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Period: Jan 1, 700 to
Dates of Important Events of Modern Sports
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May 1, 700
Football (soccer) in England
The history of football in England dates back to the 8th century, where records show school children playing a form of what was "Mob Football" only now handling the ball solely with their feet. (Photo courtesy of 3.bp.blogspot.com) -
Feb 6, 1100
Tennis
Known as jeu de paume or "game of the palm," this French sport would evolve into the game we now know as tennis. Started in the early 12th century, it wouldn't introduce rackets until the 1500s. (Photo courtesy of wikicommons.org) -
Jan 1, 1400
Origins of Golf in Scotland
The game originates in Scotland around this time. Despite it not being the first form of the game, this form is the one that would evolve into what is now played on courses across the globe today. (Photo courtesy of pcaworldwide.com) -
Golf
Its origin still to this day a highly debated topic, the first (and oldest) official rules of the modern game of golf appeared in March of 1744 for the Company of Gentlemen Golfers in Leith, Scotland. (Photo courtesy of wikicommons.org) -
R&A founded
The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrew's is the world's (Except for the US and Mexico) governing body for the sport of golf. It, along with the USGA are the ruling authorities of golf in the world. The R&A is based at the Golf Club of St. Andrew's. (Photo courtesy of wikicommons.org) -
Invention of Modern Rugby
The invention of the modern day game of rugby is believed to have been invented on this day at the Rubgy School (where the sport gets it name) in England, when William Web-Ellis picked up the ball and ran with it. Thus, RUGBY! (Photo courtesy of trivago.com) -
Baseball
Alexander Carwright creates and designs the first modern baseball field, along with a list of rules that has evolved into the current rules for modern day baseball. (Photo courtesy of wikicommons) -
1st Recorded U.S. Baseball Game
On this day in Hoboken, N.J., the New York Nine defeated the New York Knickerbockers 23-1 in four innings. It is the first recorded game of the sport in United States' history. (Photo courtesy of 19cbaseball.com) -
Soccer (Association Football)
Despite forms of it having been played since ancient times, the first official rules were recorded and codified in England by the Football Association, in order to set it apart from other forms of football, specifically rugby. The term "Soccer" would first appear in the1880s in England. (Photo courtesy of soocer-fans-info.com) -
MLB founded
Major League Baseball was founded in 1869 with a commissioner of baseball in charge of the governing body. The National League appeared in 1876 and then the American League would show up in 1901. It wasn't until 2000 that these two leagues officially became a single organization. (Photo courtesy of wikicommons.org) -
Rugby Football Union founded
The Rugby Football Union is formed in England. It would later on evolve into the modern day Rugby League and Rugby Union. Although the sport had various forms prior to this formation, this marked the first time an organized grouping of the sport existed. (Photo courtesy of wakefield.gov.uk) -
Official Rules of Tennis
In December of this year Major Walter Clopton Wingfield would design and patent a game he called sphairistike, a variation of the French game played years before. He is credited with the invention of modern day tennis. (Photo courtesy of wikicommons.org) -
Ice Hockey
James Creighton, a Canadian man, wrote down rules for what is now modern ice hockey, and a few months later they were applied in a game between two nine player teams at Montreal's Victoria Skating Rink. This is the first documented indoor game of hockey. (Photo courtesy of wikicommons.org) -
Basketball
Dr. James Naismith invents basketball in Springfield, Ma., on a rainy December day in order to keep his gym class active at what is now Springfield College. He nailed a peach basket to a 10 foot high elevated track. He wrote down basic rules of the game, which would evolve into what we now know as basketball. (Photo couresy of kansassampler.com) -
1st Official Basketball Game
The first official game of "Basket Ball," as it was called at the time, game was played in Albany, New York at a YMCA with nine players. The game ended in a score of 1-0, the shot being made from 25 feet out. by 1906, the peach baskets werre replaced by prototypes of the current models. (Photo couresty of tumblr.com) -
USGA founded
The United States Golf Association is the US's governing body for the sport of golf. It, along with the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrew's are the ruling authorities of golf in the world. (Photo courtesy of wikipedia.org) -
Formation of FIFA
Filling the need for a single body to oversee association football, FIFA was formed in Paris, France to do just that in 1904. (Photo courtesy of businessofsoccer.com) -
ITF founded
Founded in Paris, France the International Tennis Federation is the highest governing body of Tennis world wide. It holds the official rules of the game, and the rights to change them. Currently it is made up of 210 national tennis associations. (Photo courtesy of wikicommons.org) -
NHL founded
The NHL was founded in Montreal, Quebec, Canada after its predocessor, the National Hockey Association, suspended its operations. It started what now exists today with only four teams, all based in Canada. (Photo courtesy of wikipedia.org) -
NFL founded
The National Football League was founded in August of 1920 to bring together professional teams of American football, now one of the most popular sports in the U.S. today. (Photo courtesy of wikicommons.org)
