What is the difference between Canadian football and American football?

Answer 1

The rules are essentially the same. It's the make-up of the game that is different.

The Canadian Football field and end zone is larger 110 yd by 65 yd and the end zone is 20 yd by 65 yd. (In comparison the American football field is just 100 yd by 53 1/3 yd and the end zone is just 10 yd deep.)

Canadian Football has 12 players (instead of 11) and they are allowed just three downs to make a first down.

In Canadian Football:

-The defensive line must be at least one yard from the line of scrimmage.

-The goal posts are on the goal line rather than the end line.

-Any player in the offensive backfield can be in motion in any direction before the snap of the ball.

-Their is no fair catch rule on punts, however the kicking team must be at least 5 yards away from the catcher at the time the ball is caught or receive a "no yards" penalty.

Answer 2

Size of the field 100 vs 110 yards

Number of players 11 vs 12

Number of downs 4 vs 3

ANSWER

Although the objective in both games is the same, there are several fundamental differences:

• In Canadian football, teams have three downs instead of four to move the ball 10 yards.
• There are 12 players on a Canadian team and only 11 on an American team.
• The Canadian field is 110 yards long (midfield is the 55-yard line), and the end zones are 20 yards deep. American football's end zones are only 10 yards deep.
• Goalposts are on the goal line in Canadian football and at the back of the end zone in American football.
• In Canadian football, there's a 20-second play clock. American football uses a 25-second clock (for plays that begin with a stopped game clock) and a 40-second clock (when the game clock is running).
• In Canadian football, more than one player can be in motion in the offensive backfield before the snap and can move toward the line of scrimmage. In American football, only one player can be in motion and must move parallel to or away from the line of scrimmage.
• In Canadian football, a team scores a 1-point "single" or "rouge" if it kicks the ball into the opponents' end zone and the opponent fails to return it. (Kickoffs that roll out of the end zone without being touched score no points.)
• In Canadian football, scrimmage kicks can be recovered by the offense at any time, from any point on the field. Players from the receiving team must be behind the kicker at the time of the kick to be eligible to recover, and the ball has to first travel 10 yards before anyone on the kicking team can recover. In American football, it's illegal to kick the ball beyond the line of scrimmage.
• In Canadian football, the defense must line up 1 yard off the ball at the line of scrimmage. In American football, the defense only has to be on the opposite side of the football.
• In Canadian football, when a ball is fumbled out of bounds, the last team to touch the ball gains possession. In American football, when a football is fumbled out of bounds, the ball goes to the last team that established possession inbounds.
• In Canadian football, each quarter must end on a play, with the result that many periods end with a play that starts with 0:00 on the clock. In American football, the quarter ends at 0:00, except if there was a defensive penalty.
• Following an opponent's field goal, a Canadian team can opt to either receive a kickoff or put the ball in play from its own 35-yard line. In American football, the team that scored the field goal has to kick off.

Those are the major differences, although there are other small ones.

Answer 3

3 downs in Canada

20 seconds to put ball into play from referees signal

field width, 65 yards

field length, 110 yards

end zone, 20 yards

unlimited motion allowed in offensive backfield

12 men on the field

full yard neutral zone separating offensive and defensive line at line of scrimmage

no fair catch of punts, opposing players must remain five yards away from punt receiver until he has fielded the ball.

A single point awarded for any punt, or missed field goal that goes into the end zone and is not returned across the goal line.

A 3 minute warning, time stops after every every play and starts at the referees signal.

one foot in bounds for legal catch

Answer 4

Canadian football is soccer foot and ball American football is a whole other game

ANSWER

Although the objective in both games is the same, there are several fundamental differences:

• In Canadian football, teams have three downs instead of four to move the ball 10 yards.
• There are 12 players on a Canadian team and only 11 on an American team.
• The Canadian field is 110 yards long (midfield is the 55-yard line), and the end zones are 20 yards deep. American football's end zones are only 10 yards deep.
• Goalposts are on the goal line in Canadian football and at the back of the end zone in American football.
• In Canadian football, there's a 20-second play clock. American football uses a 25-second clock (for plays that begin with a stopped game clock) and a 40-second clock (when the game clock is running).
• In Canadian football, more than one player can be in motion in the offensive backfield before the snap and can move toward the line of scrimmage. In American football, only one player can be in motion and must move parallel to or away from the line of scrimmage.
• In Canadian football, a team scores a 1-point "single" or "rouge" if it kicks the ball into the opponents' end zone and the opponent fails to return it. (Kickoffs that roll out of the end zone without being touched score no points.)
• In Canadian football, scrimmage kicks can be recovered by the offense at any time, from any point on the field. Players from the receiving team must be behind the kicker at the time of the kick to be eligible to recover, and the ball has to first travel 10 yards before anyone on the kicking team can recover. In American football, it's illegal to kick the ball beyond the line of scrimmage.
• In Canadian football, the defense must line up 1 yard off the ball at the line of scrimmage. In American football, the defense only has to be on the opposite side of the football.
• In Canadian football, when a ball is fumbled out of bounds, the last team to touch the ball gains possession. In American football, when a football is fumbled out of bounds, the ball goes to the last team that established possession inbounds.
• In Canadian football, each quarter must end on a play, with the result that many periods end with a play that starts with 0:00 on the clock. In American football, the quarter ends at 0:00, except if there was a defensive penalty.
• Following an opponent's field goal, a Canadian team can opt to either receive a kickoff or put the ball in play from its own 35-yard line. In American football, the team that scored the field goal has to kick off.

Those are the major differences, although there are other small ones.

Answer 5

Well considering you are talking about gridiron football, Canadian American football has a widerfield, bigger endzones, and more wide receivers.