Why Is American Football Called Football And Not Soccer?

Rugby and American football are both offshoots of what we call soccer, which is actually officially called "association football". Rugby's proper name is "rugby football" and American football's original name was "gridiron football." All three originated from variations of similar games that have existed since ancient times in many different cultures. The term "football" actually has nothing to do with the body parts used to move the ball. It actually refers to the fact that the games are played on foot rather than on horseback. So the direct answer would be that all three of them are forms of football.

The modern version of rugby came about when some teams split over tightened soccer rules that eliminated the use of hands in the mid-1800's. The American version of football was primarily played by colleges when it first came about and was mostly an intramural game in which students from the same school played each other. While some colleges adhered to rules similar to soccer others adhered to rules similar to rugby. Once interplay between schools became more common the schools set about to create a unified system of rules. Because most of the more prominent schools played the rugby style rules, "gridiron football" took on many of the characterizations of rugby initially.

Over the years rugby football became just rugby in popular reference and gridiron football came to be referred to as simply football (the original gridiron was replaced by the system of lines and hashmarks to mark the field fairly early on). Similarly, association football is generally referred to as just football, except in America where soccer, which originated as a shortening of the word "association," is used

The reason european football is called 'football' is because the game is played - wait for it - by kicking the ball with the foot. Got that, dabeanor? It's also been around a hell of a lot longer than your american 'football' which is played by the real pansies, getting dressed up in all that clobber instead of wearing shirt and shorts like rugby players. Now THERE'S a tough game.

NG, I believe Dabeaner has it right in a convoluted sort of way. American football probably had some roots in rugby also there are many similarities.

As far as the pansies that play soccer, Dabeaner is way off base. My son plays college soccer and I've seen him after a game and he gets knocked around and has the marks to prove it. Secondly condition wise soccer players would run football players into the ground! Thugs and whiners are deffinately a football issue and they need to clean house! Peace.