| While the world cedes the credit of developing | | | | programs. The simplicity of uniform and |
| football to England, the game has spread around | | | | equipment makes football a fairly inexpensive |
| the globe and is inarguably the most popular sport | | | | sport for public school systems to maintain as |
| on the planet. However, football has taken a | | | | compared to many other popular school sports. |
| varied path in the United States. To clear up the | | | | Even with less protective gear to wear, there are |
| terminology; Americans insist on calling football by | | | | consistently fewer major injuries in soccer football |
| the term soccer as they have developed a | | | | as opposed to the other two major sports of |
| rugby-like game of their own that is referred to | | | | basketball and American rugby football. Since the |
| locally as football. However, what is being | | | | turn of the millennium indoor football has swept |
| discussed here is soccer football. Despite the | | | | the States and even invaded Mexico. Played on a |
| political disagreements from the eighteenth | | | | smaller field with fewer players, indoor football is |
| century, there are still close ties between England | | | | very quick paced and is sometimes referred to |
| and the United States and football was played in | | | | as "fast football". Surrounded by a six-foot high |
| the States not long after its codification in England. | | | | wall, there are some variance in the rules from |
| While the original "Boston Game" allowed the use | | | | regular football. There is no offside rule and the |
| of hands to move the ball, United States | | | | wall is used in some plays. A stoppage only occurs |
| universities upheld and began using Football | | | | if the ball hits the ceiling or goes over the wall. |
| Association rules in 1869. At the time even the | | | | Other differences to association football include |
| Americans were still calling it football. Calling the | | | | and extra penalty card, usually blue, which is used |
| game soccer only became common usage in the | | | | to indicate the temporary removal of a player |
| early twentieth century as their own rugby-like | | | | into a hockey inspired penalty box. This penalty |
| game took over the title of football. After World | | | | can have serious repercussions as there are |
| War II there were a number of football leagues | | | | fewer players to start with and the loss of one |
| created in the United States. After the war they | | | | player is more damaging to the undermanned side. |
| were combined to become the U.S. Soccer | | | | The smaller sized pitch had been allowing too |
| Football Association. Under pressure from the | | | | many kickoff scores so the creation of zones has |
| confusion caused by two distinctly different | | | | developed to give a more action-packed game. |
| games with the same name, the word "football" | | | | The ball cannot travel through a zone without |
| was dropped from their title in 1974. The United | | | | having been touched by a player. The ball used in |
| States Soccer Federation is the umbrella | | | | indoor football is heavier, harder to control and is |
| organization that oversees a number of leagues | | | | generally covered in a suede covering. So football |
| both professional and amateur. There are leagues | | | | in the United States is alive and well. With the |
| specially created for different school level | | | | acceptance of International Football Association |
| participation and gender specific games. Within the | | | | rules the differences in the game is kept minimal |
| past twenty-five years football has seen a major | | | | so that regardless of the continent the avid |
| popularity growth especially among primary and | | | | footballer is on, there will be a game on |
| secondary school levels. Many secondary schools | | | | somewhere nearby. |
| now offer both versions of football in their athletic | | | | Football Livescores and iScores for your iPhone. |