Canadian football is a sport in which two teams of twelve players each compete for territorial control of a field of play 110 yards (100.6 m) long and 65 yards (59.4 m) wide, with end zones 20 yards (18.3 m) deep. At each goal line is a set of forty-foot (12.2 m) high goalposts two uprights joined by a crossbar 18.5 feet (5.6 m) long which is ten feet (3.1 m) above the goal line. The goalposts may be either H-shaped (both posts fixed in the ground) or of the tuning-fork design (supported by a single curved post behind the goal line, so that each post starts ten feet (3.1 m) above the ground). The sides of the field are marked by white sidelines, the goal line is marked in white, and white lines are drawn laterally across the field every 5 yards (4.6 m) from the goal line. This article is about the unit of measure known as the yard. ... The metre (Commonwealth English) or meter (American English) (symbol: m) is the SI base unit of length. ...

It shares origins with, and is similar to (though distinct from) American football. For a discussion of differences between Canadian and American football see: Comparison of Canadian and American football United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... The rules of American football are very similar to those of Canadian football. ...

Play of the game

Teams advance across the field through the execution of short, distinct plays, which involve the possession of a brown, ovoid ball with ends tapered to a point. The ball has two one-inch-wide stripes.

Kickoff

Play begins with one team place-kicking the ball from its own 35-yard line. Both teams then attempt to catch the ball. The player who recovers the ball may run while holding the ball, or throw the ball to a teammate, so long as the throw is not forward.

Stoppage of play

Play stops when the ball carrier's knee or elbow is forced to the ground (a tackle), when a touchdown (see below) is scored, a drop goal is scored, the ball leaves the playing area or when the ball carrier is in a standing position but can no longer move. If no score has been made, the next play starts from scrimmage.

Scrimmage

Before scrimmage, an official places the ball at the spot it became dead, but no nearer than 24 yards from the sideline or 1 yard from the goalline. The line parallel to the end zone passing through the ball is referred to as the line of scrimmage. This line is a sort of "no-man's land": players must stay on their respective sides of this line until the play has begun again. For a scrimmage to be valid the team in possession of the football must have seven players, excluding the quarterback, within one yard of the line of scrimmage. The defending team, however, must stay a yard or more back from the line of scrimmage.

Live play

On the field at the beginning of a play are two teams of 12. The team in possession of the ball is the offence and the team defending is referred to as the defence. Play begins with a backwards pass through the legs by a member of the offensive team, to the quarterback or punter. If the quarterback or punter receives the ball he may then advance with the ball, drop-kick it, pass it laterally or backwards to a teammate, punt the ball, place the ball on the ground for a place kick, or, remaining on his team's side of the line of scrimmage, throw the ball to a teammate who is closer opposing end zone than he is (a forward pass).

Each play constitutes a down. The offence must advance the ball at least ten yards towards the opponents' goal line within three downs or forfeit the ball to their opponents. Once ten yards have been gained the offence gains a new set of three downs. It must be noted that they do not accumulate, so that if one completes 10 yards on their first play, they lose the other two downs, instead of being granted three on top of their remaining two. If a team fails to gain ten yards in two downs they usually punt the ball on third down or try to kick a field goal (see below), depending on their position on the field. A field goal (formerly goal from the field) is a general term used in some sports wherein a goal may be scored either during general play (from the field) or via some sort of free shot. ...

Rules of contact

There are many rules to contact in football. First, the only player on the field legally allowed to be tackled is the player currently in possession of the football (the ball carrier). Second, a receiver, that is to say, an offensive player sent down the field to receive a pass, may not be interfered with as long as he is more than 5 yards from any point on the line of scrimmage. Any player may block another player's passage, so long as he does not hold or trip the player he intends to block. The kicker may not be contacted after the kick, and the quarterback, having already thrown the ball, may not be hit

Positions

Offence

Quarterback

Generally the leader of the team, calls all plays, and receives the ball off of snap.

Fullback

Multiple roles including pass protection, receiving, and blocking for the Running Back. On short yardage situations may also carry the ball.

Running back

As the name implies the main runner on the team. Also a eligible receiver and blocker on pass plays.

Wide receiver

Runs down the field in order to catch a forward pass from the quarterback.

Slotback

Same as the wide receiver, but starts five yards back of the line of scrimmage and stays closer to the offensive line.

Centre

Snaps the ball to the quarterback. Most important pass blocker pass plays. Calls offensive-line plays.

Left/right guard

Stands to the left and right of the centre helps protect the quarterback, Usually very good run blockers to open holes up the middle for runners.

Left/right tackle

Stands on the ends of the offensive line, The biggest men on the line, usually about 300 pounds (140 kg). Usually very good pass blockers.

Offensive lineman

Collective name for centre, guards, and tackles.

Kicker

Kicks the field goals, converts, kick-offs

Punter

Punts ball, usually on third downs

The avoirdupois system is a system of weights defining terms such as pound and ounce. ...

Defence

Cornerback

Covers the wide receivers on most plays.

Safety

Covers deep. Last line of defence, can offer run support or blitz.

Defensive halfback

Covers the slotback and helps contain the run from going to the outside.

Defensive back

Collective term for cornerback, safety, and defensive halfback.

Nose tackle

Lineman across from centre, tries to get past the offensive-line or take double team and open holes for blitzes.

Defensive tackle

Inside defensive linemen try to break through the offensive line and open holes for linebackers.

Defensive end

Main rushing lineman. Rushes the quarterback and contain

Middle linebacker

Lines up across from the centre 3 to 4 yards back. Quarterback of the defence. Calls plays for lineman and linebackers.

Weak-side linebacker

Lines up on the short side of field, and can drop into pass coverage or contain.

Strong-side linebacker

Lines up on the opposite side and usually rushes.

Other kicks

Canadian football distinguishes three ways of kicking the ball:

Place kick 

Kicking a ball held on the ground by a teammate, or, on resuming play following a score, placed on a tee.

Drop kick 

Kicking a ball after bouncing it on the ground; although rarely used today, it has the same status in scoring as a place kick.

Punt 

Kicking the ball after it has been released from the kicker's hand and before it hits the ground)

On punts and field goal attempts (but not kickoffs), members of the kicking team, other than the kicker and any teammates who are onside (behind the kicker at the time of the kick), may not approach within five yards of the ball until it has been touched by the receiving team. A drop kick is someones dropping a ball and then kicking it when it bounces off the ground. ...

Scoring

The methods of scoring are:

Touchdown 

Achieved when the ball is in possession of a player in the opponent's goal area, or when the ball in the possession of a player crosses or touches the plane of the opponent's goal-line, worth 6 points

Conversion 

A scrimmage play from any point between the hash marks on or outside the opponent's five yard line. Attempted after scoring a touchdown, either by kicking an extra point (worth one point), or by scoring with a carrying or passing play (worth two points). This is known as a convert or two-point conversion.

Field goal 

Scored by a drop kick or place kick (except on a kick-off) when the ball, after being kicked and without again touching the ground, goes over the cross bar and between the goal posts (or goal posts produced) of the opponent's goal (worth three points).

Safety 

Scored when the ball becomes dead in the possession of a team in its own goal area, or touches or crosses the dead-line or side-line-in-goal as a result of the ball having been carried, kicked, fumbled or otherwise directed from the field of play into the goal area by the team scored against, or as a direct result of a kick from scrimmage having been blocked in the field of play or goal area (worth two points).

Single 

Scored when the ball becomes dead in possession of a team in its own goal area or when the ball touches or crosses the deadline, or side-line-in-goal, and touches the ground, a player, or some object beyond these lines as a result of the ball having been kicked from the field of play into the goal area by the scoring team (worth one point).

At one time the single was called a rouge (French for "red"); this term is still recognized in the official rulebook, but is otherwise obsolete. In early Canadian football rules the point was deducted from a team failing to advance the ball from the end zone. If a team had no points, this put them "in the red", with a negative score.[1]

Resumption of play

Resumption of play following a score is conducted under procedures which vary with the type of score.

• Following a touchdown, play resumes with the scoring team kicking off from its own 35-yard line (45-yard line in amateur leagues).
• Following a field goal, the non-scoring team may choose for play to resume either with a kickoff as above, or by scrimmaging the ball from its own 35-yard line.
• Following a safety, the scoring team may choose for play to resume in either of the above ways, or it may choose to kick off from its own 35-yard line.
• Following a rouge, play resumes with the non-scoring team scrimmaging from its own 35-yard line.

Game timing

The game consists of two 30-minute halves, each of which is divided into two 15-minute quarters. The clock counts down from 15:00 in each quarter. Timing rules change when there are three minutes remaining in a half.

In the first 27 minutes of a half, the clock stops when:

• points are scored,
• the ball goes out of bounds,
• a forward pass is incomplete,
• the ball is dead and a penalty flag has been thrown,
• the ball is dead and teams are making substitutions (e.g., possession has changed, punting situation, short yardage situation),
• the ball is dead and a player is injured, or
• the ball is dead and a captain calls a time-out.

The clock starts again when the referee determines the ball is ready for scrimmage, except for team time-outs (where the clock starts at the snap) and kickoffs (where the clock starts not at the kick but when the ball is first touched after the kick). Time out can refer to: Timeout, or sometimes time out, a break in play that may be called by a side to formulate strategy or respond to a players injury. ...

In the last three minutes of a half, the clock stops whenever the ball becomes dead. On kickoffs, the clock starts when the ball is first touched after the kick. On scrimmages, when it starts depends on what ended the previous play. The clock starts when the ball is ready for scrimmage except that it starts on the snap when on the previous play

• the ball was kicked off,
• the ball was punted,
• the ball changed possession,
• the ball went out of bounds,
• there were points scored,
• there was an incomplete forward pass,
• there was a penalty applied (not declined), or
• there was a team time-out.

The clock does not run during convert attempts in the last three minutes of a half. If the 15 minutes of a quarter expire while the ball is live, the quarter is extended until the ball becomes dead. If a quarter's time expires while the ball is dead, the quarter is extended for one more scrimmage. A quarter cannot end while a penalty is pending: after the penalty yardage is applied, the quarter is extended one scrimmage.

League play

Canadian football is played at several levels in Canada. The professional league in which the sport is played is the nine-team Canadian Football League (CFL), and its champion is awarded the Grey Cup, the oldest trophy in professional football. Amateur football is governed by Football Canada. At the university level, 27 teams play in four conferences under the auspices of Canadian Interuniversity Sport; the CIS champion is awarded the Vanier Cup. Junior football is played by many after high school before joining the university ranks. There are 18 junior teams in 3 divisions competing for the Canadian Bowl. The Canadian Football League (CFL; French: Ligue canadienne de football) is a professional league located entirely in Canada that plays Canadian football. ... Then Prime Minister Joe Clark presents the 1979 Grey Cup to victorious Edmonton Eskimos Danny Kepley and Tom Wilkinson. ... Football Canada is the governing body for amateur Canadian football. ... Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) is the national governing body of university sport in Canada. ... The Vanier Cup (French: Coupe Vanier) is the championship trophy of Canadian Interuniversity Sport mens football. ...

Semi-professional leagues have grown in popularity in recent years, with the Alberta Football League becoming especially popular. The Canadian Major Football League is the governing body for the semi-professional game. A semi-professional athlete is one who is paid money to play and thus is not an amateur, but for whom sport is not a full-time occupation, generally because the level of pay is too low to make a reasonable living based solely upon that source, thus making the... The Alberta Football League (AFL) is a semi-professional Canadian football competition. ...

History

Canadian football was originally called rugby football, and is a descendant of rugby union football as played in the 1860s and 1870s by the Montreal Football Club and at McGill University. It is from this varsity play that the game now known as American Football entered the United States, as McGill challenged Harvard University to play. Argentina-France Rugby Union match Rugby football refers to sports descended from a common form of football developed at Rugby School. ... Image from a test-match between Ireland and the New Zealand All Blacks. ... // Events and trends Technology The First Transcontinental Railroad in the United States is built in the six year period between 1863 and 1869. ... // Events and Trends Technology The invention of the telephone (1876) by Alexander Graham Bell. ... McGill University (Université McGill), is a publicly funded, research-intensive, non-denominational, co-educational university located in the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. ... United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... Harvard University is a private university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA and a member of the Ivy League. ...

The Canadian Football League was known under various names throughout its history including the Canadian Rugby Football Union, and the Canadian Rugby Union. The Canadian Rugby Football Union, original forerunner to the current Canadian Football League was established in 1884. Football Canada is the governing body for amateur Canadian football. ... Football Canada is the governing body for amateur Canadian football. ...

As the rules of American football are very similar to Canadian football, the CFL has maintained a close relationship with its American counterpart, the National Football League (NFL). United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... The National Football League (NFL) is the largest professional American football league, consisting of thirty-two teams from American cities and regions. ...

The CFL regular season begins in June, and play-offs are be completed by mid-November. In cities with outdoor stadiums such as Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Montreal, Hamilton and Regina, low-temperatures and icy field conditions can seriously affect the outcome of a game. Look up June in Wiktionary, the free dictionary June is the sixth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with a length of 30 days The month is named after the Roman goddess Juno, wife of Jupiter and equivalent to the Greek goddess Hera. ... Look up November in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Template:Hide = Motto: Template:Unhide = Onward Area: 789. ... Template:Hide = Motto: Template:Unhide = Industry Integrity Progress Area: 683. ... Template:Hide = Motto: Template:Unhide = Unum Cum Virtute Multorum (One With the Strength of Many) City of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canadas Location. ... This article needs cleanup. ... Motto: Together Aspire - Together Achieve Area: 1,117. ... Regina, Saskatchewan Regina is the major city in the south of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. ...

See also

• Glossary of Canadian football
• Canadian Football League
• Comparison of Canadian and American football
• American football
• Football
  • Rugby football
• Fantasy Football
• Flag football

This is a glossary of terms used in Canadian football. ... The Canadian Football League (CFL; French: Ligue canadienne de football) is a professional league located entirely in Canada that plays Canadian football. ... The rules of American football are very similar to those of Canadian football. ... United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... Football is the name given to a number of different, but related, team sports. ... Argentina-France Rugby Union match Rugby football refers to sports descended from a common form of football developed at Rugby School. ... Fantasy football can refer to two different types of fantasy sport, depending upon the local meaning of the term football: Fantasy football (American) Fantasy football (soccer) There is also a British television programme called Fantasy Football League, loosely based on the soccer version. ... Flag football is a version of American football that is popular across the United States and Europe. ...

External links

• CFL Rulebook
• Canadian Football Hall of Fame in Hamilton, Ontario