Canadian football

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Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played in Canada in which two teams of twelve players each compete for control of a field 110 yards long and 65 yards wide, attempting to advance a football into the opposing team's end zone to score points. The game evolved from rugby football and is closely related to American football.

History

The origins of Canadian football can be traced back to the early 1860s when it was first played in Montreal, Quebec. The game was initially played under rules similar to those of rugby. The first documented football game in Canada was played at the University of Toronto in 1861. The Canadian Rugby Football Union (CRFU) was established in 1884, which later evolved into the Canadian Football League (CFL) in 1958.

Rules

Canadian football is distinct from American football in several key ways:

• The field is larger, measuring 110 yards in length and 65 yards in width.
• Each team has twelve players on the field, compared to eleven in American football.
• The game is played with three downs instead of four.
• The goalposts are located at the front of the end zone.
• The end zones are deeper, measuring 20 yards.

Gameplay

The game begins with a kickoff, and the receiving team attempts to advance the ball as far as possible. The offensive team then has three downs to advance the ball ten yards. If successful, they are awarded a new set of downs. If not, the opposing team takes possession. Scoring can be achieved through a touchdown, field goal, safety, or a single point.

Leagues and Competitions

The primary professional league for Canadian football is the Canadian Football League (CFL), which consists of nine teams divided into two divisions: the East Division and the West Division. The season culminates in the Grey Cup, the championship game of the CFL, which is one of Canada's largest sporting events.

Notable Teams

• Toronto Argonauts
• Montreal Alouettes
• Calgary Stampeders
• Edmonton Elks
• Saskatchewan Roughriders

Related Pages

• Canadian Football League
• Grey Cup
• American football
• Rugby football
• Toronto Argonauts
• Montreal Alouettes
• Calgary Stampeders
• Edmonton Elks
• Saskatchewan Roughriders

See Also

• List of Canadian Football League seasons
• List of Grey Cup champions
• Canadian football rules