Why is Americans style football often called the gridiron sport?

Answer 1

After playing Football for many years Americas top coaches became frustrated that their top athletes were unable to make any impact on football.

They decided that as football was too complex for their best athletes they would invent a more basic "cheap and easy" sport for them to play.

Gridiron was invented.
Because it evolved from Rugby, which in turn evolved from soccer -- or what most of the world calls "football." Rugby is really "rugby football," just as soccer is really "association football." American/gridiron football is just another football code, and its name reflects its origins. Over time, most people started calling "rugby football" simply "rugby," while Americans started referring to their game simply as "football" instead of "gridiron football" or "American football." Rugby kept the first half of its name, while American football kept the second half of its name.

It could just as easily have been called American rugby!
The name "Gridiron" comes from a name used to describe or refer to the field of play, so-named because of the grid-like jail-bar pattern the lines make. Just as Americans use the word "soccer" to refer to Association football, the English sometimes use "Gridiron" to refer to American football.
When the down-and-distance system was introduced to the game, teams painted crisscrossed lines on the field to indicate 5-yard increments. (At the time, you needed 5 yards to get a first down.) The field therefore resembled a gridiron -- a metal grate with parallel bars used for cooking.
Because it evolved from rugby, which in turn evolved from soccer -- or what most of the world calls "football." Rugby is really "rugby football," just as soccer is really "association football." American/gridiron football is just another football code, and its name reflects its origins. Over time, most people started calling "rugby football" simply "rugby," while Americans started referring to their game simply as "football" instead of "gridiron football" or "American football." Rugby kept the first half of its name, while American football kept the second half of its name.

It could just as easily have been called American rugby!
ANSWER.

In North America they struggled at football and rugby league/union so they decided to invent lesser more basic sports so they could win at something by avoiding competition.

Gridiron was born.

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American football is called 'gridiron' for the line markings that it uses. There are lines, widthwise across the field, every five yards along with lines marking the end of the end zone and the sidelines. If one was to look at an American football field from above, the pattern would resemble a gridiron.

Canadian/American football is known globally as "gridiron" or sometimes "American style rugby".

It was invented by north Americans who found football too technical for them and they needed to use their hands in order to control the ball.

Gridiorn is used globally so no one confuses football with lesser sports.
Because the painted lines on the field resemble a gridiron, a metal rack for cooking over a fire.
American style football is called the gridiron sport because of the markings on the football field.

Answer 2

After playing Football for many years Americas top coaches became frustrated that their top athletes were unable to make any impact on football.

They decided that as football was too complex for their best athletes they would invent a more basic "cheap and easy" sport for them to play.

Gridiron was invented.
Because it evolved from rugby, which in turn evolved from soccer -- or what most of the world calls "football." Rugby is really "rugby football," just as soccer is really "association football." American/gridiron football is just another football code, and its name reflects its origins. Over time, most people started calling "rugby football" simply "rugby," while Americans started referring to their game simply as "football" instead of "gridiron football" or "American football." Rugby kept the first half of its name, while American football kept the second half of its name.

It could just as easily have been called American rugby!
The name "Gridiron" comes from a name used to describe or refer to the field of play, so-named because of the grid-like jail-bar pattern the lines make. Just as Americans use the word "soccer" to refer to Association football, the English sometimes use "Gridiron" to refer to American football.
When the down-and-distance system was introduced to the game, teams painted crisscrossed lines on the field to indicate 5-yard increments. (At the time, you needed 5 yards to get a first down.) The field therefore resembled a gridiron -- a metal grate with parallel bars used for cooking.
Because it evolved from rugby, which in turn evolved from soccer -- or what most of the world calls "football." Rugby is really "rugby football," just as soccer is really "association football." American/gridiron football is just another football code, and its name reflects its origins. Over time, most people started calling "rugby football" simply "rugby," while Americans started referring to their game simply as "football" instead of "gridiron football" or "American football." Rugby kept the first half of its name, while American football kept the second half of its name.

It could just as easily have been called American rugby!
ANSWER.

In North America they struggled at football and rugby league/union so they decided to invent lesser more basic sports so they could win at something by avoiding competition.

Gridiron was born.

-----------------------

American football is called 'gridiron' for the line markings that it uses. There are lines, widthwise across the field, every five yards along with lines marking the end of the end zone and the sidelines. If one was to look at an American football field from above, the pattern would resemble a gridiron.

Canadian/American football is known globally as "gridiron" or sometimes "American style rugby".

It was invented by north Americans who found football too technical for them and they needed to use their hands in order to control the ball.

Gridiorn is used globally so no one confuses football with lesser sports.
Because the painted lines on the field resemble a gridiron, a metal rack for cooking over a fire.
American style football is called the gridiron sport because of the markings on the football field.