One of the main symbols of the United States is considered a team game called “American soccer. Its story began with a teenager who broke the rules of an ordinary European game. William Webb Ellis from Rugby, during the soccer championship, grabbed the ball with his hands and rushed with it to the opponent’s goal. Thus, in 1823 the game of rugby was born.
And almost fifty years later, players from Princeton and Rutgers universities met on the New Brunswick soccer field to play either rugby or soccer. The legendary match took place on November 6 in 1869. That day was the birthday of the game of “American soccer. Systematized the game Walter Camp, referee, player, sports commentator, who later became known as the father of American soccer. His system included “five yards for three downs,” a new “quarterback” position, increased scores for touchdowns, a forward pass, grabbing the opponent’s knees, and an advantage to the team in possession of the ball.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, the American president was outraged by the rudeness of the game and the high injury rate of soccer players that characterized it. Immediately there were innovations and penalties. Players were required to wear uniforms to protect against rough treatment of opponents, and since 1939 they were imposed compulsory to wear a helmet. Throughout the twentieth century the rules of the game improved: the length of the field changed, the number of team members decreased, match time was shortened, the six-point touchdown appeared.
Professional soccer players stood out from the masses, and private schools were created. In 1920, several teams formed their own union and then the National Football League, which was later merged with the independent American League. The merger of the NFL and AFL was marked by the World Cup of American Football, and the final game between the champions was called Super Bowl I. It became the most prestigious and expensive phenomenon in sports life.