Football is a team sport in which players use all of their body parts to play the game. These parts include hands, arms, and legs. The game’s ball is a round ball covered with leather and inflated to a specified weight. The ball must be about 27 inches in circumference and weigh between 14.5 and 16 ounces. It is played with two teams that alternate ends. The goal of the game is to score more goals than the opposing team during the ninety-minute game.
Players on the field are divided into two groups – offense and defense – and may be specialized players known as special teams. Offensive players try to run with the ball or pass it forward to the opponent’s end zone. Defense players try to block the other team’s attempts to advance the ball. Special teams include kickers and punters.
Football originated in Britain and soon became popular throughout Europe. In the late nineteenth century, there were as many as 30,000 spectators watching a single game. As British people travelled abroad, the game quickly spread to other countries. This resulted in the first football fans in South America and India. Football is now widely played in public schools around the world.
In the nineteenth century, industrialization led to larger gatherings and the creation of professional football leagues. Teams started to play in larger cities, and new railroads made it possible for players to travel to other cities. The popularity of football increased to the point where tickets were sold to watch the games. In 1885, the game was made legal and the Football League was formed. This first season saw twelve clubs join, and more teams followed. The Football League was so successful that it soon developed into a professional game.