• There are three similar games, known in the U.S. as rugby, soccer, and football. However, outside of the U.S., the same three games are called rugby, football, and “American football.” The term “soccer” is rarely used outside of the U.S. Why is this?

• It all started with the British place name “Rocheberie” meaning “fortified place of a rook” referring to a crow. That name was simplified and turned into a town called Rugby. The students at the Rugby school developed a game involving a leather ball. Other schools throughout England developed similar games with similar balls, generally known as “football.” However, it became difficult to set up competitions between schools because both the rules and the balls differed from one school to another.

• In 1863, an association was set up to establish the rules of the games so teams could compete against each other. Two different games were established. One was called Rugby Football, and the other was called Association Football.

• It so happened there was a fad at the time to end words with an “–er” such as header, footer, sporter. Rugby turned into “ruggers.” “Association Football” became “assocer” and then shortened to “soccer.” But just as “ruggers” was a slang term for rugby, “soccer” was merely a slang term for football. The proper term was always football.

• Meanwhile, in the U.S., another game was invented, which the Americans called football. Along the way, Americans adopted the slang “soccer” for “British football.”

• Meanwhile, in the U.S., another game was invented, which the Americans called football. Along the way, Americans adopted the slang “soccer” for “British football.”

• This is the reason that today, Americans have rugby, soccer, and football, while the British have rugby, football, and American football.

• Soccer began when people started kicking around an inflated pig bladder. However, these were lightweight and easily punctured when kicked too vigorously. It was later covered with leather.

• In 1836, Charles Goodyear patented vulcanized rubber, and in 1855 he created the first soccer ball that used a rubber “balloon” in the ball instead of an animal bladder.

• The official size and weight was standardized in 1872. Mass production began with the founding of the English Football League in 1888, with slight modifications made when FIFA (the International Federation of Association Football) was established in 1904.

• Through the years, the design improved. Initially, they consisted of 18 leather panels arranged in rows of three. But because leather absorbs water, they would easily become soggy and lose their bounce. Their quality depended on which part of the hide was used.

• After World War II, synthetic paints prevented the ball from becoming water-logged. A new valve was also invented so balls stayed inflated.

• By 1951, soccer balls were white so both players and spectators alike could more easily follow the fast-moving action. In the 1980s, synthetics replaced leather altogether.

• Meanwhile, the style of the patches changed as well. The 1970 World Cup in Mexico was the first to be broadcast live on TV. For the event, Adidas created a new style of ball patterned after the geodesic dome. The combination of 20 white hexagonal sections and 12 black pentagonal surfaces created a nearly perfect sphere that was easily visible to TV viewers.

• Today, manufacturers are even experimenting with embedded microchips and even specially designed cameras as new techniques for new tracking and visual effects.

• The popularity of soccer spread with the expansion of the British Empire. By the 1990s, it was the most popular sport in the world. Still, the only countries in the world that call the game “soccer” are those that also have established football leagues: Canada, Ireland, Australia, and the U.S. 