Britannica
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How does Canadian football differ from American football?
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American football
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts during Super Bowl LVII, 2023; the team lost to the Kansas City Chiefs.
While Canadian football and American football share common roots in rugby, they have evolved into distinct sports with several key differences:
Field and Team Size
- Players: Canadian football teams have 12 players on the field, whereas American football teams have 11.12
- Dimensions: The Canadian field is larger, measuring 110 yards long and 65 yards wide, with end zones that are 20 yards deep. American fields are 100 yards long and 53.3 yards wide, with 10-yard end zones.12
Gameplay Rules
- Downs: Canadian teams have only three downs to gain 10 yards, compared to four downs in the American game.12
- Defense: In Canada, defensive linemen must be positioned one yard off the line of scrimmage.12
- Motion: All offensive backs in the Canadian game may be in motion before the snap.1
- Clock: The Canadian play clock is 20 seconds, while the American play clock is 40 seconds.2
Scoring
A unique feature of the Canadian game is the "rouge" (or single point), which is awarded if a team kicks the ball into the opponent's end zone and the receiving team fails to return it out of the area.12