Different Rules of Playing Football
By Kathleen Ruppert
Field and Equipment
Some of the most notable differences among the various leagues have to do with field size. In the NFL, NCAA, and NFHS, the actual playing field is 100 yards long (with an additional 10-yard end zone at each end of the field) and 53-1/3 yards wide. The field is somewhat larger in Canadian football: the CFL playing field is 110 yards long by 65 yards wide, with a 20-yard end zone at each end of the field. Arena football, on the other hand, has a much smaller playing field to allow for fast-paced play. The arena football field is a padded indoor surface 28-1/3 yards wide and only 50 yards long, with two 8-yard end zones.
The differences in field size influence team size as well. In American high school, college and professional football, eleven players take the field at a time. The CFL, with its larger field, allows for twelve players. Instead of a tight end, two “slot backs” are used in Canadian football. On defense, Canadian teams have an additional linebacker or defensive back, as needed. As arena football is played on a much smaller field, only eight players take the field for each team.
Differences among the leagues can also be seen with respect to the goal posts. The NFL, NCAA and CFL goal posts are 18 ½ feet apart, with the crossbar at 10 feet. The width between goal posts in the NFHS is 23’4”. In arena football, the goal posts are only 9 feet apart, and the crossbar is placed at 15 feet.
One significant difference in arena football is the presence of a 32’ x 30’ rebound net at each end of the field. Any missed field goals or forward passes that rebound off the net are considered live and in play until the ball hits the ground.
Time
NFHS football games are comprised of four 12-minute periods, for a total of 48 minutes of play. The four periods in the other leagues are each 15 minutes long. Halftime in every case is 15 minutes long (unless television broadcasts dictate otherwise). In most leagues, the clock is stopped for a number of reasons including injuries, penalties, out of bounds play, or incomplete passes. In arena football, however, the clock does not stop for incomplete forward passes or out of bounds play except in the last minute of each half.
Each team is permitted three time-outs per half, except in the CFL, which only permits one time-out per half. The NFL allows the option of a fourth time-out to be taken before the last two minutes of a half, in exchange for a 5-yard penalty. In high-school football (NFHS), the coach can go to the huddle during a time-out. In the other leagues, the coach cannot enter the playing field.
The rules for overtime differ considerably from one league to the next. The NFL uses “sudden death” to determine the outcome of any game that is tied at the end of regular play. In such cases, the first team to score in overtime wins the game. The NCAA only uses overtime to break ties between teams in championship level games, when a winner must advance to the next round. Instead of “sudden death,” the NCAA allows each team equal possessions in overtime; the winning team is the one with the most points after equal possessions. In the case of a tie in arena football, each team gets one possession to score in overtime. If the game is still tied at that point, then the game goes into sudden death. In the CFL, the team with more points after two ten-minute overtime periods is the winner. If the game is still tied at that point, then twenty-minute overtime periods continue until a winner is found.
Rules of Play
While the rules of play are basically the same for the leagues, there are some notable exceptions. Punting is illegal in arena football, but is permitted in the other leagues. In American football, 10 yards must be gained within four downs; in Canadian football, only three downs are allotted for the same yardage. In American football leagues, if a ball is fumbled then possession goes to the last team that had possession before the ball went out of play. In the CFL, by contrast, possession goes to the last team that touched the ball before it went out of play.
In American football leagues (NFL, NCAA, NFHS), only one backfield player can be in motion and he cannot move toward the line of scrimmage until after the ball is snapped. In the CFL, all offensive backfield players (with the exception of the quarterback) can be in motion prior to the snap and can move in any direction as long as they are behind the line of scrimmage. In arena football, only one offensive player can be in motion prior to the snap, but he can move in any direction.
In American football leagues, the receiving team may choose not to play the ball if prospects for a return are not good. In the CFL, by contrast, the receiving team must play the ball. In the NFL, a player must have two feet in bounds for a catch to count as a reception. In other leagues, only one foot needs to be in bounds.
Scoring
The system of scoring is essentially the same for all the leagues, with some minor exceptions. Six points are awarded for a touchdown, three points for a field goal, two points for a safety and one or two points for a post-touchdown conversion (one point for kicking; two points for passing or carrying the ball). Additionally, in the CFL, if the defending team is unable to return a missed field goal out of the end zone then a single point is awarded to the kicking team. This option for a single point, or “rouge” is unique to the CFL.
The scoring in arena football is the same as in these other leagues, with the addition of a drop kick field goal worth four points during regular play or two points as a post-touchdown conversion.
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