American “football” is so-called because the ball is usually moved by hands or arms, i.e. foot + ball = football. It can also be kicked in some situations, such as an extra point kick after a touchdown (worth 6 points).

Both soccer-style football and rugby-style football eventually found their way to America. What resulted was an American combination of the two games. It was until much later (1906) that forward passing was allowed. So because the American game was really just another form of the European football games, it too became known as football.

American football is a game with an interesting story behind its name. It was first called “footy” in Australia and then rugby in the United States. The sport gradually got a code of rules that didn’t mention “football” either and Walter Camp decided to use the name “American football”.