Changes

The suggestion that the game is called "football" not because the ball is kicked with the foot but because it is played "on foot" rather than on horseback is a myth.  It is a myth which has gained popularity in reason years, especially on the internet, but citing a website which puts this theory forward does not stop it being a myth.  See for example [http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=19960509 this] etymology website which states that the reason it was named football was because of kicking the ball.  

The suggestion that the game is called "football" not because the ball is kicked with the foot but because it is played "on foot" rather than on horseback is a myth.  It is a myth which has gained popularity in reason years, especially on the internet, but citing a website which puts this theory forward does not stop it being a myth.  See for example [http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=19960509 this] etymology website which states that the reason it was named football was because of kicking the ball.  

The argument in the previously cited [http://www.icons.org.uk/theicons/collection/fa-cup/biography/history-of-football source] is that football developed in the middle ages as "a game played by ordinary people, as distinct from the team games of the nobility which were played on horseback".  This would make some sense, ''if'' there were any examples of team ball games played on horseback during this period.  There were not.  The only notable equine ball game is polo, which was played in the middle east since ancient times, but not in the English speaking world until the 19th century, several centuries after the first use of the word "football".  Medieval and early modern equine sports in Europe were largely variants on jousting or combat, which did not involve balls.  There were numerous ball games, all played on foot, such as tennis, croquet, bowls and stoolball (the origin of cricket).  Since football was the only gamer which involved kicking the ball, this is the most probable reason for the origin of the name.

The argument in the previously cited [http://www.icons.org.uk/theicons/collection/fa-cup/biography/history-of-football source] is that football developed in the middle ages as "a game played by ordinary people, as distinct from the team games of the nobility which were played on horseback".  This would make some sense, ''if'' there were any examples of team ball games played on horseback during this period.  There were not.  The only notable equine ball game is polo, which was played in the middle east since ancient times, but not in the English speaking world until the 19th century, several centuries after the first use of the word "football".  Medieval and early modern equine sports in Europe were largely variants on jousting or combat, which did not involve balls.  There were numerous ball games, all played on foot, such as tennis, croquet, bowls and stoolball (the origin of cricket).  Since football was the only game which involved kicking the ball, this is the most probable reason for the origin of the name.

However, since there is disagreement on this issue, and this is likely to continue, it is probably better to keep any mention of the origin of the word "football" out of the article.  [[User:Sideways|Sideways]] 14:49, 16 September 2008 (EDT)

However, since there is disagreement on this issue, and this is likely to continue, it is probably better to keep any mention of the origin of the word "football" out of the article.  [[User:Sideways|Sideways]] 14:49, 16 September 2008 (EDT)