Learn About Sports

Football has origins in the sport of rugby, which has origins in the sport of soccer. Almost 200 years ago a soccer player who became frustrated at only being able to use his feet, decided to pick up the ball and run with it. As you all know picking up the ball in soccer is not allowed, but other players found the new way of playing quite fun and thus started playing a new game – rugby – which got it’s name form the school in England where the boy first decided to pick up the soccer ball and run with it. Rugby made its way to America in the mid 1800’s where if found popularity at colleges in the North Eastern US. Over the next several decades the rules were changed to make way for the game we now call Football. In Canada we have our own rules for playing the game.

Print Version

Football is played by two teams – each with 12 players on the field at any time. Games last for 60 minutes and are divided into four, 15-minute quarters. Time is only stopped when the ball is not in play, a foul has been committed, or during time outs.

To start the game, one team kicks the ball to the other team who tries to run the ball into the end zone at the opposite end of the field without being tackled and without running out of bounds.

Once a team has possession of the ball they are awarded three downs (or attempts) to try and gain 10 yards. If a team can successfully gain at least 10-yards, they get to keep possession of the ball, get three new downs, and can continue to try and advance up the field. If a team cannot successfully gain the 10-yards, possession is awarded to the opposing team from the point where the ball became dead. However, the team in possession may choose on any down to kick the ball to the opposition, forcing them to travel a greater distance to score. The object of the game is to outscore the opposing team. Points can be scored in five ways:

• by scoring a touchdown for 6 points,
• kicking a conversion for 1 point,
• kicking a field goal for 3 points,
• scoring a safety touch worth 2 points, or
• forcing a rouge worth 1 point. A rouge is scored when the ball is kicked (either a punt or field goal attempt) into the opposing team’s end zone and it becomes dead, or crosses any boundary line.

Print Version

Whether playing tackle, flag or touch football - players must be quick, precise and committed team players. Football leagues are available for athletes of all ages. Local Community Football clubs offer a variety of football programs or your school may even have a team. For more information on how to get involved please visit www.footballcanada.com

Print Version