Definition of contact sport

The term "contact sport" is a relatively recent invention, appearing in the late 19th century. It arose from the growing popularity of athletic contests involving physical contact, like rugby and American football. "Contact" itself comes from the Latin "contactus," meaning "touching." This combination of "contact" and "sport" highlighted the key characteristic of these games – the physical interaction between players. While the exact origin of the phrase remains unclear, its emergence coincided with the formalization of rules and increasing public interest in these physically demanding sports.