foot ball

This article is about the American variation of gridiron football. For other uses, see  American football (disambiguation) . American football Larry Fitzgerald  (in blue) catches a pass while  Cortland Finnegan  (in red) plays defense at the  2009 Pro Bowl . Highest  governing body International Federation of American Football Nicknames Football gridiron First played November 6, 1869 New Brunswick, New Jersey , United States ( Princeton  vs.  Rutgers ) Characteristics Contact Full-contact Team members 11 (both teams may  freely   substitute  players between downs) Type Team sport ball game Equipment Football Football helmet Pads  ( shoulder , thigh,  knee , and optionally  elbow pads ) Venue Football field  (rectangular: 120 yards long, 53 ​ 1 ⁄ 3  yards wide) Glossary Glossary of American football Presence Country or region Worldwide Olympic No ( demonstrated  at the  1932 Summer Olympic...