biography
| name: |
Camp, Walter (Chauncey)
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| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (1859–1925)
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| biography:
| Pioneer and coach of American football, born in New Britain, Connecticut, USA. He was called ‘The Father of American Football’ because he was largely responsible for transforming the US game into a unique contest, different from its soccer and rugby roots. He starred as a rugby runner and kicker at Yale (1876–81), and represented Yale at the intercollegiate football conventions (1877–1925). Among the rule changes he championed were reduction of players per side from 15 to 11 (1879), creation of the scrimmage in which one team holds undisputed possession of the ball (1880), the system in which a team must gain a specified number of yards within a specified number of downs to retain possession (1882), and the point system of scoring (1883). Through his writings, his position as Yale's advisory coach, and his annual All-America selections, he remained American football's premier authority until his death. |
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