Canadian football is very similar to American football and, for those thatΒ havenβtΒ studied the 2 sports, it can even look a lot like rugby. However, when comparing Canadian football to rugby, the differences areΒ pretty obvious, even for the untrained eye. On the other hand, Canadian football and American football are nearly identical and if you take a sports fan from outside the USA or Canada, there are some big chances that he cannot tell the difference between the 2.Β
To tell Canadian football apart from American football, fans must take in consideration the 3 main differences that can be observed at first glance with a little focus.Β
Canadian football has one extra player in the team that starts the gameΒ
The most obvious and easy to observe difference between the two types of football is the number of players that start the game.Β
While an American football team starts a game with 11 players, just like in soccer, Canadian football teams start their games with 12 players.Β The 12thΒ player for a Canadian football team will be required to have aΒ backfield position on offence. Usually, thisΒ a defensive backΒ in American football.Β
As a result of an extra player for Canadian football, there will be a certain variation inΒ position designations of the offensive and defensive lines.Β
Surface of playΒ
This is probably the most complicated difference between Canadian and American football.Β
The most essential one is the one for the official playing field. ForΒ CanadianΒ football, theΒ field is 110 by 65 yards, while the American one measuresΒ 100 by 53+1β3 yards.Β Also, inΒ Canadian football,Β end zones are 10 yards deeper thanΒ inΒ American football, measuring 20 yards, sinceΒ 1986.Β
Many changes have been made over time, but this is the one that is the most obvious and consists as a big and easy noticeable difference.Β
Ball dimensionsΒ
Another difference consists of different ball dimensions. This may not be that obvious at first, but it does impact the game andΒ itβsΒ easy to notice from the first 2 or 3 games a football fan will watch.Β
Until 2018,Β the CFL and NFL hadΒ different specificationsΒ when it came to the ball size. Before that time, the CFL requirements for theΒ ball sizeΒ wereΒ specified as short circumference from 20+7β8 to 21+1β8 inches (530 to 537 mm); long circumference from 27+3β4 to 28+1β4 inches (705 to 718 mm).Β
Β At the moment, the requirements for short circumference are from 21 to 21+1β4 inches (533 to 540 mm) and for long circumference are from 28 to 28+1β2 inches (711 to 724 mm).Β
From simple fans to passionate gamblers, everyone must know the difference between American and Canadian football. And to enjoy the sport to its maximum, fans can tryΒ Betzest, for some of the best odds in Canadian football.Β
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