Football (word)

The word "football" may mean any one of several games, in different parts of the English-speaking world. Because of the existence of different kinds of "football", controversy — usually friendly in nature — may result from unqualified usage of the word.

Related Topics:
English-speaking world - Football

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"Football" (or "foot-ball") originally referred to a wide variety of games played in medieval Europe, which were played on foot — that is, by peasants — as opposed to the games played by horse-riding aristocrats. The name was used initially for any game played on foot with a ball, not just those that involved kicking a ball.

Related Topics:
Medieval Europe - Peasant - Horse-riding - Aristocrat - Spherical - Ellipsoid

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In most English-speaking countries, including the United Kingdom, the word "football" usually refers to association football, also known as soccer. Of the 48 national FIFA affiliates in which English is an official or primary language, only five — Canada, the Marshall Islands, New Zealand, Samoa and the United States — use soccer in their name, while the rest use football. However, even in the countries where football is the official name of association football, this name may be at odds with common usage.

Related Topics:
United Kingdom - Association football - FIFA - English - Canada - Marshall Islands - New Zealand - Samoa - United States

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In other countries or regions within them, the word "football" may refer to American football, Australian rules football, Canadian football, Gaelic football, or one of the two codes of rugby football: rugby league or rugby union.

Related Topics:
American football - Australian rules football - Canadian football - Gaelic football - Rugby football - Rugby league - Rugby union

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In Australia, "football" and the abbreviation "footy" have different meanings from one region to another. Australians generally fall into four camps when it comes to the use of them:

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• In most of the Australian states, "football" usually means Australian rules football. In these States there is little or no popular differentiation between the two kinds of rugby football.
• In the States of New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland, most people refer to rugby league simply as "football". Rugby union is known simply as "rugby". Australian rules is often known in these areas as "AFL" (a name which, strictly speaking, refers to the main governing body, the Australian Football League).
• In areas in which all three codes are popular, especially the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory and the Riverina (south-western NSW), the word "football" is rarely used, and the names "league", "union" and "Aussie rules" (or just "rules") are used, to avoid confusion.
• Association football is generally known as soccer in Australia. However, the Special Broadcasting Service has always referred to the game as "football". In 2004, the governing body changed its name to Football Federation Australia. Other media sources (especially in New South Wales and Queensland) now also refer to the game as "football".
• In Australia, American football, which has a small following, is known as gridiron.

In Canada, "football" can refer to either Canadian football or American football, often differentiated as either "CFL" (from the governing Canadian Football League) or "NFL" (from the US National Football League. Association football, which is rapidly gaining in popularity, is called soccer.

Related Topics:
Canada - Canadian Football League - National Football League

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In Ireland, "football" can mean association football or Gaelic football, depending on location. For example, in County Dublin, "football" means association football, although the word soccer is sometimes also used. In rural areas, particularly in the west of Ireland, "football" is Gaelic football, and association football is only ever referred to as soccer. In Ireland, "Gaelic football" is a term rarely used. Where disambiguation is required between this sport and association football, it is generally referred to as "GAA" or "GAA football" after its governing body, the Gaelic Athletic Association (which also governs the sports of hurling, handball and rounders).

Related Topics:
Ireland - County Dublin - Gaelic Athletic Association - Hurling - Handball - Rounders

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In New Zealand, "football" usually refers to rugby union, but depending on context can also refer to rugby league or association football. It is, however, considered inappropriate to refer to "football" without supporting context as to which code the speaker means, so as to avoid confusion. Association football is called soccer. Australian rules football and American football are not very widespread, and are known as Aussie Rules and gridiron respectively.

Related Topics:
New Zealand - Gridiron

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In South Africa, the names "football" and soccer are both used for association football, although "soccer" is more commonly used. Rugby union is called "rugby" (and rugby league has only a small following).

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In the United Kingdom, the word "football" almost always means association football. Despite the word "soccer" originating in England, its use is often frowned upon (and even seen by many as an Americanism). The vehemence with which followers of association football insist on this usage is exemplified by a British punk band, Wat Tyler, who released a song entitled, "It's Football, Not Fuckin' Soccer". However, rugby league may be referred to by those who follow it as "football". Rugby league and rugby union are both commonly referred to as "rugby", although the name is more commonly associated with rugby union (which, as a rule, is called "rugger" only by those educated at private schools). Alternatively, the two codes may be referred to simply as "league" and "union" (particularly by each other's fans). Until very recently, at Eton College, the word "football" usually referred to the Eton Field Game. At the college, association football is still formally referred to as "association football", and the school?s team is called "the association" both formally and colloquially.

Related Topics:
United Kingdom - England - Americanism - Punk - Wat Tyler - Private school - Eton College - Eton Field Game

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In the United States, the word "football" refers to American football. Association football, which is popular among younger people, is called soccer. Gaelic football, Australian rules football and both of the rugby codes have very small, albeit growing numbers of adherents. However most people in the US are not usually aware of the distinction between rugby union and rugby league, and consequently both are referred to simply as "rugby".

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