What Do You Not Know About Canadian Football?

Gridiron football originated in North America and became pretty popular in its neighbouring country, Canada. The game was first played officially among colleges in America only in the late 19th century. Today, Canadian Football is one of the most popular games played in the country, with the Canadian Football League (CFL) as the counterpart of America’s National Football League (NFL). Canadian Football is the second favourite sport among the country’s citizens with ice hockey holding the crown when it comes to popularity.

Even though Canadian football is not that popular in the rest of the world, it still attracts a considerable number of bettors who wager at websites such as youwager.lv online sportsbook. Here are a few interesting facts about Canadian Football that you might not have heard before.

The First Game

The very first football game between two opposing Canadian teams took place in October 1862. The game took place between the Second Battalion Scots Fusilier Guards and the First Battalion Grenadier Guards with the First Battalion Grenadier Guards coming out at the top.

This is not the very first documented football game that took place in Canada, and that honour goes to a practice match conducted in November 1861 from the University College, University of Toronto.

Different from American Football

Unlike American Football that features 11 players on each side, Canadian football involves 12 players on both the teams. With these extra players in Canadian football, the offensive setup comprises of two slotbacks, two defensive halfbacks and one safety.

Another difference comes from the size of the fields. While American football fields are 100 yards in length and 53 and 1/3 yards in width, Canadian football fields are significantly bigger. The fields in

the country are 110 yards and 65 yards in length and width respectively. Because of this bigger size, it is challenging to conduct Canadian football games in American fields.

While the goalposts are placed at the end line in American football, it is located at the Canadian version’s goal line.

In America football players only have three ways to score: touchdown, safety or a field goal. But in Canadian football, points are awarded for numerous types of plays on the field.

The American football rules significantly differ from Canadian rules. These differences exist mainly because American football underwent numerous changes in the twentieth century that did not take place in Canadian football. Many American football players who do not get into the NFL teams often join the Canadian Football League.

The Extra Point

In Canadian football, the extra-point consisting of 65 points will be awarded to a team if their coach can toss the ball into a crate.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in Canadian Football

This popular actor and retired WWE wrestler had joined the CFL in 1995 as a linebacker for the Calgary Stampeders. His career as a Canadian football player did not last very long as he was kicked out of the team in two months once the season began. After this failure, he went on to become a world-renowned wrestler.

The Fog Bowl of 1962

The 50th Grey Cup championship game is written down in history as the game that was played over two days. It began on the Saturday of December 1, 1962, but had to be suspended when a thick fog from Lake Ontario descended on the field. The game was being played between the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Soon after the fog engulfed the field, it became difficult for

anybody, both the audience and the players to properly see what was happening with the ball. The game was officially paused with Winnipeg leading 28-27. It was continued the next day, a Sunday, but Winnipeg went on to secure their win since nobody scored any points.

Today it is remembered as the game the fans could not see.

The Tripper from the 1957 Grey Cup

The 45th Grey Cup of 1957 is another memorable championship game in the history of Canadian football. Today, this game is still remembered because of a football fan who put out his foot and tripped Hamilton’s Ray Bawel as he was rushing to an ensured touchdown. This incident confused the referee and the authorities, and they were unsure about how to proceed. In the end, a half the distance to the goal line was given as a penalty. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats won the game with a lead of 32-7.

Summing up

Though many might believe Canadian and Football to be the same, the two games consist of many differences from the number of players to the size of the field. Several memorable games have taken place in the history of the Grey Cup, the Canadian Football League championship game. Canadian football continues to rise in popularity, but it is not usually played in American fields due to the differences in field sizes.