Gridiron football
Family of North American football sports derived from rugby.
Gridiron football is a family of team sports derived from rugby football and football, primarily played in the United States and Canada. It includes American football, Canadian football, and derivative versions such as arena football, flag football, touch football, and street football. The sport originated in the 19th century from older games related to modern association football and rugby union, with the first recorded game played at University College of the University of Toronto.
- origin
- 19th century, North America
- first_recorded_game
- November 1861, University College, University of Toronto
- governing_body
- International Federation of American Football (IFAF)
- players_per_side
- 11 (American), 12 (Canadian)
- field_length
- 100 yards (American), 110 yards (Canadian)
- distinctive_equipment
- Hard plastic helmets, shoulder pads, prolate spheroid ball
- key_innovation
- Forward pass (adopted 1906 in American game, 1929 in Canadian game)
Lore & Background
The sport developed from informal games played in North America during the 19th century, with early games having a variety of local rules generally similar to modern rugby union and soccer. The earliest recorded instance of gridiron football occurred at University College on the University of Toronto's St. George campus in November 1861. Later in the 1860s, teams from universities began playing each other, leading to more standardized rules and the creation of college football. In 1874, Harvard and McGill Universities organized two games using each other's rules; Harvard adopted McGill's rugby-style rules, which then spread to Yale and Princeton, shaping the American game.
Reader's Guide
Gridiron football's significance lies in its evolution from rugby into distinct North American sports with unique rules and widespread cultural impact. American football, with 11 players, became the best-known form worldwide, while Canadian football, with 12 players, predominates in Canada. The sports are distinguished by hard plastic helmets, shoulder pads, the forward pass, the system of downs, measurement in yards, and a prolate spheroid ball. The International Federation of American Football (IFAF) governs the sport internationally under American rules but includes Canadian football under its umbrella. The name 'gridiron' originated from the cross-hatched field markings used until 1920. The sport is played at professional, collegiate, high school, semi-professional, and amateur levels, with variations like nine-man, eight-man, six-man, and indoor football adapting to different settings.
Did You Know?
- The first recorded game of gridiron football was played at University College of the University of Toronto in November 1861.
- The forward pass was adopted in American football in 1906 and in Canadian football in 1929.
- The name 'gridiron' came from the cross-hatched field markings resembling a cooking gridiron, abandoned by 1920.
- Canadian football fields are 110 yards long, while American football fields are 100 yards.
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