Play of the Game
Teams advance across the field through the execution of short, distinct plays, which involve the possession of a brown oblong ball with ends tapered to a point and painted with one inch-wide stripes. Players advance the ball by carrying it in the arms or passing it to another player (only one forward pass permitted per football play). Three attempts, or downs, are allowed to move forward ten yards, or the team with the ball must relinquish the ball to the other team.
Kickoff
Play begins with one team kicking off by place kicking the ball from its own 35-yard line. The receiving player then attempts to advance the ball, play stopping when their knee or elbow is forced to the ground (a tackle), when a touchdown is scored, or when any other player who has obtained possession of the ball is tackled.
The next play then starts from scrimmage. The imaginary field-wide line on which the ball is placed following a tackle is called the line of scrimmage. For a scrimmage to be valid, the team in possession of the football must have seven players, excluding the quarterback, within one yard of the line of scrimmage. The defending team, however, must stay a yard or more away from the ball. Play begins when the centre passes (snaps) the ball backward through their legs to the quarterback or to a punter. If the quarterback receives the ball they may then:
- advance with the ball,
- pass it laterally or backwards to a teammate,
- punt the ball,
- place the ball on the ground for a place kick, or,
- remaining on their team's side of the line of scrimmage, pass it to a teammate who is closer to the line or on the other side of it (a forward pass).
Play ends as on the kick-off. If the punter receives the ball they usually punt it, but may use any of the options which the quarterback has. After a punt, play may also end when a single is conceded by a player on the receiving team.
Each play constitutes a down, and the team must advance ten yards towards the opponents' goal line within three downs or forfeit the ball to their opponents. Once ten yards are gained a new series of three downs is begun. When teams have not gained ten yards in two downs they usually punt the ball on third down or try to kick a field goal, depending on their position on the field.
Other Kicks
Canadian football distinguishes three ways of kicking the ball:
- Place kick - Kicking a ball held on the ground by a teammate, or, on resuming play following a score, placed on a tee.
- Drop kick - Kicking a ball after bouncing it on the ground; although rarely used today, it has the same status in scoring as a place kick.
- Punt - Kicking the ball after it has been released from the kicker's hand and before it hits the ground)
On punts and field goal attempts (but not kickoffs), members of the kicking team, other than the kicker and any teammates who are onside (behind the kicker at the time of the kick), may not approach within five yards of the ball until it has been touched by the receiving team.
