Objectives Terminology Penalties And Referee Signals
The overall objective of Canadian Football is to outscore your opponent by scoring touchdowns, and field goals. Played on a field that is 110 yards long and 65 yards wide with 12 players per side, teams alternate turns playing offense and defense attempting to out due the other by collecting first downs and eventually driving down the field and scoring points. The game is played in four 15 minute quarters with one 15 minute break between the second and third quarters. The teams alternate side of the field and the end of each quarter and attempt to score in the opposite direction. Each team receive one timeout before and one after half time that can be used at anytime during the game. If the game is tied after all four quarters are completed an overtime will be completed. In overtime each team will get an opportunity from their opponents 35 yard line to score, the first team to out score the other wins. For example: Team A scores a touchdown in their first overtime possession, than Team B must score a touchdown to continue, a field goal would lose the game. However if Team A kicks a field goal, than Team B needs a field goal to continue but a touchdown will win the game for Team B.
Game Play
To start a Canadian football game, captains from each team meet for an official coin toss which will determine who receives the football first and who will defend what side of the field. To officially start the time clock, the opening kickoff ensues. The team receiving the ball first awaits for their opponent to kick the football from their 35 yard line so that they can attempt to return the football gaining field position. Once the play has been blown dead, the team who received the kick will attempt to play offense as they have possession of the football, whereas the kicking team will play defense. The offense has three downs to gain a first down before they must return the ball to the defense. To complete a first down the offense may chose to run the football by handing off to a ball carrier or having the quarterback run themselves to gain 10 yards. Also a passer (usually the quarterback) may pass the ball to an eligible receiver in an attempt to gain 10 yards from the original line of scrimmage. To start a down, the offensive line must be in a set position with the center snapping the ball between his legs to the quarterback who is directly behind. All players must be behind the line of scrimmage at all times before the snap of the football. While on defense, a team must attempt to stop the offensive team from achieving a first down by tackling the ball carrier before they reach the first down marker. If the defense holds the offense to less than ten yards on three consecutive plays than the offense must hand over ball possession. This is done by by either punting the football on third down or giving the ball to the defense on the line of scrimmage if they fail to convert on third down. This causes the offensive team to now play defense and the defensive team to play offense. Furthermore, at anytime if an defense were able to intercept the football or recover a fumble by the offense they will automatically receive ball possession from the spot where the ball carrier was down.
Scoring Drives
If an offensive team were to achieve consecutive first downs, eventually having possession of the football in the opponent's end zone, a touchdown worth six points is awarded to the offense. Once a touchdown is scored, automatically the scoring team has a choice to kick a single extra point or attempt a two-point conversion from the opponent's 5 yard line.
However, if an offensive team were to achieve consecutive first downs but is unable to score in the end zone, on third down they have an option to kick a field goal worth three points by kicking the football through the uprights. If the team were to miss the uprights but kick the football through the back of the end zone, a single point is awarded.
Furthermore, if a defense were to recover a fumble or intercept the football and return it into their opponents end zone a touchdown worth six points is awarded for the defensive team and will also have the option to kick a single point or attempt a two-point conversion.
A two-point safety is awarded if a defensive player were to tackle an offensive ball carrier in the ball carrier's own end zone during a play. After a safety has been awarded, the team on defense has the option to take the football from their 35 yard line, receive a kickoff, or kickoff to their opponent.
Single points can be awarded to a offensive team in a punting situation if the ball becomes dead in their opponent's end zone or is kicked beyond the end zone. After this has been awarded, the team receiving the punt will have possession on their 20 yard line.
After a touchdown, field goal (single point if applicable), the scoring team must always kickoff from their 35 yard line to their opponent.
Backfield - Block - Coin Toss - Convert - Dead ball - Defense - Down By Contact - Down Eligible Receiver - End Zone - Facemask - Field Goal - First Down - Formation - Foul/Penalty Fumble - Goal Line - Halftime - Hash Mark - Holder - Huddle - Incompletion - Interception Kickoff - Line of Scrimmage - Neutral Zone - Offense - Onside Kick - Original Line of Scrimmage Possession - Punt - Quarter reception - Sack - Snap - Tackle - Touchdown - Turnover Turnover On Downs - Two Point Conversion - Uprights - Yard Line
Backfield - area behind the line of scrimmage.
Block - when an player attempts to halt the progress of an opponent to prevent the ball carrier from being tackled.
Coin Toss - at the start of the game to determine who will receive the opening kickoff.
Convert - an attempt to score a extra point after a touchdown has been recorded by kicking the football through the uprights.
Dead Ball - when a player has been tackled and the play has been whistled down by the referee.
Defense - team attempts to prevent the offence from scoring a touchdown or field goal.
Down By Contact - when a player has been tackled by an opponent thus ending the play.
Down - one play an offence receives from scrimmage.
Eligible Receiver - a player on the offence who is legally able to receive a forward pass from the passer.
End Zone - area of the playing field when a player with possession of the ball attempts to enter; the area where the defending team protects so as not to allow an opponent to enter with possession of the football; two locations at opposing end of the field beginning at the goal line.
Facemask - area of the helmet that allows for both protection of the face and visibility for the player.
Field Goal - when a team with ball possession kicks the football through the uprights resulting in a score worth three points.
First Down - when a team with gains 10 or more yards from the original line of scrimmage before their three downs are completed.
Formation - a set design that a defense or offense lines up in before the snap of the football; preludes a specific play carried out by the opponents.
Foul/Penalty - an illegal action done by a specific player or team resulting in a loss of yardage.
Fumble - when the ball is dropped or knocked out of a player before the player is down by contact; a ball able to be recovered by either team.
Goal Line - the 0 yard line that enters the end zone.
Halftime - the halfway mark of the game resulting in a fifteen minute break between the second and third quarters.
Hash Mark - location where the ball is placed after a player is down by contact; placed twenty-four yards in from each sideline.
Holder - player who places and holds the football after the snap to allow a kicker to kick a field goal or convert.
Huddle - when the twelve active players on each team gather on the field before the scrimmage to discuss the upcoming play or plays.
Incompletion - when a passer throws a pass that is not caught by a teammate.
Interception - when an opposing player catches a pass from the passer though intended for a teammate and retains possession for their respective team.
Kickoff - when a team kicks the football from the 35 yard line to their opponents to start a game, start the second half, or after a team scored on their opponent.
Line of Scrimmage - location where the ball is placed; serves as a starting point for an upcoming play; moves as offensive teams gain or loses yardage.
Neutral Zone - one yard between the line of scrimmage and the defensive lineman; area that can not be intruded upon by any player before the snap besides the center's arms, head and upper body.
Offence - team that has possession of the football before the snap that attempts to score on their opponent with either a field goal or touchdown.
Onside Kick - when a team attempting to kickoff to their opponent an attempt to recover the football after the ball has traveled ten or more yards before.
Original Line of Scrimmage - the original placement of the football when starting on offense that determines first down yardage; does not move with infractions.
Possession - when a player or team on offence or defense has complete control of the ball.
Punt - when a team on offense is forced to kick away the football to their opponent after being held to less than ten yards on two consecutive downs, usually occurs on third down.
Quarter - a period of time that divides a complete game into four periods; each 15 minutes in length.
Reception - when a eligible receiver catches the football thrown by a passer.
Sack - when an defensive player tackles the quarterback in the backfield for a loss of yardage.
Snap - when the center delivers the football through his legs to teammate from the line of scrimmage signaling the start of a down.
Tackle - when a opponent brings a ball carrier to the ground resulting in down by contact ruling.
Touchdown - when a ball carrier has possession of the football in their opponent's end zone resulting in six points.
Turnover - when a team with ball possession loses possession to their opponent by either a interception, fumble, or on a turnover on downs.
Turnover On Downs - when an offensive team fails to gain a first down of ten yards on three consecutive downs, the defending team retains possession from the line of scrimmage.
Two-Point Conversion - when a team who has just scored a touchdown and attempts from the five yard line to score again on the opponents end zone; resulting in two points if completed.
Uprights - vertical posts that are placed in the middle of each goal line which reach 40 feet into the air with a distance of 18 feet 6 inches between each post. Each post will be placed on a beam placed 10 feet above ground level.
Yard Line - marks on the playing field to represent distance to each end zone starting at fifty-five yards being the center and running toward each end zone; marked every five yards.
Clipping - Contacting The Kicker - Crack Back Block - Cut block - Penalty Declined Delay of Game - Player Disqualification - Facemask - Intentional Grounding - Holding Illegal Block Illegal Contact - Illegal Pass - Illegal Substitution - Ineligible Receiver Interference - Too Many Players - no Yards - Objectionable Contact - Offside - Piling On Procedure - Roughing The Passer - Roughing the Kicker - Safety - Single Point - Spearing Touchdown or Field Goal - Time Count Violation - Time In - Timeout - Tripping Unnecessary Roughness
Clipping - when a player makes contact with an opponent from the rear in the back or falls on the back of their legs in an attempt to hinder progress unless the opponent is the ball carrier.
Contacting The Kicker - when an opposing player touches a kicker unless the kicker has motioned to run or pass, or incidental contact had been made which does not affect the play at the referee's digression.
Crack Back Block - when an offensive player who's lined up three yards away from the offensive line moves back toward the ball in a lateral motion to make a block on an opponent below the waist.
Cut Block - when a player hits an opponent below the knees when that opponent is blocking for a passer, a kicker, ball carrier or if that opponent is a potential pass receiver.
Penalty Declined - when a team decided to not take the gain given by an opponent's penalty.
Delay Of Game - when team delays the play of the game in anyway unless permission given by the referee.
Player Disqualification - when a player must leave the game due to rough play, physical abuse of an official, excessive objectionable conduct against another player, and unsafe equipment.
Facemask - when an opponent grabs another's facemask on their helmet to either make a tackle or hinder a players progress.
Intentional Grounding - when a passer intentionally throws away the football in the backfield to avoid a loss of yardage when there is no eligible receiver in the vicinity.
Holding - when another player grabs another player with either hands or arms unless making a tackle on a ball carrier.
Illegal Block - when a player hits an opponent below the waist after a change of possession or when an opponent hits another from behind in an attempt to prevent a tackle.
Illegal Contact - when an player makes contact with a potential pass receiver, either on offense or defense, to prevent a reception by the opponent.
Illegal Pass - when a team throws more than one forward pass on a single play or the forward pass is thrown after the player has crossed the line of scrimmage.
Illegal Substitution - when a team has more than the allowed twelve players to participate in the huddle or formation before the snap of the ball.
Ineligible Receiver - when a player catches a pass whose number is between 40 to 69, or has not notified the referee that they are eligible.
Interference - when an opposing player obstructs, blocks, screens, or charges toward another opponent, with or without contact, that might inhibit one from making a play on a live football.
Too Many Players - when either team exceeds the maximum number of players allowed on the field during a play.
No Yards - when a team defending either a punt or a kickoff does not give the receiving player five yards to catch the ball.
Objectionable Contact - when a player makes an aggressive action toward a referee, opposing player, or spectator by either taunting, verbal abuse, obscene gestures, or use of ones helmet to intimidate another or throwing ball in an at a player, bench, or referee.
Offside - when a player on offense lines up or moves across the line of scrimmage or when a defensive player enters the neutral zone causing an offensive player to move.
Piling On - when a player falls on an opposing player who is already down by contact.
Procedure - when an offensive lineman, during the set position, moves before the ball is snapped or when an offensive player crosses the line of scrimmage.
Roughing The Passer - when an opposing player makes contact with a quarterback who does not have possession of the ball.
Roughing The Kicker - when an opposing player makes contact with a punter who has started the motion of kicking the football and has not attempted to run or pass.
Safety - when a ball becomes a dead ball in the team possession the football's own end zone resulting in a score of two points.
Single Point - when a team who has just scored a touchdown and completes the one-point convert by kicking the ball through the uprights or when a place-kicker or punter kicks the football through the back of the end zone or becomes a dead ball in the opponent's end zone either on a missed field goal attempt or a punt.
Spearing - when a player uses his helmet to make contact with an opponent in an unnecessary and excessive manner.
Touchdown or Field Goal - when a player with possession crosses their opponent's goal line with ball possession resulting in a score of six points or when a place-kicker kicks the football through the uprights resulting in a score of three points.
Time Count Violation - when the offensive team exceeds the 20 second time limit to start a play after a referee has started the official game clock.
Time In - when a referee starts the official game clock.
Time Out - when a referee signals the stoppage of the official time clock.
Tripping - when an opponent intentionally hits another below the knees to stop the player.
Unnecessary Roughness - when a player used unnecessary force on an opponent including using the helmet to butt, ram, or spear an opponent, grabbing the facemask of an opponent, contacting the passer or kicker etc...
Canadian Football League Rule Book