The History of Football, Speech Example

General Purpose: To Inform

Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the development of football through the years.

‘A Good Coach Will Make His Players See what they can be Rather Than What They are” – Ara Parseghian

Football is a part of our culture. It is an element sown into our identity. People who do not understand or appreciate sports such as football often refer to it as “just a game.” However, this could not be further from the truth. Football is the reflection of the values of our American society. This sport has been a part of society for decades, making it one of the oldest sports in the nation. For the current society to understand the nature of football, they must first understand its origins and metamorphosis over the years. Having a deep comprehension of this sport can help the current society to appreciate its value within the socio-economic spectrum of society. After conducting extensive research on this topic, I am confident that I have a good understanding of this sport and I can teach others about its magnificence and importance.

First, I will the history of football in the United States including the parties that led to its initial growth and development within the nation and beyond. Second, I will highlight the changes that have taken place within this sport since its inception, and finally, I will tell you about the future of football and what sport management clubs hope to achieve in the future.

The history of football can be traced back to the 1800s when European football and rugby were popular in Canada and the United Kingdom. During the war of the 1800s, American soldiers had to find a way to protect their minds from stress and depression, among other mental issues. Through a mixture of the sporting tactics derived from soccer and rugby, American football was born (Ladd). The sport evolved to become an integral part of the American universities (A Healthier Michigan). For instance, in November 1869, Rutgers and Princeton University organized the first-ever football match in American learning institutions, an event that gave rise to college football.

The birth of football in the United States was influenced by the involvement of specific individuals. Historical records consider Walter Camp, a formidable rugby athlete from Yale, as the father of American football (Smith). Camp slowly changed the rules of rugby, giving it a more contemporary style, which eventually grew into the American football that many have come to love. Camp was also the force behind the creation of the IFA (Intercollegiate Football Association). IFA led to several changes within this game. For instance, the management introduced new laws and created the culture of using an eleven-man team, offensive signaling, and the use of quarterbacks.

With every generation, various changes have been made to align with the entertainment needs unique to that population. In recent years, one of the main issues that have been discussed as far as this sport is concerned is whether teams should spread offense or run pro-style (Scott). The future of football will depend more on reducing force, wherever possible (Hall). Football is a changeable and programable sport, which means extreme changes will be made to make the sport enjoyable to fans and players alike.

Today, I discussed the history of football and traced its roots to American soldiers in war during the 1800s. Secondly, I highlighted the changes that have influenced the dominance of this sport in the nation, and thirdly, I shared information about the future of this sport. American football is an intriguing sport that attracts thousands of fans and supporters annually; but, for society to understand its nature and importance, they must comprehend its history and growth. I hope next time you turn on your television and find one of the channels showing football, you will show your respect to the people that spent their lives perfecting the art of this sport, by not referring to it as ‘just a game.’

Works Cited

Hall, Spencer. “Football 3.0 is Coming. This Is What It Will Look Like.” SBNation.com, 1 May 2017, www.sbnation.com/a/future-of-football.

A Healthier Michigan. “A Brief History of American Football and Reasons We Love It.” A Healthier Michigan, 24 Oct. 2016, www.ahealthiermichigan.org/2015/10/08/history-of-American-football/.

Ladd, Travis C. “History of American Football: When & Where Was It Invented?” Sportsierra, sportsierra.com/history-of-American-football/.

Scott, Coach. “The Future of American Football: How to Run the Spread Offense | CoachTube Blog.” CoachTube, 2022, coachtube.com/football/articles/the-future-of-American-football-how-to-run-the-spread.

Smith, Sam. “Why Was Football Invented? | DNA Of Sports.” DNA of Sports, 21 Feb. 2022, www.dnaofsports.com/football/why-was-football-invented/.