Ingrained in the country's cultural fabric, Canadian football shares similarities with American football but maintains distinct characteristics that set it apart.
Canadian football originated in the mid-19th century, evolving from rugby football played in British North America. The first documented game was played at the University of Toronto in 1861.
Over the years, the sport further diverged from rugby, incorporating elements from American football. By the early 20th century, the sport had established its own unmistakable identity with the formation of the Canadian Rugby Football Union in 1884, which became the Canadian Football League (CFL) in 1958.
While Canadian and American football share a common ancestry, several key differences distinguish the two. Canadian football is played on a larger field, measuring 110 yards in length and 65 yards in width, compared to the 100-yard by 53.3-yard American field. Additionally, Canadian football features 12 players per side as opposed to 11 in American football. The extra player in Canadian football typically plays as a slotback. The slotback combines the skills of a wide receiver and a running back, adding a dynamic effect to the offensive strategy.
Another notable difference is the number of downs. Canadian football allows three downs to advance the ball 10 yards, whereas American football permits four. This rule encourages a more aggressive and fast-paced style of play in the Canadian game. The goalposts in Canadian football are positioned at the front of the end zones, unlike the American game, where they are at the back.
The Canadian football field is marked by its distinctive size and features. The end zones are 20 yards deep, providing more space for offensive plays. The field is divided into 12-yard segments by hash marks, which are closer together than in American football, affecting the placement of the ball and the strategy of the game.
Player positions in Canadian football include the quarterback, running backs, wide receivers, slotbacks, offensive linemen, defensive linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs. The slotback position, unique to Canadian football, plays a crucial role in the offensive scheme, often serving as a hybrid between a wide receiver and a running back.
Canadian football is governed by several organizing bodies, with the Canadian Football League (CFL) being the most prominent professional league. The CFL consists of nine teams divided into East and West divisions, culminating in the Grey Cup championship, one of Canada's most celebrated sporting events.
Other professional leagues have attempted to organize but have not achieved the same level of prominence or longevity.
Amateur and school-based football also play a significant role in the development of the sport and its players. U Sports oversees university football, with the Vanier Cup as the national championship. Additionally, the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL) provides opportunities for players aged 16-22 to compete at a high level.
High school football is organized by provincial associations and supported through grassroots development and community engagement. These amateur leagues serve as pipelines for talent, ensuring Canadian football's continued growth and popularity.
Canadian football's organizing bodies, leagues, teams, or other topics related to the sport are appropriate for this category.
Recommended Resources
The web platform covers Canadian Football League (CFL) news, updates, and analysis. It features informational and news articles, podcasts, and insights about CFL players, teams, and events. The site also touches on topics like sports betting and legal gambling in Canada. Founded in 2015, Torstar Corporation transferred the site to its contributors in January 2019 and it was subsequently sold to Catena Media in 2022. Its staff, core principles, and content are featured on the site.
https://3downnation.com/
Not affiliated with the Canadian Football League, the CFL Players Association, or any other organization, this is an independent website dedicated to heralding the history of the game of Canadian football and is maintained for research, educational, and historical purposes. Created by Robert Finch, a Canadian football fan since the early 1990s, who is also introduced here. Readers may subscribe to receive new content in their inbox, and an online contact form is included.
https://canadianfootballhistory.ca/
The CFL is a professional Canadian football league in Canada. It is currently made up of nine teams divided into two divisions, with four teams in the East Division and five in the West Division. Its teams included the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Montreal Alouettes, Ottawa Redblacks, Toronto Argonauts, BC Lions, Calgary Stampeders, Edmonton Elks, Saskatchewan Roughriders, and Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Team sites, schedules, standings, statistics, and players are featured.
https://www.cfl.ca/
Canadian Football Officials Association
The CFOA-ACOF is dedicated to supporting and representing football officials in Canada. They provide resources like rulebooks, training, and exams for officials, and they also recognize achievements within the officiating community. Its mission, executive committee, awards, and membership information are posted on the website, along with education materials, current and archived documents, rules, mechanics, rules interpretation, a video library, and an online contact form.
https://cfoaref.com/
Canadian High School Football Showcase
The Canadian High School Football Showcase is a platform designed to spotlight young football talent in Canada. It bridges the gap between Canadian and American football, offering high school athletes exposure to both National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and Canadian Football League (CFL) scouts. The event includes athletic testing, skill drills, and recruitment opportunities for participants, helping players showcase their abilities and connect with coaches.
https://canadianhighschoolfootballshowcase.ca/
Canadian Junior Football League
The CJFL is a national Canadian football league consisting of 19 teams playing in five provinces across Canada. The teams, made up of men aged 17 to 22, compete annually for the Canadian Bowl. Many CJFL players advance to professional football careers in the Canadian Football League and elsewhere. Conferences, partners, teams, schedules, and standings are posted on the CJFL website, which includes photographs, videos, contact data, and links to affiliated sites.
https://www.cjfl.org/
Canadian Professional Football Officials Association
The CPFOA represents all active on-field officials within the Canadian Football League (CFL). It was formally established in 1996 to improve working relations between CFL officials and their employers. The association focuses on enhancing training, evaluation, and working conditions for officials, as well as advocating for their safety and professional development. Its purpose, a code of conduct for all participants, on-field officials, alumni, and contacts are noted.
https://cflofficials.com/
Established in 2021 after the talks between the XFL and CFL began, CFL News Hub quickly became part of the CM3 Solutions network of sites by founder Mark Perry, who realized how popular the league was and how it received very little coverage in the United States. Initially, he was the main writer and editor, but the site now has a full staff of writers covering each CFL team and delivering daily content. Teams, players, games, standings, statistics, and drafts are included.
https://cflnewshub.com/
Football Database: Canadian Football League
The Football Database features comprehensive football statistics, historical data, and updates on football games, including the Canadian Football League. Included are CFL standings, scores, statistics, team statistics, teams, players, drafts, transactions, and seasons. Team stats include team offense, team defense, and team scoring statistics, while CFL stats include passing leaders, rushing leaders, and receiving leaders. Draft picks are highlighted on the site.
https://www.footballdb.com/cfl/
The Grey Cup is both the championship game of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the trophy awarded to the victorious team in the namesake championship of professional Canadian football. It is contested between the winners of the CFL's East and West divisional playoffs and is one of Canada's largest annual sporting events, live and on television. The results of the most recent Grey Cup are posted, along with all past results, as well as an overview of the Grey Cup and an informational blog.
https://thegreycup.com/
