Football

Football is the name of several similar team sports, all of which involve (to varying degrees) kicking a ball with the foot in an attempt to score a goal. The most popular of these sports worldwide is association football, more commonly known as just “soccer” or “football”. However the word football is applied to whichever form of football became most popular in each particular part of the world. Hence the word “football” is applied to “gridiron football” (a name associated with the North American sports, especially American football and Canadian football), Australian football, Gaelic football, Rugby league, Rugby union, and related games. These rule variations are known as “codes.”

Common elements

These games involve:
* Two teams of usually between 11 and 18 players; some variations that have fewer players (five or more per team) are also popular
* A clearly defined area in which to play the game;
* Scoring goals or points, by moving the ball to an opposing team’s end of the field and either into a goal area, or over a line;
* Goals or points resulting from players putting the ball between two goalposts
* the goal or line being defended by the opposing team;
* Players being required to move the ball-depending on the code-by kicking, carrying or hand passing the ball; and
* Players using only their body to move the ball.
In most codes, there are rules restricting the movement of players offside, and players scoring a goal must put the ball either under or over a crossbar between the goalposts.
Other features common to several football codes include: points being mostly scored by players carrying the ball across the goal line; and players receiving a free kick after they take a mark or make a fair catch.

Origins

People from around the world have played games which involved kicking or carrying a ball, since ancient times. However, most of the modern codes of football have their origins in England. While it is widely assumed that the word “football” (or “foot ball”) references the action of the foot kicking a ball, there is a historical explanation, which is that football originally referred to a variety of games in medieval Europe, which were played on foot. These games were usually played by peasants, as opposed to the horse-riding sports often played by aristocrats. There is no conclusive evidence for either explanation, and the word football has always implied a variety of games played on foot, not just those that involved kicking a ball. In some cases, the word football has even been applied to games which have specifically outlawed kicking the ball.

Competitions

One of the longest running football fixtures is the Cordner-Eggleston Cup, contested between Melbourne Grammar School and Scotch College, Melbourne every year since 1858. It is believed by many to also be the first match of Australian rules football, although it was played under experimental rules in its first year.
The first football trophy tournament was the Caledonian Challenge Cup, donated by the Royal Caledonian Society of Melbourne, played in 1861 under the Melbourne Rules. The oldest football league is a rugby football competition, the United Hospitals Challenge Cup (1874), while the oldest rugby trophy is the Yorkshire Cup, contested since 1878. The South Australian Football Association (30 April 1877) is the oldest surviving Australian Rules football competition. The oldest surviving soccer trophy is the Youdan Cup (1867) and the oldest national soccer competition is the English FA Cup (1871). The Football League (1888) is recognised as the longest running association football league. The first ever international football match took place between sides representing England and Scotland on March 5 1870 at the Oval under the auspices of the FA. The first Rugby international took place in 1871.
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