The Gridiron Started Through A Variety Of Sports

The answer to the start of gridiron is as debatable as to the question ‘which came first the chicken or the egg’. According to some accounts, the first gridiron game called American football started in Canada at McGill and at Harvard in America around 1869. McGill rules only allowed 11 players of the field from each team at any one time. Teddy Roosevelt is credited with influencing the game around 1903 although no further information appears available.

Thomas Edison is credited with instituting the forward pass during the late 1800s which was not in rugby rules. Some say 19th century soccer known as association football was the forerunner of gridiron. Another source maintains ancient Greeks played a game called harpaston using unlimited players in a game of kicking, throwing and running.

Depending on whose opinion or level of expertise is sought, Canada is credited with being the home of American Football. As part of this school of opinion, Americans just modified the rules already used.

Another source credits Willie Tidwell and Walter Camp with the start of gridiron. They combined hitting from rugby with kicking from soccer with the addition of goal posts and the 3 point field goal rule.Want to know more? Go ahead: McGill fined 2M for raising tuition 900 per cent