Think you know football? Think again…This is a multi-part series explaining the different codes of football, their origins, current state and future. Most football fans follow only one code, and this series aims to expand their knowledge of the different football games out there.
Football….Just saying the word will bring up many great memories: memories of great plays, great players and great championships. However those great memories may be of a completely different sport, depending on where in the world you say it. Almost anywhere on the planet, the most popular sport is called “football” and the game hold a special place in the psyches of entire nations. But what is “real” football and where did it originate from?
Football refers to a number of different teams sports, all of which are built on the premise that a ball should be kicked between a goal to score points. There are many codes of the sport, which include:
- Association Football (also known as futbol/soccer/calcio/futball...etc),
- Rugby Football (including both union and league codes)
- American Football (also known as gridiron football)
- Canadian Football
- Australian Football (also known as Aussie rules football)
- Gaelic Football
All of these games came from the same origins. Yet, they have all evolved on separate paths and each version has become an integral part of the identities of nations. One of the results of this is that people have a deep love of their code of football, which can produce both intense fandom but also cause them to very protective of their form of football. We have seen countless examples of Australians, Americans, Europeans all arguing which is the "real football" and everybody is willing to actively promote their football as the superior code. Yet much of this would likely cease if people understood that there is no “real” code of football and that they are all interrelated and share a lot in common. In effect, they are all one family of sports.
5 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete