History of Football in Timeline
Football is a category of team sports primarily involving kicking a ball to score. The term's specific meaning varies by region, with 'football' often referring to the most popular form locally. Common types include association football (soccer), Australian rules football, Gaelic football, gridiron football (American/Canadian football), rugby league, and rugby union. These diverse codes share historical roots and core concepts, forming a broader 'football family'.
1901: Formation of the Northern Rugby League
In 1901, the separate Lancashire and Yorkshire competitions of the NRFU merged, forming the Northern Rugby League.
1903: Ontario Rugby Football Union adopted the Burnside rules
In 1903, the Ontario Rugby Football Union adopted the Burnside rules, which implemented the line of scrimmage and down-and-distance system from American football.
May 1904: Founding of FIFA
In May 1904, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) was founded in Paris by associations from seven European countries.
October 1905: Meeting with President Roosevelt
In October 1905, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt urged football representatives from Harvard, Yale, and Princeton to make drastic changes to reduce injury.
1905: Calls to ban American football
In 1905, there were calls to ban American football in the U.S. due to its violence, leading to a meeting hosted by President Theodore Roosevelt and sweeping rule changes.
1906: Introduction of the legal forward pass
In 1906, a rule change was introduced to open up the game and reduce injury: the legal forward pass.
1906: Reduction of Team Size in Rugby League
In 1906, rugby league rules diverged significantly from rugby union, with the reduction of the team from 15 to 13 players.
1906: Football Act repealed
In 1906, the Football Act of 1424, which had prohibited a game known as "football" in Scotland, was finally repealed after falling into disuse.
1907: New Zealand Professional Rugby Team Tour
In 1907, a New Zealand professional rugby team toured Australia and Britain.
1921: Women banned from football grounds
In 1921, women were banned from playing at English and Scottish Football League grounds.
1929: Forward pass in Canada
In 1929, Canadian football implemented the legal forward pass.
May 1930: Revival of Calcio Storico
In May 1930, the game of "calcio storico," which had ceased to be played after January 1739, was revived.
1930: Original Translation
In 1930, a text was translated which stated "Throw yourself against him" (Age, objice te illi).
1948: Formation of Rugby League International Federation
In 1948, the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) was formed at a meeting in Bordeaux.
1966: Introduction of downs
In 1966, rugby league officials borrowed the American football concept of downs: a team was allowed to retain possession of the ball for four tackles.
1970: First World Cup usage
In 1970, the iconic ball with a regular pattern of hexagons and pentagons was first used in the World Cup.
1971: Six tackle rule introduced
In 1971, the maximum number of tackles in rugby league was increased to six, becoming known as the six tackle rule.
1995: Rugby Union Becomes "Open" Game
In 1995, rugby union became an "open" game, allowing professional players.
