Portal:Canadian football

Canadian football

Canadian football is a form of football played chiefly in Canada in which two teams of twelve players each compete for territorial control of a field of play 110 yards (100.6 m) long and 65 yards (59.4 m) wide, attempting to advance a prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's end zone. In Canada, the term "football" is used to refer to Canadian football and American football collectively, or either sport specifically, depending on the context. The two sports have some shared origins and are closely related; there are, however, significant differences: see comparison of Canadian and American football for details.

Rugby football in Canada had its origins in the early 1860s, and over time, the unique code known as Canadian football developed. Both the Canadian Football League (CFL), the sport's only major professional league, and Football Canada, the governing body for amateur play, trace their roots to 1884 and the founding of the Canadian Rugby Football Union. Several currently active teams have similar longevity.

The CFL's Grey Cup championship is the country's single largest sporting event and is watched by nearly one third of Canadian television households. Amateur play is widespread at junior, high school, collegiate, and senior levels: the Canadian Junior Football League and Quebec Junior Football League are large leagues for players aged 18-22, many post-secondary institutions compete in Canadian Interuniversity Sport for the Vanier Cup, and senior amateur leagues have grown in popularity in recent years. Great achievements in the sport are enshrined in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

More about...Canadian football, its teams and players

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Did you know?

...that Commonwealth Stadium (pictured), home of the 98th Grey Cup, set a CFL record when it sold out 173 days before the Grey Cup game?
...that the Toronto Argonauts have 15 Grey Cup championship victories, the most in CFL history?
...that the Baltimore Stallions are the only non-Canadian based team to win the Grey Cup?
...that Bud Grant and Marv Levy are the only head coaches to guide both a CFL and NFL team to the championship game?
...that Giulio Caravatta was the last Canadian quarterback to start a CFL game, dating back to 1996?
...that Piffles Taylor, the namesake of the N. J. Taylor Trophy and Saskatchewan's Taylor Field, quarterbacked the Regina Roughriders to a championship after losing an eye in World War I?
... that Winnipeg Blue Bombers star Jeff Nicklin was one of the first Canadians to jump into Normandy on D-Day and into Germany?
... that former Michigan quarterback Jim Van Pelt set Canadian Football League records with a 107-yard touchdown pass and seven touchdown passes in one game?
... that Saskatchewan Roughriders running back Stu Foord is the only player to have scored a touchdown on both his first CFL rushing attempt and his first pass reception?
... that in April 1995, the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League drafted Derrell Robertson, even though he had died in a car accident in December 1994?
...that Raghib Ismail became the highest-paid player in gridiron football history when he joined the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League?

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Selected article

The Canadian Football Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit corporation located in Hamilton, Ontario that celebrates great achievements in Canadian football. It is an open to the public institution. It includes displays about the Canadian Football League, Canadian university football and Canadian junior football history. It includes a gift shop and the Hall recently opened a website. The main feature of the Hall is the central portion of the museum where inducted members, each with a metal bust depicting their head, are displayed. There are also featured displays that highlight each Canadian Football League team's history, and an interactive field goal kicking exhibit.

Once during every CFL season, the Hall sponsors the induction ceremony of former players. Included in the "Hall of Fame Weekend" is an affiliated Hamilton Tiger-Cats game. Traditionally, the inducted players will come to the Hall and make an acceptance speech in front of the building where their newly sculpted bust is unveiled. A player must be retired from the game for at least five years before being eligible for consideration. A Hall of Fame voting committee is composed of sports writers, selected CFL executives and inducted members.

The Canadian Hall of Fame officially opened on November 28, 1972. It is located in downtown Hamilton, beside the former Hamilton City Hall and Family Courts Building, which is inside the former Andrew Carnegie library on Main Street, between Bay Street and MacNab Street.

The Canadian Hall of Fame is easily identified by the slightly-larger-than-life metal sculpture Touchdown, featuring a successful receiver being tackled. Currently, the Canadian Football Hall of Fame has honoured over two hundred inductees: sixty-two in the Builders category and one hundred and forty-seven players. Charter membership to the Hall began on June 19, 1963.

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Selected biography

Michael Lutrell "Pinball" Clemons OOnt (born January 15, 1965, in Dunedin, Florida, U.S.) is the current Vice-Chair for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. Clemons also played with the Argos for twelve seasons, and twice served as their head coach.

His #31 jersey is one of only four that has been retired by the Argos. He is one of their most famous former players and also one of the most popular professional athletes in the history of Toronto. Clemons has stated that he feels CFL football is the best football in the world. Clemons is 5'6" (167 cm) tall and weighs 170 pounds (77 kg).

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Topics

Hall of Fame • Leagues • Media • Players • Teams
Terminology • Trophies • Venues

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Darian Durant during a Saskatchewan Roughriders practice.

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Selected quote

Of course he’s good….he’s from Florida.

— Korey Banks

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Selected term

Spearing: An unnecessary roughness penalty of 15 yards imposed when the player drives his helmet into an opponent in an unnecessary and excessive manner. The referee's signal is a chopping motion above the head.

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Commonwealth Stadium is a sports stadium located in the Norwood Area of Edmonton, Alberta.
Primarily used by the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. The stadium is owned and operated by the City of Edmonton.

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Canadian Football League - (CFL)

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