By participating in this Contest, you agree to be legally bound by the terms and conditions of these Official Rules and Regulations (the “Rules”). HOW TO ENTER: No purchase necessary. To enter, go to pickem.cfl.ca (the “Website”) and follow the on-screen instructions to register to play CFL Pick ‘Em. Canadian football teams have twelve players as opposed to the eleven on American teams. Because the same number of players is required at the line of scrimmage in both games, this results in an extra backfield player on Canadian teams. The CFL Official Rule Book is published annually by the Canadian Football League. Any inquiries regarding the CFL Official Playing Rules may be directed to Darren Hackwood, Director of Officiating at dhackwood@cfl.ca. Any inquiries regarding CFL Statistical Scoring Rules.

1. Cfl Kickoff Rule
2. Cfl Rules Wikipedia
3. Canadian Football League Rules
4. Canadian Football Field
5. Cfl Rules Differences

• Vertical posts (goal posts) shall be placed and centred on each Goal Line. The distance between the posts shall be 18 feet 6 inches. The goal posts shall extend 40 feet above ground level and shall be joined by a crossbar parallel to the ground at a height of 10 feet. The diameter of each post above the crossbar shall be not less than 3 inches or greater than 4 inches.
• At the extreme top of each post, there shall be attached a coloured ribbon 4 inches wide and 42 inches long. A wishbone type or single-shaft goal post assembly may be used, provided that it complies with the above standards and the base of the assembly is not further than 75 inches from the Goal Line.

SECTION 2 – THE BALL

• The game is played with a ball made of Wilson Exclusive Game ball Leather in four panels that shall be inflated to a pressure not less than 12 1/2 psi nor greater than 13 1/2 psi. The circumference of the long axis shall be not less than 27 ¾ inches nor greater than 28 1/4 inches. The circumference of the girth or short axis shall be not less than 20 7/8 inches nor greater than 21 1/8 inches. The length of the long axis shall be not less than 11 inches nor greater than 11 1/4 inches. The total weight of the ball shall not be less than 14 ounces nor greater than 15 ounces. The exposed laces shall be not more than 4 3/8 inches in length and 1 1/8 inches in width.
• The ball shall be painted with 1-inch white stripes around the short axis, commencing 3 inches away from the point of greatest circumference of the short axis.
• A minimum of twelve balls shall be used in a game and changed at the discretion of the Referee. The balls shall be kept clean and in playable condition.

Cfl Kickoff Rule

• When the ball is kicked Out of Bounds in the Field of Play, it shall belong to the opposite team, subject to the penalty applicable on a kickoff.

Article 9 – Ball Kicked Out Of Bounds In Own Goal Area

• When a team in its own Goal Area kicks the ball Out of Bounds in its own Goal Area, the ball shall be deemed to have become dead in the Goal Area and the opponent shall be awarded
• (a) a single point if the ball had been kicked into the Goal Area by the opponent or,
• (b) a safety touch score if the ball had been kicked, passed or carried into the Goal Area by the team scored against.
• If the team in its own Goal Area had gained possession through interception of a forward pass or recovery of an opponent’s fumble, there shall be no score and the team shall take possession at its 25-yard line.
• If, under similar circumstances, a team should kick the ball Out of Bounds in the opponent’s Goal Area without gaining possession, the play shall be ruled as though the opponent had kicked the ball out of its own Goal Area.

• A team is required to dress in a professional manner and shall be subject to penalty if a player fails to comply with the following requirements:
• (f) Shoes of a standard football design, with appropriate football cleating, that have not been altered, deliberately or otherwise, in any manner and judged suitable by the Referee for the playing surface, may be used. Sneaker type shoes with no cleating may also be used.

• Single Point or Rouge 1 Point
• Field Goals 3 Points
• Convert 1 Point or 2 Points

• A field goal is scored by a drop kick or place kick (except on a kickoff) 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.
• The ball shall be dead immediately when it crosses the cross bar.
• After a field goal, the team scored against may scrimmage or kickoff from its own 35 yard line or require the scoring team to kickoff from its 35 yard line.
• AR: Team A attempts a field goal. After the ball is kicked and before crossing the line of scrimmage, it touches or is touched by a player of either team and then proceeds through the uprights and over the crossbar in flight. RULING– Field Goal.
• AR: Team A attempts a field goal. After the ball has crossed the line of scrimmage, it touches or is touched by a Team B player before it proceeds through the uprights and above the crossbar in flight. RULING – Field Goal.

Article 4 – Single Point Or Rouge

• If the ball is kicked into the Goal Area by an opponent, a rouge is scored:
• (1) when the ball becomes dead in possession of a team in its own Goal Area or,
• (2) when the ball touches or crosses the Dead Line or a Sideline in Goal, and touches the ground, a player or some object beyond these lines.
• AR: Team A kicks to Team B. B1 attempting to catch the ball on Team B’s 3-yard line, fumbles it and is tackled with the ball in possession in the Team B Goal Area. RULING – Rouge (ball deemed to have been kicked into Goal Area by Team A).
• AR: Team A kicks to Team B. B1 catches the ball in the Field of Play while moving towards own Goal Line and, in the judgment of the official, the momentum carries B1 into own Goal Area. RULING – Rouge (possession deemed to have been gained in the Goal Area).
• After a rouge, the team scored against shall next put the ball into play by a scrimmage as first down at any point between the hash marks on its 35-yard line.
  
• If the single point was scored as the result of an unsuccessful field goal attempt, the team scored against may elect to scrimmage the ball at any point between the hash marks on its own 35-yard line or at the previous line of scrimmage.
• NOTE: For the purposes of this Article, a drop kick or place kick shall, without exception, be deemed to be a field goal attempt.
• NOTE: If during a kickoff, the kicked ball proceeds through the Goal Area and across the Dead Line or Sideline in Goal without being touched, there shall be no score and the ball shall be awarded to the receiving team at any point between the hash marks on its own 25-yard line.

Article 5 – Convert

• A team scoring a touchdown may attempt to add to its score by means of a scrimmage play from any point between the hash marks on or outside the opponent’s five-yard line, as follows:
• 1 point – By kicking a field goal or,
• 2 points – By scoring a touchdown by means of a ball carrying or passing play.
  
• The ball shall remain in play until a score is made or the play has been terminated.
• If Team B legally gains possession during an unsuccessful convert attempt (i.e. interception of forward pass, recovery of fumble or blocked kick), it may score two points by advancing the ball across Team A’s Goal Line. If the play terminates with Team B in possession in its own Goal Area or in the Field of Play, there shall be no score.
• If the play terminates with Team A legally in possession in Team B’s Goal Area, Team A shall be awarded two points if the ball had been carried or passed across the line of scrimmage, but no points if the ball had been kicked across the line of scrimmage.
• NOTE: There shall be no convert attempt on the winning touchdown scored in overtime.

• A kicked ball is one struck by a player’s foot or leg below the knee.
• NOTE: If the ball accidentally strikes a player’s leg or foot, it shall not be ruled as a kicked ball.

Article 2 – Drop Kick

• A drop kick is made by dropping the ball from the hands and kicking it with the foot just as it rises from the ground.

Article 3 – Place Kick

• A place kick is made by kicking the ball after it has been placed on the ground and held by a Team A player, who shall be considered offside with reference to the position of the ball.
• On a kickoff, the ball may be held, placed on the ground or placed on a tee, provided that the lowest part of the ball shall be raised not more than three inches above the playing surface.
• On a field goal or convert attempt, a kicking tee may be used provided that the ball shall be raised not more than one inch above the playing surface.

Article 4 – Punt

• A punt is made by letting the ball fall from the hands and kicking it with the foot before it touches the ground.

Article 5 – Dribbled Ball

• A dribbled ball occurs when the ball is kicked while not in possession or control of a player, i.e. a loose ball following a fumble, a blocked kick, a kickoff or a kick from scrimmage. Such a dribbled ball may be touched by the kicker or an onside player without penalty.
• If touched by an offside player: PENALTY: Ball awarded to opponent at point ball touched, or option.
• If touched by an offside player in the opponent’s Goal Area: PENALTY: Ball awarded to opponent at its 25-yard line, or option.
• If touched by an offside player in own Goal Area: PENALTY: Ball awarded to opponent at 10-yard line, or option.
• NOTE: If the touching by an offside player occurs on the last play of a half, the opponent may elect to extend the period for an additional play.
• NOTE: A ball dribbled by Team A across the line of scrimmage does not interrupt the continuity of downs.
• NOTE: A dribbled ball that strikes a goal post shall remain in play.
• NOTE: When a ball is dribbled and recovered by Team A, they may not block below the waist.
  

Article 6 – Onside & Offside

• An onside player is a member of the kicker’s team who is behind the ball at the instant it is kicked towards the opponent’s Dead Line.
• An offside player is a member of the kicker’s team who is not onside.
• An offside player becomes an onside player when the ball, after being kicked towards the opponent’s Dead Line, touches or is touched by an opponent, the kicker or another onside player.
• EXCEPTION: On a kick from scrimmage, if a Team B player touches the ball before it crosses the line of scrimmage, such touching does not put an offside player of Team A onside.

Article 7 – Application Of Penalties

• Under this Rule 5, the penalty for any infraction that occurs after the ball has been kicked and before possession has been gained by the receiving team shall be applied as follows:
• (a) Foul by kicking team (Other than Illegal Interference by the kicking team after a kick from scrimmage or No Yards to kick receiver or failure to kickoff 10 yards): at point of last scrimmage, or point of kickoff, or point of actual kick on an open-field kick, as the case may be. If the open-field kick originates in the Goal Area, the penalty shall be applied at the 10-yard line.
• (b) Foul by receiving team (Other than Contacting the Kicker or Illegal Blocking of the kicker or an onside player.): at point receiving team gains possession or is entitled to possession. If the possession was gained in the Goal Area, the penalty shall be applied from the receiving team’s 10-yard line.

SECTION 2 – KICKOFF
Article 1 – Points Of Kickoff

• The ball shall be kicked off by a place kick from any point between the hash marks on Team A’s:
• (a) 35-yard line – at the start of the game, or any half, or after a touchdown.
• (b) 35-yard line – after a score of three points by the kicking team, or the team scored against may elect to put the ball in play by kickoff from its own 35-yard line.
• (c) 25-yard line – after a score of two points against the kicking team or the scoring team may elect to put the ball in play by kickoff or scrimmage from its own 35-yard line.

• (a) The ball, unless touched by an opponent, must be kicked more than 10 yards towards the opponent’s Goal Line before it may be legally touched by a member of Team A.
• PENALTY: L5 kickoff repeated or Team B may take possession at the point the ball was first touched by Team A or option.
• (b) The ball, unless touched, shall not go Out of Bounds in the Field of Play.
• PENALTY: L5 kickoff repeated; or Team B may take possession either 30 yards in advance of where the ball was kicked or at the point where the ball went out of bounds.
• (c) Should the ball be kicked Out of Bounds in the receiving team’s Goal Area without being touched by a player of either team, there shall be no penalty and the ball shall next be put in play by the receiving team at its 25-yard line.
• (d) Should the kicked ball strike the goal post assembly in flight, it shall be declared dead immediately and awarded to the receiving team at its 25-yard line.
• (e) If the kicked ball is simultaneously recovered by players of both teams or is simultaneously touched by players of both teams before going Out of Bounds, the kickoff shall be repeated.
  

Article 3 – Offside On Kickoff - Team A

Cfl Rules Wikipedia

• At the instant the ball is kicked off, no player of the kicking team shall be in advance of the ball except the player who may be holding the ball for such kickoff.
• PENALTY: L5 – kickoff repeated, or option.

Article 4 – Offside On Kickoff - Team B

• Players of the receiving team must stand at least 10 yards on their own side of the line of kickoff when the ball is kicked.
• PENALTY: L5 – kickoff repeated, or option.

Article 5 – Interference By Team B

• On a kickoff, a player of the receiving team may interfere with an opponent anywhere within bounds, commencing from the moment the ball is kicked, provided that contact is made only above the waist of the opponent.
• PENALTY: L10 PBH or PPG

Article 6 – Interference By Team A

• (a) Before gaining possession: A player of the kicking team shall not be permitted to interfere with an opponent who is attempting to play or recover the ball until that team has gained possession.
• PENALTY: L10 – kickoff repeated, or option
• (b) After gaining possession: If a player of the kicking team recovers the ball on the kickoff, that team may then interfere with opponents anywhere within bounds, provided that contact is made only above the waist of the opponent.
• PENALTY: L10 – PBH

Article 7 – Gaining Possession On A Kickoff

• On a kickoff, a player who catches the ball must come down in bounds to gain possession. If the player was the last to touch the ball, either he or the ball must come down in bounds for possession to be awarded.

SECTION 3 – BLOCKED KICK
Article 1 – Definition

• A blocked kick is a kick from scrimmage in which, after being kicked, the ball is prevented from crossing the line of scrimmage because of contact with an opponent or a player of the kicking team who is offside.
• It is a deflected kick not a blocked kick if, on a kick from scrimmage, the ball is touched by or touches an opponent or a player of the kicking team who is offside and then crosses the line of scrimmage. Such touching of the ball shall be disregarded, and the Kicking team players must allow 5 yards to an opponent attempting to gain possession.
• If the kicked ball, after being touched prior to crossing the line of scrimmage, should strike any part of the receiving team’s goal post assembly in flight without touching the ground, an official or a player, it shall be declared dead immediately and awarded to the receiving team on its 25-yard line.

Article 2 – Recovery Of Blocked Kick

• If the ball is blocked, without going Out of Bounds, it may legally be recovered by a player of either team. If, however, the ball is recovered by a player of the kicking team, the continuing play shall be considered as any other play from scrimmage.

Article 3 – Blocked Out of Bounds

• Where a kick is blocked and the ball goes Out of Bounds:
• (a) On first and second down, it shall belong to the team last touching it in the Field of Play, 24 yards in from the Sideline:
• (1) at the point where the ball left the Field of Play or,
• (2) at the point where the ball was last touched in the Field of Play, whichever point is closer to the Goal Line of the team entitled to possession.
• (b) On third down, it shall belong to the non-kicking team at either of the points set out in (a) above.

Article 4 – Blocked Into Goal Area

• When a kick is blocked in the Field of Play or Goal Area, and is declared dead in the Goal Area in possession of the kicking team, or goes Out of Bounds in the Goal Area without either team taking possession, a safety touch score shall be awarded to the non-kicking team. No Option.

SECTION 4 – KICK FROM SCRIMMAGE AND OPEN-FIELD KICK
Article 1 – Restriction On Offside Player (No Yards)
(This article does not apply to a “dribbled ball”.)

• When on a kick from scrimmage (ball crosses the line of scrimmage), or on an open-field kick, a player who is offside in relation to the kicker:
• (a) if the player first touches, or is touched by, the ball:
• PENALTY - in field of play - L 15 from PBT (point ball touched)
• - in goal area - L 15, penalty applied at 10-yard line
• If the offside Team A player is inadvertently touched first by the ball, which has previously hit the ground, and has made no attempt to “play” the ball in any way, the penalty will be L5 from PBT.
• (b) if the player does not allow five (5) yards to an opponent attempting to gain possession of the kicked ball. The 5-yard zone is determined by a circle with a 5-yard radius; with the centre point being the ball at the instant it is first touched.
• PENALTY - in field of play - L 15 from PBT
  - in goal area - L 15, penalty applied at 10-yard line
• (c) if the player does not allow five (5) yards and the ball struck the ground before being touched by the receiving team:
• PENALTY - in field of play - L 5 from PBT
• - in goal area - L 5, penalty applied at 10-yard line
• (d) if a kicking team player is making no attempt to withdraw from the 5-yard zone, and is hovering over the ball or the receiving team player about to take possession of the ball, a 15-yard penalty will apply regardless whether the ball bounced.
• (e) if a kicking team player interferes with a receiving team player attempting to gain possession of the kicked ball, with or without contact:
• PENALTY - L 15 from normal point of application
• (f) if a kicking team player invades the 5-yard zone, and contacts in an unnecessarily rough manner a receiving team player who is attempting to play the ball, the kicking team player will be subject to an additional 15 or 25-yard penalty, regardless of whether the ball had struck the ground.
  

Article 2 – Onside Player

Canadian Football League Rules

• (a) The kicker or an onside player may enter the restraining zone and legally recover the kicked ball, but shall not interfere with an opponent attempting to recover the ball.
• PENALTY: Ball awarded to receiving team at point of foul or at its 25-yard line, if the foul occurred in the receiving team’s Goal Area. If the kicker or onside player and a Team B player simultaneously recover the ball, possession shall be awarded to the receiving team at the point the ball was touched.
• (b) If the kicked ball has not yet been touched and a player of the receiving team fakes an attempt to recover the ball, that player may be tackled without penalty. If an offside player touches the ball, there shall be no penalty and the ball shall be awarded to the receiving team.
• (c) If the kicked ball has not yet been touched and, in the judgment of the official, no effort is being made by either team to recover the ball, the ball may be declared dead and possession awarded to the receiving team.

Article 3 – Kick From Scrimmage Going Out-of-Bounds In Flight

• On a kick from scrimmage going out of bounds in flight from 20 yard line to 20 yard line, the receiving team will have the option of having a 10 yard penalty applied against the kicking team at either point of last scrimmage with the down repeated, or at the point the ball was ruled out of bounds with a first down to the receiving team.
  

Article 4 – Kicked Ball Striking Goal Post Assembly

• (a) If the ball, after being kicked, should strike the opposing team’s goal post assembly in flight, the ball shall be declared dead immediately and awarded to the receiving team as first down at its 25-yard line.
• (b) A kicked ball striking the goal post assembly after having touched an official, the ground or a player, shall remain in play.
• (c) A kicked ball striking the kicking team’s goal post assembly shall remain in play.
• (d) If the kicked ball on a field goal or convert attempt should strike the goal post assembly in flight, and then proceed through the uprights above the crossbar, the score shall count.

Article 5 – Interference On Kick From Scrimmage

• (a) A player of the receiving team may interfere with any player of the kicking team who has crossed the line of scrimmage, provided that contact is made only above the waist. Such interference shall be permitted from the instant the ball is snapped. PENALTY: L10 PBH or PPG
• (b) The kicker or an onside player may not be contacted until reaching the line of scrimmage or until the receiving team has touched the ball. PENALTY: L10 PLS

Article 6 – Interference On Open-Field Kick

• A player of the team receiving an open-field kick may commence interfering with an opponent at the instant the ball is kicked, provided that such contact is made only above the waist of the opponent.
• PENALTY: L10 PBH or PPG

Article 7 – Interference By Kicking Team

• On a play from scrimmage in which the ball is kicked across the line of scrimmage, a player of the kicking team may interfere with an opponent up to one yard in advance of the line of scrimmage. After the ball is kicked, the player
• may use hands and arms to ward off a blocker interfering with the approach to the ball carrier.
• PENALTY: L10 PLS or PPG

Article 8 – Recovery Of Own Kick

• The kicker or an onside player may recover the kick across the line of scrimmage, in which case the ensuing down shall be first down whether or not the original yardage has been gained.
• Following such recovery by the kicker or an onside player, a player of the kicking team may interfere with an opponent provided that contact is made only above the waist of the opponent.
• PENALTY: L10 PBH

Article 9 – Kick That Fails To Cross Line Of Scrimmage

• When a ball kicked from scrimmage fails to cross the line of scrimmage and is recovered by an onside player of the kicking team, the series of downs shall not be interrupted unless after recovery, the yardage required for a first down is gained.
• If touched by offside player: PENALTY: Ball awarded to opponent at point ball touched, or option.
• If touched by offside player in own Goal Area: PENALTY: Ball awarded to opponent at 10-yard line, or option.

• It shall be illegal to touch the kicker when in the act of kicking from scrimmage, subject to the following conditions:
• (a) If prior to kicking the ball, the kicker had recovered a loose ball on the ground or made a motion to pass the ball or run with the ball, there shall be no protection under this Article.
• (b) An opponent who blocks or touches the ball shall not be penalized for contacting the kicker.
• (c) An opponent shall not be penalized when a blocker of the kicker’s team causes contact with the kicker.
• (d) If, in the Referee’s opinion, a defensive player attempting to block the kick makes slight and incidental contact which does not affect the play, there shall be no penalty.
• (e) This section does not apply to a quick kick or to an open-field kick.
• (f) The act of kicking shall begin when the kicker’s kicking foot leaves the ground and shall terminate when the foot returns to the ground after kicking, or attempting to kick, the ball.
• PENALTY: L10 PLS

Article 3 – Pyramiding

Canadian Football Field

• It shall be illegal for a player to use the body of another player or the goal post assembly in any way to gain elevation in an attempt to block a field goal or a convert attempt.
• PENALTY: L5

Cfl Rules Differences