Spurred on by a conversation in another thread:
There are, of course, several different games which evolved from what you might call Proto-Football in the English speaking world. Of these, you might say that there are two broad categories (and yes, I know, this is grandly over simplifying things): the Rugby Category (which includes American Football, Canadian Footbal, Rugby Union and League) and the Soccer category (which can said to include Association/Soccer, Gaelic Football, Aussie Rules, etc)
Obviously, in the United States, it was a Rugby style game that became popular in the second half the 19th century and eventually underwent a series of reforms that helped it develop into the Grid-Iron game we know today as American Football.
So, the challange here is simple: Have a form of American Rules Soccer develop which is as distinct from Association Rules as Gaelic and Australian Football is today, but is still recognizably related. This does NOT mean that we have to do away with Gridiron American Football (though if this helps, please feel free), nor does it mean that American Rules Soccer needs to be as popular as American Football is in OTL - though it should still be a popular enough game to be considered one of the major leagues in the US. Bonus points if you can describe the game's rules and how they develop.
There are, of course, several different games which evolved from what you might call Proto-Football in the English speaking world. Of these, you might say that there are two broad categories (and yes, I know, this is grandly over simplifying things): the Rugby Category (which includes American Football, Canadian Footbal, Rugby Union and League) and the Soccer category (which can said to include Association/Soccer, Gaelic Football, Aussie Rules, etc)
Obviously, in the United States, it was a Rugby style game that became popular in the second half the 19th century and eventually underwent a series of reforms that helped it develop into the Grid-Iron game we know today as American Football.
So, the challange here is simple: Have a form of American Rules Soccer develop which is as distinct from Association Rules as Gaelic and Australian Football is today, but is still recognizably related. This does NOT mean that we have to do away with Gridiron American Football (though if this helps, please feel free), nor does it mean that American Rules Soccer needs to be as popular as American Football is in OTL - though it should still be a popular enough game to be considered one of the major leagues in the US. Bonus points if you can describe the game's rules and how they develop.