Evolution of the Football
Rugby
Modern
Rugby igolenses.co.uk
The first
'footballs' were actually not footballs; they
were rugby balls. These rugby balls were made of
an inflated pig stomach wrapped in leather. Thus,
rugby is the grandfather of modern day 'pigskin'
football. Starting in approximately 1870, rugby
switched from playing with a spherical ball
(similar to a volleyball) to an elongated, egg
shaped ball. This is the same shape rugby
players use today. Though footballs resemble
rugby balls in general shape, they are NOT
identical. Rugby balls are not thrown over long
distances like a football is, so as football
progressed through time and earned it's own
popularity apart from rugby, footballs were
reshaped to the form we know them as today.
Past Footballs
After the first known game of
football between Harvard and McGill college,
football became a huge hit
in colleges and
universities. However, these games were played
with regular, pig stomached, leather, rugby
balls until the 1930's. The balls began to gain
sharper ends for increased aerodynamics in the
air and also large white laces for improved
grip. The enhanced grip of the football is used
for giving the football it's signature spiral
when it is thrown, which helps the passer throw
the football further
distances. This coupled with it's increased
aerodynamics results in a footballs ability to
be thrown vast lengths.
1932
Football wikipedia.com
Present day
Footballs 
Modern
footballs used by college and professional
football leagues are similar to the ones used in
the 1930's. They still have the same shape, lace
size, and are wrapped in leather. A large
difference in modern footballs is they have
replaced the pig stomach with a rubber interior.
In fact, some cheap footballs are made of
entirely rubber. Though these footballs maybe
inferior in quality compared to their leather
wrapped brethren, cheap rubber footballs have
made footballs an affordable toy that can be
enjoyed all over the America.
Cheap
rubber
football
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