Who Created All Football? Tracing the Origins of the Beautiful Game

What does “all football” even mean?

First off—let’s get real. When people ask "who created all football," it’s not 100% clear whether they mean the modern global game (aka soccer in the U.S.), American football, or just every form of people kicking or carrying a ball around. Because football has evolved into multiple forms across different continents.

So… let’s break it down, piece by piece. And yeah, it gets a bit messy—but that's half the fun.

The roots of football: ancient and wild

Kicking games go way back

Believe it or not, humans were playing ball games thousands of years ago. One of the earliest forms of football was Cuju in ancient China, recorded as early as the 2nd century BC. Cuju literally means “kick ball.” Simple, right?

Then there’s Kemari from Japan, and a bunch of chaotic medieval European versions where whole towns would kick a ball through the streets. Total chaos. Zero rules. It was football, but not as we know it.

The British made it official

Now here's where things really start to take shape. In 19th century England, public schools (like Eton, Harrow, Rugby) each had their own ball game. Some let you use your hands. Some didn’t. Eventually, people realized—hey, we need some structure here.

So in 1863, the Football Association (FA) was founded in London. Boom. That’s the moment the modern game of association football—aka soccer—was officially born. The key? No hands allowed. (Unless you’re the goalie.)

But what about American football?

Oh boy, here we go.

It started with rugby

The U.S. version of football evolved separately but also grew out of the English school games. In the mid-1800s, universities like Harvard and Princeton were playing versions closer to rugby. Over time, American football added things like the forward pass, line of scrimmage, and... helmets.

The man often credited as the "father of American football"? Walter Camp, a Yale player and coach in the late 1800s. He basically rewrote the rules to make it what we know today—gridiron, touchdowns, all that jazz.

So technically? Rugby’s the granddaddy of American football. But yeah, Walter gave it its unique American flavor.

Who created the rules of modern football?

The Laws of the Game

In 1863, when the English FA was formed, they created The Laws of the Game, which are still used (in updated form) by FIFA today. This included the size of the pitch, goal dimensions, offside rules, and other essentials.

A key figure? Ebenezer Cobb Morley. Kind of a forgotten name, but he helped draft those early rules and is often called the “father of the Football Association.” Hats off, Ebenezer.

So, who “created” football? The short answer

• If you mean soccer (association football): England, 1863. Credit goes to the FA and guys like Ebenezer Morley.

• If you mean American football: Walter Camp, Yale, 1880s.

• If you mean all forms of football ever: That’s more like a global co-creation over centuries. Ancient China, medieval Europe, Mesoamerican ball games… it’s a buffet of origins.

A quick personal digression (because why not)

When I was 12, I asked my granddad this exact question. He paused, looked at the TV (we were watching a World Cup game), and said:
"Nobody invented football. People just needed to kick something and chase it."
And honestly? That might be the truest answer of all.

Final takeaway: football wasn’t built in a day

No single person “created all football,” but if you’re talking modern structured versions, then England in 1863 is your landmark. Still, the love of kicking a ball, running with it, or tossing it for glory? That’s just human nature, baby.

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How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

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