22 Facts About American football

1.

American football, known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end.

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2.

American football evolved in the United States, originating from the sports of soccer and rugby.

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3.

American football is the most popular sport in the United States in terms of broadcast viewership audience.

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4.

The term "American football" was officially established in the rulebook for the 1876 college American football season, when the sport first shifted from soccer-style rules to rugby-style rules.

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5.

The terms "gridiron" or "American football" are favored in English-speaking countries where other types of football are popular, such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia.

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6.

Rugby, like American football, is a sport where two competing teams vie for control of a ball, which can be kicked through a set of goalposts or run into the opponent's goal area to score points.

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7.

Yale player Walter Camp, now regarded as the "Father of American Football", secured rule changes in 1880 that reduced the size of each team from 15 to 11 players and instituted the snap to replace the chaotic and inconsistent scrum.

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8.

High school American football games are 48 minutes in length with two halves of 24 minutes and four quarters of 12 minutes.

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9.

Various programs are aiming to reduce concussions by reducing the frequency of helmet-to-helmet hits; USA Football's "Heads Up Football" program aims to reduce concussions in youth American football by teaching coaches and players about the signs of a concussion, the proper way to wear American football equipment and ensure it fits, and proper tackling methods that avoid helmet-to-helmet contact.

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10.

College American football is the third-most popular sport in the United States, behind professional baseball and professional American football.

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11.

Division I American football is further divided into two subdivisions: the Football Bowl Subdivision and the Football Championship Subdivision .

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12.

High school American football is the most popular sport in the United States played by boys; over 1.

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13.

Only one youth American football league exists in the United States for girls, the GFL.

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14.

Several professional American football leagues have been formed outside the auspices of the NFL.

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15.

The Alliance of American Football lasted less than one season, unable to keep investors.

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16.

American football leagues exist throughout the world, but the game has yet to achieve the international success and popularity of baseball and basketball.

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17.

American football federations are present in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania; a total of 64 national football federations exist as of July 2012.

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18.

Professional American football has ranked as the most popular sport in the poll since 1985, when it surpassed baseball for the first time.

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19.

Professional American football is most popular among those who live in the eastern United States and rural areas, while college American football is most popular in the southern United States and among people with graduate and post-graduate degrees.

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20.

Thanksgiving football is an American tradition, hosting many high school, college, and professional games.

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21.

American football has a long history in Mexico, which was introduced to the sport in 1896.

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22.

American football is played in Mexico both professionally and as part of the college sports system.

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