Canadian Football Rules Reference

1. Penalties

1.1All penalties are 5-yards, the down will be repeated, and will be assessed from the line of scrimmage unless otherwise noted.
1.2In a single penalty application, all penalties may be declined except dead ball fouls, major fouls, and penalties that stop the current play (flag guarding, delay of pass, etc.)
In a multiple penalty situation against one team, penalties that stop the play may be declined by the non-offending team if they choose to accept another penalty.
1.3Yardage on penalties, except Major fouls, will not exceed half the distance to the opposing team's goal line from the line of scrimmage. The yardage on a Spot Foul is assessed from where the infraction took place. The ball can never be placed closer than the 1-yard line.
1.4Game officials determine incidental contact that may result from normal run of play.
1.5Games cannot end at half time or the end of the game on an accepted penalty.
1.6Penalties after an interception shall be assessed after the return is over and/or the play is blown dead.
1.7Defensive spot of fouls penalties that occur behind the line of scrimmage will be applied at the line of scrimmage instead of the spot.
1.8If a dead ball foul occurs after a scoring play, the non-offending team will get the choice to apply the yardage to the convert or to the start of the next possession. They will make this decision after the offense has declared if they are going for one or two points.
1.9If the Ball Carrier legally crosses the Midfield Line and subsequently commits a foul that carries a Loss of Down penalty (e.g., Flag Guarding):
The First Down is awarded.
The penalty yardage is enforced from the appropriate spot.
The Loss of Down is waived.

The next play will be 1st Down, even if the penalty yardage enforcement places the ball back behind the Midfield Line.

2. Defensive Penalties

2.1Offside player(s) lined up across or crossing the Line of Scrimmage or neutral zone at the snap of the ball.
2.2Illegal Contact physical contact such as impeding, redirecting, obstruction, blocking, holding, & tackling as well as any lower body contact with an offensive player throwing the ball at Spot of Foul (Automatic First Down).
2.3Pass Interference both contact & non-contact that interferes with an offensive player catching a ball while it is in air, also includes screening & pushing off at Spot of Foul (Automatic First Down).
2.4Illegal Flag Pull Pulling a flag of a player before they have the ball. Spot of Catch if caught, LOS if dropped (Automatic First Down).
2.5Roughing the Passer any contact with the passer's arm, head, or neck area while throwing the ball, including the ball in the passer's hand. 10-yard penalty (Automatic First Down).
2.6Illegal Rushing Crossing the line of scrimmage from inside the 7-yard rusher bean bag provided the ball has not been faked, pitched, or lateralled.
2.7Disconcerting Signals signals to distract or simulate offensive signals prior to snap.

3. Offensive Penalties

3.1Offside player(s) lined up across or crossing the LOS at the snap of the ball.
3.2Illegal Contact physical contact such as impeding, charging, redirecting, obstruction, blocking, holding and tackling. Spot of Foul + Next Down if the ball carrier. LOS + LOD if not the ball carrier.
3.3Pass Interference both contact & non-contact that interferes with a defensive player catching a ball while it is in air, also includes screening and pushing off (Loss of Down).
3.4Illegal Flag Pull Pulling a flag of a player before they have the ball. Spot of Catch if caught.
- 3.5Delay of Game ball is not snapped within 25 seconds, a team refusing to start play, or taking an excessive amount of time to remove an injured player.
- 3.6Delay of Pass ball is not passed by Quarterback in 7 seconds, play whistled dead. (Next Down)
- 3.7Rusher Interference impeding a Rusher's direct path to the Quarterback.
- 3.8Interference impeding, redirecting, obstruction, blocking with no contact, play whistled dead at Spot of Foul.
- 3.9Flag Guarding, Jumping or Diving ball carrier uses any part of their body or ball to prevent flags from being pulled or advancing the ball, play is whistled dead at Spot of Foul. (Next Down)
- 3.10Illegal Snap Center lifting or moving ball to simulate a snap. Play whistled dead.
- 3.11Illegal Running Play A Quarterback running with the ball across the Line of Scrimmage without a prior transfer of possession. This includes any instance where the Quarterback steps on or beyond the Line of Scrimmage while attempting a pass as well as a Quarterback extending the ball beyond the Line of Scrimmage to gain yards. Play whistled dead. (Next Down)
- 3.12Illegal Forward Pass when a second forward pass occurs, or when a forward pass occurs after the ball has crossed the Line of Scrimmage. Play whistled dead. (Next down).

4. General / Major Penalties

4.1Illegal Participation A player who goes out of bounds shall not participate further in that play unless that player went out of bounds as a result of a slippery field, contact with an opponent, or a missed flag pull. This is a LOD penalty if committed by the offense and Repeat Down penalty if committed by the defense.
4.2Illegal Substitution Any offensive player substitution after the center is prepared to snap the ball and any defensive player substitution during the play.
4.3Game Interference any substitute players, coaches or spectators interfering with ball, player or official while ball is in play.
4.4Leaving Team Area players or coaches leaving their designated team sideline area or crossing the middle of the field into the opponent's team area.
4.5Objectionable Conduct players, coaches, teams or spectators using profane language or gestures, threats, demeaning or intimidating remarks & actions, persistent arguments, fake injuries, delay of game or targeting players to initiate contact will result in a 5-yard penalty. Any player, coach, team or spectator receiving a second Objectionable Conduct penalty during a game will be ejected from that game.
4.6Major Foul Any obscene act, acts of roughness, or unfair play by players, coaches, teams, or spectators will result in a 15-yard penalty being assessed against their team as well as LOD or AFD from the appropriate spot. If the intent of the infraction was to cause bodily harm, or unfair play has made a mockery of the game, the penalty can result in a game ejection. Major fouls cannot be declined and must always apply their yardage in full. They will be applied after all live ball penalties have been assessed.

5. Multiple Penalties

5.1In a situation where only one team commits multiple live-ball penalties the non-offending team may accept only one of the penalties to be applied.
5.2Offsetting Fouls If live ball fouls by both teams are reported, the fouls offset and the down is replayed with the following exceptions:
- a. When there is a change of team possession during a down and the team last gaining possession had not fouled before last gaining possession, it may decline offsetting fouls and thereby retain possession after completion of the penalty for its foul.
- b. Major Fouls during a live ball since they must be accepted and their yardage applied in full. NOTE: Dead ball fouls will be applied after live ball penalties are assessed.

1. Penalties

1.1All penalties are 5-yards, the down will be repeated, and will be assessed from the line of scrimmage unless otherwise noted.
1.2In a single penalty application, all penalties may be declined except dead ball fouls, major fouls, and penalties that stop the current play (flag guarding, delay of pass, etc.)
In a multiple penalty situation against one team, penalties that stop the play may be declined by the non-offending team if they choose to accept another penalty.
1.3Yardage on penalties, except Major fouls, will not exceed half the distance to the opposing team's goal line from the line of scrimmage. The yardage on a Spot Foul is assessed from where the infraction took place. The ball can never be placed closer than the 1-yard line.
1.4Game officials determine incidental contact that may result from normal run of play.
1.5Games cannot end at half time or the end of the game on an accepted penalty.
1.6Penalties after an interception shall be assessed after the return is over and/or the play is blown dead.
1.7Defensive spot of fouls penalties that occur behind the line of scrimmage will be applied at the line of scrimmage instead of the spot.
1.8If a dead ball foul occurs after a scoring play, the non-offending team will get the choice to apply the yardage to the convert or to the start of the next possession. They will make this decision after the offense has declared if they are going for one or two points.
1.9If the Ball Carrier legally crosses the Midfield Line and subsequently commits a foul that carries a Loss of Down penalty (e.g., Flag Guarding):
The First Down is awarded.
The penalty yardage is enforced from the appropriate spot.
The Loss of Down is waived.

The next play will be 1st Down, even if the penalty yardage enforcement places the ball back behind the Midfield Line.

2. Defensive Penalties

2.1Offside player(s) lined up across or crossing the Line of Scrimmage or neutral zone at the snap of the ball.
2.2Illegal Contact physical contact such as impeding, redirecting, obstruction, blocking, holding, & tackling as well as any lower body contact with an offensive player throwing the ball at Spot of Foul (Automatic First Down).
2.3Pass Interference both contact & non-contact that interferes with an offensive player catching a ball while it is in air, also includes screening & pushing off at Spot of Foul (Automatic First Down).
2.4Illegal Flag Pull Pulling a flag of a player before they have the ball. Spot of Catch if caught, LOS if dropped (Automatic First Down).
2.5Roughing the Passer any contact with the passer's arm, head, or neck area while throwing the ball, including the ball in the passer's hand. 10-yard penalty (Automatic First Down).
2.6Illegal Rushing Crossing the line of scrimmage from inside the 7-yard rusher bean bag provided the ball has not been faked, pitched, or lateralled.
2.7Disconcerting Signals signals to distract or simulate offensive signals prior to snap.

3. Offensive Penalties

3.1Offside player(s) lined up across or crossing the LOS at the snap of the ball.
3.2Illegal Contact physical contact such as impeding, charging, redirecting, obstruction, blocking, holding and tackling. Spot of Foul + Next Down if the ball carrier. LOS + LOD if not the ball carrier.
3.3Pass Interference both contact & non-contact that interferes with a defensive player catching a ball while it is in air, also includes screening and pushing off (Loss of Down).
3.4Illegal Flag Pull Pulling a flag of a player before they have the ball. Spot of Catch if caught.
- 3.5Delay of Game ball is not snapped within 25 seconds, a team refusing to start play, or taking an excessive amount of time to remove an injured player.
- 3.6Delay of Pass ball is not passed by Quarterback in 7 seconds, play whistled dead. (Next Down)
- 3.7Rusher Interference impeding a Rusher's direct path to the Quarterback.
- 3.8Interference impeding, redirecting, obstruction, blocking with no contact, play whistled dead at Spot of Foul.
- 3.9Flag Guarding, Jumping or Diving ball carrier uses any part of their body or ball to prevent flags from being pulled or advancing the ball, play is whistled dead at Spot of Foul. (Next Down)
- 3.10Illegal Snap Center lifting or moving ball to simulate a snap. Play whistled dead.
- 3.11Illegal Running Play A Quarterback running with the ball across the Line of Scrimmage without a prior transfer of possession. This includes any instance where the Quarterback steps on or beyond the Line of Scrimmage while attempting a pass as well as a Quarterback extending the ball beyond the Line of Scrimmage to gain yards. Play whistled dead. (Next Down)
- 3.12Illegal Forward Pass when a second forward pass occurs, or when a forward pass occurs after the ball has crossed the Line of Scrimmage. Play whistled dead. (Next down).

4. General / Major Penalties

4.1Illegal Participation A player who goes out of bounds shall not participate further in that play unless that player went out of bounds as a result of a slippery field, contact with an opponent, or a missed flag pull. This is a LOD penalty if committed by the offense and Repeat Down penalty if committed by the defense.
4.2Illegal Substitution Any offensive player substitution after the center is prepared to snap the ball and any defensive player substitution during the play.
4.3Game Interference any substitute players, coaches or spectators interfering with ball, player or official while ball is in play.
4.4Leaving Team Area players or coaches leaving their designated team sideline area or crossing the middle of the field into the opponent's team area.
4.5Objectionable Conduct players, coaches, teams or spectators using profane language or gestures, threats, demeaning or intimidating remarks & actions, persistent arguments, fake injuries, delay of game or targeting players to initiate contact will result in a 5-yard penalty. Any player, coach, team or spectator receiving a second Objectionable Conduct penalty during a game will be ejected from that game.
4.6Major Foul Any obscene act, acts of roughness, or unfair play by players, coaches, teams, or spectators will result in a 15-yard penalty being assessed against their team as well as LOD or AFD from the appropriate spot. If the intent of the infraction was to cause bodily harm, or unfair play has made a mockery of the game, the penalty can result in a game ejection. Major fouls cannot be declined and must always apply their yardage in full. They will be applied after all live ball penalties have been assessed.

5. Multiple Penalties

5.1In a situation where only one team commits multiple live-ball penalties the non-offending team may accept only one of the penalties to be applied.
5.2Offsetting Fouls If live ball fouls by both teams are reported, the fouls offset and the down is replayed with the following exceptions:
- a. When there is a change of team possession during a down and the team last gaining possession had not fouled before last gaining possession, it may decline offsetting fouls and thereby retain possession after completion of the penalty for its foul.
- b. Major Fouls during a live ball since they must be accepted and their yardage applied in full. NOTE: Dead ball fouls will be applied after live ball penalties are assessed.