Spectre
Oct-02-2004, 04:33 PM
In Canada, unbeknownst to many Americans, we play our own special brand of football. Same basic game, but the rules are a little different. I decided to list the key differences.
League
The NFL is a 32 team league. Each plays 16 games, and they compete for the Super Bowl.
The CFL is a 9 team league. Each plays 18 games, and they compete for the Grey Cup.
Field
The American field is 100 yards long, 53.3 yards wide, and has 10 yard long endzones. The uprights are at the back of the endzone.
The Canadian field is 110 yards long, 65 yards wide, and has 20 yard long endzones. The uprights are at the front of the endzone.
Players
Americans have 11 players on the field at once.
Canadians have 12 players on the field at once.
Downs
Americans have 4 downs to go 10 yards for a first down.
Canadians have 3 downs to go 10 yard for a first down.
Punting/Kicking
In America, if a kick or punt either sails through the endzone, or the returner takes a knee in the endzone, it results in a touchback. The ball is spotted at the returning team's 20. If the returner so desires, he can call for a Fair Catch. If he catches the ball on an FC, he has not allowed to advance, his team gets the ball where he catches it. If he gets hit after calling for an FC, it's a penalty called Fair Catch Interference.
In Canada, if a kick or punt either sails through the endzone, or the returner takes a knee in the endzone, it results in a single. The kicking team receives a single point, and the ball is spotted at the returning team's 35. The returner is given a 5 yard cushion around him before he touches the ball. If a player on the kicking team is within 5 yards of the returner on any side when he picks up or catches the ball, they will get a penalty called No Yards.
Field Goals
In America, a missed field goal can be run back if it is caught in the air. Once it touches the ground, it's a dead ball. After a marked field goal, the team who scored kicks off the ball.
In Canada, a missed field goal is a live ball. Teams will always send one guy deep to field the kick if it's short or wide. The same rule for singles applies as on punts and kickoffs. After a marked field goal, the defense can either receive a kick, or have their offense start on their own 35.
Players
In America, the offense can use any combination of 5; tight ends, halfbacks, fullbacks, and wide receivers. A standard defense is 4 down linemen, 3 linebackers, 2 cornerbacks, 1 strong safety, and one free safety.
In Canada, the offense can use any combination of 6; tight ends, tailbacks (the equivalent of the U.S halfback,) fullbacks, wide receivers, and slot backs (a running back/receiver who lines up about 5 yards outside the offensive line, behind the line of scrimmage.) A standard defense is 4 down linemen, 3 linebackers, 2 cornerbacks, 2 halfbacks (combinations of linebackers and DBs. Generally cover interior receivers.) and 1 safety.
Clock
In America, the game consists of 2 halves, divided up as 4 15 minute quarters. With two minutes left in each half, the clock stops, which is known as the "Two Minute Warning." After the two minute warning, coaches cannot use challenges, they are rather called in from the booth. The play clock is 40 seconds, and 25 seconds after a penalty or change of possesion.
In Canada, the game consists of 2 halves, divided up as 4 15 minute quarters. With three minutes left in each half, the clock stops. Inside of three minutes, the clock stops after every play, and does not start again until the offense is back at the line of scrimmage and the referee blows his whistle. As such, the last three minutes of a Canadian half can take a while. The play clock is 20 seconds.
In both nations, the clock stops after a player runs out of bounds, after an incomplete pass, or on a penalty, and teams have 3 timeouts per half.
Season
In America, the season starts the second week of September. The playoffs start in January, and the Super Bowl is the last week of January. The feature games are played on American Thanksgiving Day. Detroit and Dallas always play on Thanksgiving.
In Canada, the season starts on the third week of June. The playoffs start in November, and the Grey Cup is the third week of November. The feature games are played on Labour Day. The Edmonton Eskimos always visit the Calgary Stampeders, and the Toronto Argonauts always visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for the Labour Day Classic.
Grassroots
In both nations, players can start at a very young age, playing Pop Warner in America, and Peewee/Bantam in Canada. Any high school worth it's salt in either nation has a football team, and they compete for State Championships in America, and Provincial Championships in Canada. Most big city schools in Canada are content winning City Championships, and consider Provincials to be a bonus. After high school, players can compete in the NCAA, or in CIS (Canadian Intercollegiate Sport.) CIS teams fight for the Vanier Cup. After that, there are junior leagues in both nations. Many American college players will come to play in the CFL if they are not yet good enough for the NFL.
League
The NFL is a 32 team league. Each plays 16 games, and they compete for the Super Bowl.
The CFL is a 9 team league. Each plays 18 games, and they compete for the Grey Cup.
Field
The American field is 100 yards long, 53.3 yards wide, and has 10 yard long endzones. The uprights are at the back of the endzone.
The Canadian field is 110 yards long, 65 yards wide, and has 20 yard long endzones. The uprights are at the front of the endzone.
Players
Americans have 11 players on the field at once.
Canadians have 12 players on the field at once.
Downs
Americans have 4 downs to go 10 yards for a first down.
Canadians have 3 downs to go 10 yard for a first down.
Punting/Kicking
In America, if a kick or punt either sails through the endzone, or the returner takes a knee in the endzone, it results in a touchback. The ball is spotted at the returning team's 20. If the returner so desires, he can call for a Fair Catch. If he catches the ball on an FC, he has not allowed to advance, his team gets the ball where he catches it. If he gets hit after calling for an FC, it's a penalty called Fair Catch Interference.
In Canada, if a kick or punt either sails through the endzone, or the returner takes a knee in the endzone, it results in a single. The kicking team receives a single point, and the ball is spotted at the returning team's 35. The returner is given a 5 yard cushion around him before he touches the ball. If a player on the kicking team is within 5 yards of the returner on any side when he picks up or catches the ball, they will get a penalty called No Yards.
Field Goals
In America, a missed field goal can be run back if it is caught in the air. Once it touches the ground, it's a dead ball. After a marked field goal, the team who scored kicks off the ball.
In Canada, a missed field goal is a live ball. Teams will always send one guy deep to field the kick if it's short or wide. The same rule for singles applies as on punts and kickoffs. After a marked field goal, the defense can either receive a kick, or have their offense start on their own 35.
Players
In America, the offense can use any combination of 5; tight ends, halfbacks, fullbacks, and wide receivers. A standard defense is 4 down linemen, 3 linebackers, 2 cornerbacks, 1 strong safety, and one free safety.
In Canada, the offense can use any combination of 6; tight ends, tailbacks (the equivalent of the U.S halfback,) fullbacks, wide receivers, and slot backs (a running back/receiver who lines up about 5 yards outside the offensive line, behind the line of scrimmage.) A standard defense is 4 down linemen, 3 linebackers, 2 cornerbacks, 2 halfbacks (combinations of linebackers and DBs. Generally cover interior receivers.) and 1 safety.
Clock
In America, the game consists of 2 halves, divided up as 4 15 minute quarters. With two minutes left in each half, the clock stops, which is known as the "Two Minute Warning." After the two minute warning, coaches cannot use challenges, they are rather called in from the booth. The play clock is 40 seconds, and 25 seconds after a penalty or change of possesion.
In Canada, the game consists of 2 halves, divided up as 4 15 minute quarters. With three minutes left in each half, the clock stops. Inside of three minutes, the clock stops after every play, and does not start again until the offense is back at the line of scrimmage and the referee blows his whistle. As such, the last three minutes of a Canadian half can take a while. The play clock is 20 seconds.
In both nations, the clock stops after a player runs out of bounds, after an incomplete pass, or on a penalty, and teams have 3 timeouts per half.
Season
In America, the season starts the second week of September. The playoffs start in January, and the Super Bowl is the last week of January. The feature games are played on American Thanksgiving Day. Detroit and Dallas always play on Thanksgiving.
In Canada, the season starts on the third week of June. The playoffs start in November, and the Grey Cup is the third week of November. The feature games are played on Labour Day. The Edmonton Eskimos always visit the Calgary Stampeders, and the Toronto Argonauts always visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for the Labour Day Classic.
Grassroots
In both nations, players can start at a very young age, playing Pop Warner in America, and Peewee/Bantam in Canada. Any high school worth it's salt in either nation has a football team, and they compete for State Championships in America, and Provincial Championships in Canada. Most big city schools in Canada are content winning City Championships, and consider Provincials to be a bonus. After high school, players can compete in the NCAA, or in CIS (Canadian Intercollegiate Sport.) CIS teams fight for the Vanier Cup. After that, there are junior leagues in both nations. Many American college players will come to play in the CFL if they are not yet good enough for the NFL.