CFL VS NFL
Canadian vs. American Football – The Main Differences
| American Football | Canadian Football | |
| Number of Players | 11 Men | 12 Men (extra man is usually a receiver) |
| Size of Field | 100 yards long, plus two 10-yard end zones, 53 half-yards wide, 6400 square yards | 110 yards long, plus two 20-yard end zones, and 65 yards wide. 9,750 square yards |
| Downs | Four (4) downs to make 10 yards | Three (3) downs to make 10 yards |
| Scoring | Touchdowns 6 points: field goal 3 points, Safety 2 points, PAT (or convert) 1 point by kick, 2 points by pass or run | Touchdowns 6 points: field goal 3 points, Safety 2 points, single or rouge 1 point, PAT (or convert) 1 point by kick, 2 points by pass or run |
| Single point (rouge) | None | A. When punt or missed field goal by attacking team goes into end zone, and the defensive player recovers and is tackled in the end zone or puts their knee down B. When punt or missed field goal goes out of bounds or through the end zone |
| Timing | Four quarters of 15 minutes each. Attacking team given 45 seconds to put ball into play. If period ends before ball put into play, that play will not be allowed. | Four quarters of 15 minutes each. Attacking team given 20 seconds to put ball into play, but referee allows "reasonable" time for teams to line up and make substitutions before starting time count. If even one second remains before the end of any quarter after previous play ends, one complete play must be permitted. |
| Timeouts | In addition to normal timeouts taken by referee (for measurements, passer downed behind line, etc.) each team is entitled to three timeouts (up to 90 seconds each) in each half. | One timeout per team is permitted in each half. Referee stops clock for ball out of bounds, substitutions, penalties or whenever he feels it is justified. |
| Backfield Motion | At the snap, only one back of attacking team may be in motion- backwards or laterally | |
| Line of Scrimmage | Offensive and defensive lines of scrimmage are on each end of the football when they line up. | |
| Kickoffs | Ball is kicked off from 35 yard line at start of each half and after each score. | |
| Punt Returning | Punts may be allowed to roll dead, may be received for a fair catch, or may be returned with aid of blocking by returning team. Ball may not be recovered legally by punting team, unless fumbled by receiving team. Punted ball going across goal line is a touchback | There is no fair catch which accounts for average of 15 punt returns per game. Tacklers must remain outside 5 yard area around receiver until he has touched the ball, except that the punter- or anyone playing behind the punter - may legally recover the ball. Punt returner must run ball (or kick it out of end zone or concede a single point (rouge). The rule on unsuccessful field goals is similar in all these respects. Blocking above the waist is permitted on punt returns. |
| Penalties | There are 5, 10 and 15 yard penalties. Some penalty yardage varies, depending on whether offensive or defensive fouls are committed. | There are 5, 10, 15 and 25 yard penalties. The 25 yard foul is for rough play or fighting, also bringing with it disqualifications. |
