Where Did Football Come From

Where did the term "touchdown" come from?

If you score in Rugby, it's a try.
If you score in Football, it's a goal.
If you score in Cricket or Baseball, it's a run.

So where did the term touchdown come from?

When the touchdown was introduced into American football in 1876, it did not award a score; instead, it only allowed the offense the chance to kick for goal by placekick from a spot along a line perpendicular to the goal line and passing through the point where the ball was touched down, or through a process known as a "punt-out", where the attacking team would kick the ball from the point where it was touched down to a teammate. If the teammate could fair catch the ball, he could follow with a try for goal from the spot of the catch, or resume play as normal (in an attempt to touchdown the ball in a spot more advantageous for kicking). [2]

In 1881, the rules were modified so that a goal kicked from a touchdown took precedence over a goal kicked from the field in breaking ties.[2]

In 1882, four touchdowns were determined to take precedence over a goal kicked from the field. Two safeties were equivalent to a touchdown.[2]

In 1883, points were introduced to football, and a touchdown counted as 4 points. A goal after a touchdown also counted as 4 points.[2]

In 1889, the provision requiring the ball to actually be touched to the ground was removed. A touchdown was now scored by possessing the ball beyond the goal line.[2]

In 1897, the touchdown scored 5 points, and the goal after touchdown added an additional point.[2]

In 1900, the definition of touchdown was changed to include situations where the ball becomes dead on or above the goal line. [2]

In 1912, the value of a touchdown was increased to 6 points. The end zone was also added. Prior to the addition of the end zone, forward passes caught beyond the goal line resulted in a loss of possession and a touchback. [2]

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