The history of sports in the United States reveals that American football, baseball, softball, and indoor soccer evolved from older British sports—rugby football, British baseball, rounders, and association football, respectively. Over time, these sports diverged significantly from their European origins, developing into distinctly American versions. For example, over time, American football developed its own rules and style, becoming distinctly different from its British predecessor and uniquely American. While baseball's origins can be traced to British bat-and-ball games such as British baseball, its development in the United States also incorporated elements from various other bat-and-ball games. Today, baseball enjoys widespread international popularity, especially in East Asia and Latin America.
In contrast, volleyball, skateboarding, snowboarding, and Ultimate Frisbee are American inventions. Volleyball was created by William G. Morgan in 1895 and has since become popular worldwide. Skateboarding, emerging in the 1950s, and snowboarding, which developed in the 1960s and 1970s, are American innovations that have gained global traction. Ultimate Frisbee, developed in the late 1960s, has also spread internationally.
Additionally, sports like lacrosse and surfing have indigenous origins. Lacrosse is rooted in Native American traditions and predates European contact, while surfing has ancient Polynesian origins and became popular in the U.S. in the early 20th century.
Precolonial era.
The oldest sport invented in what is now known as the USA is lacrosse. Originating among the Indigenous peoples of the Eastern Woodlands and the Great Lakes region, lacrosse was played by various tribes and had spiritual and social significance. The game was often played in large teams and could involve hundreds of players. It was not only a sport but also a way to resolve conflicts, train warriors, and celebrate community. The American Indians had been playing lacrosse for a millennium. Similar to lacrosse, stickball was played in the Southeastern United States. It involved two teams using sticks to hit a ball, and like lacrosse, it was often played for ceremonial reasons or to settle disputes. However, the emergence of lacrosse from stickball in the 1830s led to a shift away from these values. Also, in ancient Polynesia, especially in ancient Hawaii, Polynesian people have been surfing since at least the start of the 12th century. Various Indigenous tribes engaged in running games that tested endurance and speed. These races were sometimes part of larger ceremonies or rituals.
Colonial era.
In Chesapeake society (that is, colonial Virginia and Maryland), sports occupied a great deal of attention at every social level, starting at the top. In England, hunting was severely restricted to landowners. In USA, game was more than plentiful. Everyone—including servants and enslaved people—could and did hunt, so there was no social distinction to be had. In 1691, Sir Francis Nicholson, the governor of Virginia, organized competitions for the "better sort of Virginians onely who are Batchelors," and he offered prizes "to be shot for, wrastled, played at backswords, &amp; Run for by Horse and foott." Horse racing was the main event. The typical farmer did not own a horse in the first place, and racing was a matter for gentlemen only, but ordinary farmers were spectators and gamblers. Selected slaves often became skilled horse trainers. Horse racing was especially important for knitting the gentry together. The race was a major public event designed to demonstrate to the world the superior social status of the gentry through expensive breeding, training, boasting and gambling, and especially winning the races themselves. Historian Timothy Breen explains that horseracing and high-stakes gambling were essential to maintaining the status of the gentry. When they publicly bet a large fraction of their wealth on their favorite horse, it told the world that competitiveness, individualism, and materialism were the core elements of gentry values.
Religion and sport
Christianity somewhat limited early sporting events in Colonial America as a result of dissenting reformers like the Puritans who did not hold the same views as the Anglican Church. Where the Anglican Church held positive views towards sporting events, Calvinist principles shifted the positions the reforming Protestant's held on sports. This led to more restrictive approaches to sport where the only tolerated events needed to be done "for sober, practical purposes" such as military maneuvers. It took until the late nineteenth century for this "religious prohibitionism" to flip in the opposite direction. It was then that Protestants began to see sport as having more "spiritual and moral value" which was embodied through organizations such as the Young Men's Christian Association, also known as the YMCA.
Early 19th century.
Horse racing.
Horse racing was a prominent sport in the early 19th century, deeply rooted in American culture. Horse racing remained the leading sport in the 1780–1860 era, especially in the South. It involved owners, trainers and spectators from all social classes and both races. However, religious evangelists were troubled by the gambling dimension, and democratic elements complained that it was too aristocratic, since only the rich could own very expensive competitive horses. The Civil War devastated the wealth needed to support the sport in the South. Thoroughbred racing revived in the North in the 1870s. Elite jockey clubs operated the most prestigious racetracks. They soon faced competition from profit-oriented proprietary racetracks especially in resort towns such as Saratoga Springs New York. Gambling was legal at the track, but an even larger amount was wagered off-track by unlicensed bookies, often backed by criminal syndicates. The Kentucky Derby, inaugurated in 1875, became a major event. The Kentucky Derby is known as "The Run for the Roses." Ten Broeck was a famous racehorse in the 19th century, known for his victories and records set in various races.
Baseball.
The Knickerbocker Base Ball Club, founded in 1845, set many modern rules for Baseball. Baseball evolved in New York City in the early part of the 19th century, with the first organized league, the National Association of Base Ball Players, emerging in 1857. It would eventually be the first team sport in the United States to be professionalized with the 1869 founding of the original Cincinnati Red Stockings (from whom the modern-day Cincinnati Reds took their name). By the late 19th century, baseball had become professionalized, with the National League established in 1876 as the first major professional league. Abner Doubleday often mythologized as the "inventor" of baseball, though the evidence for this claim is dubious. Alexander Cartwright a key figure in formalizing baseball rules and helping to establish the first baseball club, the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club. Cap Anson is one of the first stars of professional baseball and a key figure in its early history. The establishment of the National League (NL) in 1876 represented the formalization of professional baseball. The NL is the oldest extant major professional sports league in the United States and set many of the precedents for modern baseball.
Cricket.
Cricket was imported from England to the United States. John Thorn, official historian of the MLB, says that in the 1850s, both cricket and baseball were considered the "national pastimes". Cricket declined in popularity after the Civil War, with baseball replacing it as the national bat-and-ball game. This decline occurred for a number of reasons; cricket was considered too long to play, requiring a few days to play, and it was resisted on nativist grounds as being of British origin, with baseball being considered a more suitable American-origin replacement.
Boxing.
Boxing initially marked by unregulated, bare-knuckle matches, boxing gained structure with the Marquess of Queensberry Rules in 1867, introducing gloves and rounds. This formalization helped the sport gain wider acceptance and organization. Tom Molineaux was an early 19th-century African-American boxer who gained prominence in both American and British boxing. John L. Sullivan known as "The Boston Strong Boy," Sullivan was the first heavyweight champion of the gloved era and a major sports figure in the late 19th century.
Slave plantations.
On the large slave plantations, the popular male sports were wrestling, boxing, racing, hunting, and fishing. The most popular recreations for women were dancing and singing. David Wiggins says the masters typically tolerated the slaves' pastimes as long as they were ready to work when called upon. The slave children improvised their games. Girls, for example, favored "ring dances," accompanied by songs and riddles.
Mid-19th century.
The mid-19th century was a formative period for many sports in the United States, marked by the establishment of formal rules, organizations, and competitions. Rowing competitions were popular, particularly among colleges. The first collegiate rowing competition took place between Yale and Harvard in 1852. Lawn tennis began to gain popularity in the United States during the late 19th century. The first U.S. National Championships, which later became the U.S. Open, were held in 1881. Harry Wright, a prominent baseball player and manager, was instrumental in the development of baseball as a professional sport. He managed the Cincinnati Red Stockings and helped popularize the game. Al Spalding was a prominent pitcher and a key figure in the establishment of the National League.
American football.
American football began with the first intercollegiate game between Princeton and Rutgers in 1869. The sport saw major changes, including the introduction of the forward pass and the establishment of the NCAA, leading to its growing popularity, especially in colleges. Walter Camp known as the "Father of American Football," Camp began influencing the game in the late 19th century by establishing many of the rules and structures that define modern football.
Basketball.
Basketball invented by Dr. James Naismith in 1891 as a winter indoor activity, basketball quickly gained traction and began spreading to colleges and beyond. By the century's end, it was establishing itself in various colleges and setting the stage for future professional leagues.
Lacrosse.
Lacrosse began to be organized in the U.S. in the late 19th century. It gained broader attention through college competitions and became popular in certain regions.
Late 19th.
The late 19th century saw increasing debates about the commercialization and integrity of sports. Sports preferences varied by region, with baseball popular in the Northeast and football in the Midwest. Women's involvement in sports, such as tennis and golf, began to increase toward the end of the century. By the late 19th century, American sports had developed formal rules, professional leagues, and a significant national and international presence, laying the groundwork for modern sports. Richard Sears dominated American tennis in the late 19th century. He won the first seven U.S. National Championships (now the U.S. Open) from 1881 to 1887, making him one of the most successful early American tennis players. Though Francis Ouimet’s most famous achievements were in the early 20th century, his impact started in the late 19th century. He is celebrated for his victory in the 1913 U.S. Open, which is often seen as a turning point for American golf. Helen Wills Moody, though her career flourished primarily in the 1920s and 1930s, began her rise in the late 19th century. She won 31 Grand Slam titles, including 8 Wimbledon and 7 U.S. Open singles titles, making her one of the most dominant players in tennis history. Cy Young was one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history. His career spanned the 19th and early 20th centuries, and he was known for his remarkable consistency and longevity.
Early 20th century.
The rise of radio and television further expanded sports' reach and influence. Baseball continued as America's pastime, with the American League forming in 1901 and stars like Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb boosting its popularity. The period saw increased integration and diversity in sports, with figures like Jackie Robinson and Wat Misaka breaking racial barriers. The NFL was established in 1920, and the sport grew rapidly, refining its rules and gaining widespread college and professional followings. Basketball gained prominence with the founding of the NBA in 1946. The sport expanded through colleges and professional leagues. The early 20th century saw boxing's golden age with stars like Jack Johnson and Joe Louis. It became a major sport with significant media attention. Golf and tennis grew in prominence, with major tournaments becoming key events. Lastly The NHL, was founded in 1917, growing in popularity, extending its reach beyond northern states. Jim Thorpe is often considered one of the greatest athletes of all time. Thorpe had a successful career in American football, playing in the early National Football League (NFL), and in professional baseball.
Moral opposition led by evangelical Protestants and social reformers led nearly all states to close their horse tracks by 1910. Much of the spectator attention shifted to automobile racing, where technology was central rather than gambling.