Get ready to celebrate National Football Day on July 19! This day has been celebrated since the late 1800s as a day for football fans all around the world to come together and show their love for this beloved sport. Whether you're a fan ofAmerican, Canadian, or European football - this is your chance to get together with friends and family and enjoy some great competition. So grab your jerseys, put on your helmets, and let's kick off National Football Day in style!
The roots of American football come from the early versions of rugby and association football; both originated in the United Kingdom in the mid-19th century. These games involved getting a ball over a goal line.
Some major modifications to the sport of rugby led to the birth of American football in 1880. These innovations came from Walter Camp, a Yale University athlete and coach. Camp introduced critical changes such as adding a line of scrimmage, changing from one down (Rugby) to three downs (American football), and legalizing the forward pass and blocking.
Walter Camp’s influence on American football was profound, earning him the nickname, The Father of American Football. His updates to the sport — both in scoring and gameplay — helped shape football into a sport distinct from rugby and uniquely American.