HISTORY
· Canadian football grew from rugby, a game invented in Rugby England, in 1823.
· Rugby football spread across the Atlantic through a British Army garrison stationed in Montreal.
· The soldiers recruited McGill University students for game, and after a McGill team played in
Boston at Harvard University, the Americans developed their own version.
· In Canada, the game developed through associations organized in each province.
· In 1884, the Canadian Rugby Football Union was created as the sport's governing body.
· Today, it is known as the Canadian Football League (CFL).
· The championship trophy for this league is known as the Grey Cup.
RULES OF THE GAME
• The game begins with a kick-off and the kick-off is also used to restart play after a touchdown.
• Each down (play) starts from the line of scrimmage(LOS)
• No tackling, grabbing or holding your opponent
STARTING PLAY
· teams line up, separated by the line of scrimmage
· ball must be snapped by the centre, who gives it to the quarterback
· Only one forward pass is allowed per down.
· After an incomplete pass the ball comes back to the line of scrimmage before the start of a new down.
SCORING
· touchdown = 6 points after scoring a touchdown, the team that scored has 2 options:
a) convert = 1 point, place kick the ball between the uprights
b) 2 point conversion = 2 points, run or pass the ball into the endzone from the 3 yard line
· field goal = 3 points, place kick the ball between the uprights during regular play
· safety = 2 points, tackle the offensive player who has the ball in their own end zone
· convert = "Single" 1 point given for kicking or punting the ball into the
opponent's endzone and the other team does not run it out of the end zone.
Also called a "Rouge"
DOWNS
· 3 downs or “chances” are allowed for a team to get 10 yards
· once a team gets 10 or more yards, it becomes first down again
BASIC STRATEGY
· hand-off the ball to a running back and run it
· pass the ball to a receiver, who runs a pass pattern
· if it is 3rd down (your last chance!) and you are close enough, place kick the ball for a field goal
· if it is 3rd down and you are too far to kick a field goal, punt (a standing-up kick) the ball as far as possible to the other team
· if it is 3rd down and you are close to getting 10 yards (or a “first down”) you can take a chance and go for it… but if you don’t make it,
the other team gets the ball!
OTHER
· Play will stop when:
a) the player who has the ball is touched or flag removed
b) a forward pass is not caught by anyone
· Play will continue when:
a) Fumble: a player drops the ball (except for dropping a pass)
b) Interception: a pass is caught by the other team
c) Lateral: any pass that is thrown backwards (play will continue if a lateral is dropped!)
· A forward Pass must be thrown overhand
· A Turnover is when you give up possession of the ball to the other team
· If a touchdown is scored, the scoring team must kickoff to the other team
PENALTIES
5 yard penalties - offside, delay of game, less than three players on line of scrimmage, illegal motion, illegal forward pass
15 yard penalties - illegal use of hands, unnecessary roughness (Push, shove, tackle, trip, hold), Unsportsmanlike conduct, pass interference
SKILLS
PASSING
• Fingers across the laces
• Thumb opposite the fingers
• Bring elbow up and bring the ball behind your head
• Step forward with the opposite foot from the passing arm
• Arc the ball forward but above the level of the ear
• Release by letting the ball roll off the fingertips and rotate the wrist so the thumb points down. This creates a "spiral" pass.
CATCHING
• Hands should be facing the ball with the fingers up and outstretched to give a target for the passer
• Eyes on the ball at all times
• As the ball is caught, bend the arms to absorb the force of the pass.
• "Watch the ball all the way" into your body as you catch it.
PUNTING
• Hold the ball with 2 hands, one on either side of the ball.
• Tilt the ball down and away from the kicking foot.
• Release the ball just before punting. Do not toss the ball or allow it to rotate
• Kick the ball on the "laces" area of your shoe.
• Keep the kicking foot extended (pointed), not flexed, when punting.
• If everything is done well, the ball will travel with a "spiral" action, which allows it to travel further.
CENTER/QUARTERBACK EXCHANGE "THE SNAP"
A. The Center
• Hold the ball with one hand.
• On a short snap, make sure that the quarterback receives the ball with the laces up.
• On longer snaps the center must throw the ball back between his legs to the quarterback.
• The ball should be thrown back with a "spiral" action. You may use 2 hands for this kind of snap.
B. The Quarterback
• Calls for the ball using the following shouts:
• "Ready - Down - Set - Hut one - Hut two - Hut three - Hut four
• The Quarterback puts his hands down between the legs of the Center to receive the snap. He must hold the heels of the hands
together with the passing hand up. Make sure to keep the fingers spread out and fully extended to avoid getting a jammed finger.
• The quarterback watches the defense on the short snap (no peeking at the ball) and watches for the ball on the long snap.
KICKING
• Used for converts after touchdowns, for field goals, and for kick-offs 2 styles
American Style - (also know as the straight on style) similar to "Toe Hacking"
• Line up facing the target and take 3 steps straight back
• When you want to kick the ball, take two quick steps forward and kick the ball off the toe pf your foot.
• Keep your ankle flexed and rigid to create more force.
Soccer Style - from an angle
• The approach is at a 45º angle and the kick is done with the contact on the instep of the foot (along the laces).
• Line up facing the target and take 2 steps back and then take 3 small shuffles to the side for your starting position.
• Step in with 2 quick steps and kick the ball, follow through with the toe pointing to the target.
CLASS FLAG/TOUCH FOOTBALL RULES
· There are 4 players aside for flag football
· 3 players must be on the line of scrimmage from the offensive team
· There is a designated rusher who lines up 5 yards from the line of scrimmage.
· They are to count to 7 steamboats before they rush the quarterback.
· Their path to the quarterback must not be impeded by an offensive player. This will result in a 5 yard penalty and replay the down.
· The ball must be snapped to the quarterback.
· There is absolutely no pushing or shoving. This will result in an automatic first down
· Only one of the players flags must be removed or 1 hand touch
· All flags must be visible at all times and may not be wrapped around the belt or tied.
· All clothing must be on the inside of the belt.
· Players are not allowed to jump when approaching a defender but may spin.
· Canadian football grew from rugby, a game invented in Rugby England, in 1823.
· Rugby football spread across the Atlantic through a British Army garrison stationed in Montreal.
· The soldiers recruited McGill University students for game, and after a McGill team played in
Boston at Harvard University, the Americans developed their own version.
· In Canada, the game developed through associations organized in each province.
· In 1884, the Canadian Rugby Football Union was created as the sport's governing body.
· Today, it is known as the Canadian Football League (CFL).
· The championship trophy for this league is known as the Grey Cup.
RULES OF THE GAME
• The game begins with a kick-off and the kick-off is also used to restart play after a touchdown.
• Each down (play) starts from the line of scrimmage(LOS)
• No tackling, grabbing or holding your opponent
STARTING PLAY
· teams line up, separated by the line of scrimmage
· ball must be snapped by the centre, who gives it to the quarterback
· Only one forward pass is allowed per down.
· After an incomplete pass the ball comes back to the line of scrimmage before the start of a new down.
SCORING
· touchdown = 6 points after scoring a touchdown, the team that scored has 2 options:
a) convert = 1 point, place kick the ball between the uprights
b) 2 point conversion = 2 points, run or pass the ball into the endzone from the 3 yard line
· field goal = 3 points, place kick the ball between the uprights during regular play
· safety = 2 points, tackle the offensive player who has the ball in their own end zone
· convert = "Single" 1 point given for kicking or punting the ball into the
opponent's endzone and the other team does not run it out of the end zone.
Also called a "Rouge"
DOWNS
· 3 downs or “chances” are allowed for a team to get 10 yards
· once a team gets 10 or more yards, it becomes first down again
BASIC STRATEGY
· hand-off the ball to a running back and run it
· pass the ball to a receiver, who runs a pass pattern
· if it is 3rd down (your last chance!) and you are close enough, place kick the ball for a field goal
· if it is 3rd down and you are too far to kick a field goal, punt (a standing-up kick) the ball as far as possible to the other team
· if it is 3rd down and you are close to getting 10 yards (or a “first down”) you can take a chance and go for it… but if you don’t make it,
the other team gets the ball!
OTHER
· Play will stop when:
a) the player who has the ball is touched or flag removed
b) a forward pass is not caught by anyone
· Play will continue when:
a) Fumble: a player drops the ball (except for dropping a pass)
b) Interception: a pass is caught by the other team
c) Lateral: any pass that is thrown backwards (play will continue if a lateral is dropped!)
· A forward Pass must be thrown overhand
· A Turnover is when you give up possession of the ball to the other team
· If a touchdown is scored, the scoring team must kickoff to the other team
PENALTIES
5 yard penalties - offside, delay of game, less than three players on line of scrimmage, illegal motion, illegal forward pass
15 yard penalties - illegal use of hands, unnecessary roughness (Push, shove, tackle, trip, hold), Unsportsmanlike conduct, pass interference
SKILLS
PASSING
• Fingers across the laces
• Thumb opposite the fingers
• Bring elbow up and bring the ball behind your head
• Step forward with the opposite foot from the passing arm
• Arc the ball forward but above the level of the ear
• Release by letting the ball roll off the fingertips and rotate the wrist so the thumb points down. This creates a "spiral" pass.
CATCHING
• Hands should be facing the ball with the fingers up and outstretched to give a target for the passer
• Eyes on the ball at all times
• As the ball is caught, bend the arms to absorb the force of the pass.
• "Watch the ball all the way" into your body as you catch it.
PUNTING
• Hold the ball with 2 hands, one on either side of the ball.
• Tilt the ball down and away from the kicking foot.
• Release the ball just before punting. Do not toss the ball or allow it to rotate
• Kick the ball on the "laces" area of your shoe.
• Keep the kicking foot extended (pointed), not flexed, when punting.
• If everything is done well, the ball will travel with a "spiral" action, which allows it to travel further.
CENTER/QUARTERBACK EXCHANGE "THE SNAP"
A. The Center
• Hold the ball with one hand.
• On a short snap, make sure that the quarterback receives the ball with the laces up.
• On longer snaps the center must throw the ball back between his legs to the quarterback.
• The ball should be thrown back with a "spiral" action. You may use 2 hands for this kind of snap.
B. The Quarterback
• Calls for the ball using the following shouts:
• "Ready - Down - Set - Hut one - Hut two - Hut three - Hut four
• The Quarterback puts his hands down between the legs of the Center to receive the snap. He must hold the heels of the hands
together with the passing hand up. Make sure to keep the fingers spread out and fully extended to avoid getting a jammed finger.
• The quarterback watches the defense on the short snap (no peeking at the ball) and watches for the ball on the long snap.
KICKING
• Used for converts after touchdowns, for field goals, and for kick-offs 2 styles
American Style - (also know as the straight on style) similar to "Toe Hacking"
• Line up facing the target and take 3 steps straight back
• When you want to kick the ball, take two quick steps forward and kick the ball off the toe pf your foot.
• Keep your ankle flexed and rigid to create more force.
Soccer Style - from an angle
• The approach is at a 45º angle and the kick is done with the contact on the instep of the foot (along the laces).
• Line up facing the target and take 2 steps back and then take 3 small shuffles to the side for your starting position.
• Step in with 2 quick steps and kick the ball, follow through with the toe pointing to the target.
CLASS FLAG/TOUCH FOOTBALL RULES
· There are 4 players aside for flag football
· 3 players must be on the line of scrimmage from the offensive team
· There is a designated rusher who lines up 5 yards from the line of scrimmage.
· They are to count to 7 steamboats before they rush the quarterback.
· Their path to the quarterback must not be impeded by an offensive player. This will result in a 5 yard penalty and replay the down.
· The ball must be snapped to the quarterback.
· There is absolutely no pushing or shoving. This will result in an automatic first down
· Only one of the players flags must be removed or 1 hand touch
· All flags must be visible at all times and may not be wrapped around the belt or tied.
· All clothing must be on the inside of the belt.
· Players are not allowed to jump when approaching a defender but may spin.