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 Football is
considered America’s game, but its history is centuries old and
many countries play different variations of the game. “Football
Around the World” is a new exhibit at the College Football Hall
of Fame that describes a variety of games related to football
and how those games are played.
Games featured in
the exhibit include Canadian football, Australian Rules
football, Gaelic football, Calcio, rugby and soccer. The
“Football Around the World” exhibit will be on display until
October 2005.
 “Football is
probably the simplest of all games, but it’s interesting how
different societies and cultures have taken this simple concept
of a game and modified it to a particular country or region,”
said collections manager Kent Stephens. “Some of these games
like soccer and rugby have gained world wide acceptance, while
others are still played primarily in one country.”
The exhibit
explains the basic rules of each sport, complete with a
miniature scale model of each game’s playing field with goals
and field markings. Next to the scale model playing field is a
brief history lesson on how each game was formed. Official
jerseys and game balls are also part of the display.
An audio/visual
element with action highlights of all six sports will be added
to the display in the near future.
About the National Soccer Hall
of Fame and Museum
Located in
Oneonta, NY, the National Soccer Hall of Fame opened a 30,000
square foot, state-of-the-art museum in 1999. The Hall of Fame
tells the story of soccer in
America through artifacts, photographs, and video clips. The new
Hall features an extensive interactive, youth oriented Kicks
Zone where visitors have fun kicking,
heading and playing computer trivia stations and video
soccer games. The VideoWall portrays some of the greatest
moments and the greatest goals in history as well as live soccer
action with World Cup, MLS, and U.S. Soccer matches. Unique and
rare artifacts on exhibit range from the world’s oldest soccer
ball to the FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy won by the USA in
1999,
Pelé's and Mia Hamm’s uniforms, Kristine Lilly’s golden
shoes, NASL championship rings, the original MLS championship
trophy, MLS gallery - it’s all at the National Soccer Hall of
Fame. In addition to the interactive Museum, the National Soccer
Hall of Fame complex boasts the
Kicks
Zone Store,
a research library, four world-class soccer fields and
office/meeting facilities. The Hall plans to add a stadium, an
indoor soccer arena and housing facilities in the future.
The mission of
the National Soccer Hall of Fame is to celebrate the history,
honor the heroes, inspire the youth and preserve the legacy of
soccer in the United States.
The National
Soccer Hall of Fame is open every day of the year, except
Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's. Admission is $9.00 for
adults, $8.00 for students, $6.50 for children 6 or older and
senior citizens. Children 5 and under are free.
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