The biggest similarity between Canadian football and American football is in the field. Both sports take place on a rectangular field. There are yard lines, end zones, and goal posts. However, there is one major difference; the Canadian field is much larger. Not only are they longer, but they are also wider and have longer end zones.
- The Objective
As both gam
es derive from rugby, their objective is, fundamentally the same. The players have to move the football down to the opposing team’s end field, and score points. The primary ways to score points are touchdowns, field goals, and safeties in both.- The Ball
At first glance, the ball in both sports is the same. An oval, brown, laced pigskin. However, there are some differences. For example, Canadian footballs are larger and slightly heavier. Whereas the standard American football is 397 to 425 grams and measures around 72 cm, the Canadian ball is around 567 grams with a circumference of 70 cm.
Both games have a similar structure. The competition is divided into four quarters, with each team having a set number of downs. Of course, both games have kickoffs, special team plays, timeouts, penalty rounds, etc. Though the penalties in both games are governed by different rules entirely.
- The Popularity
Canadian fo
otball is not nearly as popular in its home country as the NFL is in the USA. Anyone who is familiar with the Super Bowl will already know this is the case. Despite that, Canadian football does manage to draw in a huge amount of fans and punters.- Miscellaneous
In this final point, we are going to look at a few miscellaneous differences in similarities. For example, both sports make heavy use of blocking and tackling. While both games incorporate punting, punts play a much more significant role in Canadian football, than in American. Finally, Canadian football teams are comprised of nine players, as oppose to the American teams which are comprised of 11 players.
Canadian football is an interesting iteration of gridiron football. The sport has an over-century-old history that dates back to the 1880s. Though derived from rugby, there are significant differences that make Canadian sport unique in its own right. From small rule changes to glaring differences, Canadian football stands as its own, unique thing. However, despite its uniqueness, it remains relatively unpopular outside of its country of origin.
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