use an egg and not a ball. So Handegg would be the appropriate name.

[Roger Allaway]

Why is American Football called "football" anyway? If you look closer you see they play with their hands and use an egg and not a ball.

American football is called "football" because all sports that grew from the football games played in England before 1850 are called football (association football, rugby football, American football, Australian rules football and Gaelic football).

Yes, American football players do use their hands. So what? Rugby players also use their hands, as do Australian rules players and Gaelic football players. Of course, players in those games also sometimes use their feet, but so do American football players.

American football does use a ball. A ball does not have to be round.

[vilafria]

American football is called "football" because all sports that grew from the football games played in England before 1850 are called football (association football, rugby football, American football, Australian rules football and Gaelic football).

Yes, American football players do use their hands. So what? Rugby players also use their hands, as do Australian rules players and Gaelic football players. Of course, players in those games also sometimes use their feet, but so do American football players.

American football does use a ball. A ball does not have to be round.
:) Nice post, but I took the liberty to disagree with that last sentence and looked up for some sort of definitions of ball:

"A ball is a round object with various uses. It is usually spherical but can be ovoid."

[Roger Allaway]

"A ball is a round object with various uses. It is usually spherical but can be ovoid."

That's my point exactly. A ball usually is round, but can be an oval and still be a ball.

[Fried]

Roger, I'm just gonna share about an expectable reaction, based on my own experience, to people in a bunch of nations where 'soccer', in their languages, equals to 'football' transliterations. American soccer fans are not "guilty" of that but, when I've read first answers to bleu_is_da_color, those fixed a prejudice of mine, since before coming here a little matter of diversity sounded like a sort of linguistic imposition by the most powerful country of the world for me. :eek: Well, if we think of other languages, even the 'ball' definition could vary. :)

[DavidP]

Why is American Football called "football" anyway? If you look closer you see they play with their hands and use an egg and not a ball. So Handegg would be the appropriate name.

Because "football" refers to the game being played "on foot," not to kicking the ball. If you notice, rugby is played with a bigger "egg" than Am football is. There's no quarterback I know of who could complete a forward pass with that ball. :D

[YankBastard]

Why is American Football called "football" anyway? If you look closer you see they play with their hands and use an egg and not a ball. So Handegg would be the appropriate name.

Because you need to do some research on the history of "football." Football has been played in various forms since medeival times. It was actually banned by the Catholic Church at one point because the earlier versions of the sport were basically semi-organised riots between towns. One of the old rules was to get a big ball, or something, into the opposing town's center. People were trampled, property was destoryed, and so on. I believe there still is an ancient form of football played somewhere in Britain and in Italy every year, but I forgot what it's called.

The word "football" originally mean't a sport that is played "on foot." Hence the word "foot-ball." In the 1900s, when football, along with English culture, was spreading across the world there were no definate rules that people went by when playing football. Every city, town, and region had their own way of playing.

Rugby as we know it today, evolved from the various games of foot-ball. When it spread to the Americas and Australia, for example, people kept the title of football. Over time, certain names stuck. Australian Rules Football, which is a decendent of Rugby if I'm correct, is a good example. Why not call it Australian Rules Rugby? Because the old name stuck down-under. Back in those days information didn't travel as fast as it does in modern times. So traditions and culture formed over the years, and the sport is called what it is called.

The US followed a simular course as Australia. That is why we call our football, which decended from Rubgy Football, football. The name just stuck.

So historically, our football is as much entitled to be called that as much as any other "football" in the world. Yes soccer sounds more practical being called football. However, the needless arguing over what is the "proper" term for football or whether it's called a field or a pitch etc. is pointless.

Phew. I'm tired of writing all that shit evertime I'm on a message board and some genius asks this question. I think I'm going to add this question to my "checklist" from now on.

[Fried]

Because you need to do some research on the history of "football." Football has been played in various forms since medeival times. It was actually banned by the Catholic Church at one point because the earlier versions of the sport were basically semi-organised riots between towns. One of the old rules was to get a big ball, or something, into the opposing town's center. People were trampled, property was destoryed, and so on. I believe there still is an ancient form of football played somewhere in Britain and in Italy every year, but I forgot what it's called.

The word "football" originally mean't a sport that is played "on foot." Hence the word "foot-ball." In the 1900s, when football, along with English culture, was spreading across the world there were no definate rules that people went by when playing football. Every city, town, and region had their own way of playing.

Rugby as we know it today, evolved from the various games of foot-ball. When it spread to the Americas and Australia, for example, people kept the title of football. Over time, certain names stuck. Australian Rules Football, which is a decendent of Rugby if I'm correct, is a good example. Why not call it Australian Rules Rugby? Because the old name stuck down-under. Back in those days information didn't travel as fast as it does in modern times. So traditions and culture formed over the years, and the sport is called what it is called.

The US followed a simular course as Australia. That is why we call our football, which decended from Rubgy Football, football. The name just stuck.

So historically, our football is as much entitled to be called that as much as any other "football" in the world. Yes soccer sounds more practical being called football. However, the needless arguing over what is the "proper" term for football or whether it's called a field or a pitch etc. is pointless.

Phew. I'm tired of writing all that shit evertime I'm on a message board and some genius asks this question. I think I'm going to add this question to my "checklist" from now on.
On bold above, couldn't remember the name as well, so looked for that, if we're thinking of same games it has to be Shrovetide (mob football).

[RichardL]

Rugby as we know it today, evolved from the various games of foot-ball. When it spread to the Americas and Australia, for example, people kept the title of football. Over time, certain names stuck. Australian Rules Football, which is a decendent of Rugby if I'm correct, is a good example. Why not call it Australian Rules Rugby? Because the old name stuck down-under.

The Laws of the Game for Australian Rules football predate Association Football by 5 years, an explicitly banned passing with the hands, so it's clearly not a rugby derivative. The original Association Football rules also allowed handling of the ball by all players, but not carrying or passing the ball with the hand.


The original 1863 laws were...

* The maximum length of the ground shall be 200 yards (180 m), the maximum breadth shall be 100 yards (91 m), the length and breadth shall be marked off with flags; and the goal shall be defined by two upright posts, eight yards (7 m) apart, without any tape or bar across them.
* A toss for goals shall take place, and the game shall be commenced by a place kick from the centre of the ground by the side losing the toss for goals; the other side shall not approach within 10 yards (9.1 m) of the ball until it is kicked off.
* After a goal is won, the losing side shall be entitled to kick off, and the two sides shall change goals after each goal is won.
* A goal shall be won when the ball passes between the goal-posts or over the space between the goal-posts (at whatever height), not being thrown, knocked on, or carried.
* When the ball is in touch, the first player who touches it shall throw it from the point on the boundary line where it left the ground in a direction at right angles with the boundary line, and the ball shall not be in play until it has touched the ground.
* When a player has kicked the ball, any one of the same side who is nearer to the opponent's goal line is out of play, and may not touch the ball himself, nor in any way whatever prevent any other player from doing so, until he is in play; but no player is out of play when the ball is kicked off from behind the goal line.
* In case the ball goes behind the goal line, if a player on the side to whom the goal belongs first touches the ball, one of his side shall be entitled to a free kick from the goal line at the point opposite the place where the ball shall be touched. If a player of the opposite side first touches the ball, one of his side shall be entitled to a free kick at the goal only from a point 15 yards (14 m) outside the goal line, opposite the place where the ball is touched, the opposing side standing within their goal line until he has had his kick.
* If a player makes a fair catch, he shall be entitled to a free kick, providing he claims it by making a mark with his heel at once; and in order to take such kick he may go back as far as he pleases, and no player on the opposite side shall advance beyond his mark until he has kicked.
* No player shall run with the ball.
* Neither tripping nor hacking shall be allowed, and no player shall use his hands to hold or push his adversary.
* A player shall not be allowed to throw the ball or pass it to another with his hands.
* No player shall be allowed to take the ball from the ground with his hands under any pretence whatever while it is in play.
* No player shall be allowed to wear projecting nails, iron plates, or gutta-percha[1] on the soles or heels of his boots.

In short - no goalkeepers, no offside, limited handling was allowed, goals could be scored at any height...

It's a common mistake that people make to assume that the early football was essentially the game today, but with slight some rule differences. The truth is that Association Football was nothing like today's game originally, but instead changed radically when handling was completely banned (goalkeepers excepted), resulting in controlled passing with the feet and heading the ball in the years that followed. Australian Rules football is probably the game that most closely resembles early association football, albeit not that closely.

[YankBastard]

The Laws of the Game for Australian Rules football predate Association Football by 5 years, an explicitly banned passing with the hands, so it's clearly not a rugby derivative. The original Association Football rules also allowed handling of the ball by all players, but not carrying or passing the ball with the hand.


The original 1863 laws were...

* The maximum length of the ground shall be 200 yards (180 m), the maximum breadth shall be 100 yards (91 m), the length and breadth shall be marked off with flags; and the goal shall be defined by two upright posts, eight yards (7 m) apart, without any tape or bar across them.
* A toss for goals shall take place, and the game shall be commenced by a place kick from the centre of the ground by the side losing the toss for goals; the other side shall not approach within 10 yards (9.1 m) of the ball until it is kicked off.
* After a goal is won, the losing side shall be entitled to kick off, and the two sides shall change goals after each goal is won.
* A goal shall be won when the ball passes between the goal-posts or over the space between the goal-posts (at whatever height), not being thrown, knocked on, or carried.
* When the ball is in touch, the first player who touches it shall throw it from the point on the boundary line where it left the ground in a direction at right angles with the boundary line, and the ball shall not be in play until it has touched the ground.
* When a player has kicked the ball, any one of the same side who is nearer to the opponent's goal line is out of play, and may not touch the ball himself, nor in any way whatever prevent any other player from doing so, until he is in play; but no player is out of play when the ball is kicked off from behind the goal line.
* In case the ball goes behind the goal line, if a player on the side to whom the goal belongs first touches the ball, one of his side shall be entitled to a free kick from the goal line at the point opposite the place where the ball shall be touched. If a player of the opposite side first touches the ball, one of his side shall be entitled to a free kick at the goal only from a point 15 yards (14 m) outside the goal line, opposite the place where the ball is touched, the opposing side standing within their goal line until he has had his kick.
* If a player makes a fair catch, he shall be entitled to a free kick, providing he claims it by making a mark with his heel at once; and in order to take such kick he may go back as far as he pleases, and no player on the opposite side shall advance beyond his mark until he has kicked.
* No player shall run with the ball.
* Neither tripping nor hacking shall be allowed, and no player shall use his hands to hold or push his adversary.
* A player shall not be allowed to throw the ball or pass it to another with his hands.
* No player shall be allowed to take the ball from the ground with his hands under any pretence whatever while it is in play.
* No player shall be allowed to wear projecting nails, iron plates, or gutta-percha[1] on the soles or heels of his boots.

In short - no goalkeepers, no offside, limited handling was allowed, goals could be scored at any height...

It's a common mistake that people make to assume that the early football was essentially the game today, but with slight some rule differences. The truth is that Association Football was nothing like today's game originally, but instead changed radically when handling was completely banned (goalkeepers excepted), resulting in controlled passing with the feet and heading the ball in the years that followed. Australian Rules football is probably the game that most closely resembles early association football, albeit not that closely.

So it was just one of the many forms of football, correct? Or you're saying Aussie Rules football didn't decend from Rugby-type football?

[jattcity]

Straight up who gives a $@#%!