Can’t wait for the NFL season to start? Try some Canadian-style football.

When it comes to professional sports, most Americans naturally associate Canada with hockey. But pro Canadian football is also very popular, with a history that dates back more than 150 years. Canadian football has its own quirks and nuances; best of all, it can be a lot of fun to watch.
The Canadian Football League (CFL) season begins in early July and proceeds through an 18-game schedule (with one bye week for each team), culminating in the championship event or Grey Cup in late November. For NFL and NCAA football fans, this means there are more than two months of CFL playing time before the U.S. version gets into regular season match-ups. That’s a whole summer of football!
There are eight teams in the CFL, in two conferences. The East includes Toronto, Montreal, Hamilton and Winnipeg; teams in the West are located in Regina, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. Two of these teams are known by the provinces in which they reside, Saskatchewan and B.C. (not unlike the Minnesota Vikings).
Look for some key differences between the Canadian and American games. In the CFL, teams have three downs, not four, to advance the ball 10 yards. Each team has 12 players, not 11, with the extra player a pass receiver on offense and a fifth defensive back on defense. The CFL field is 110 yards long, with end zones 20 yards deep. The Canadian field is wider, a full 65 yards. “Motion” is much more open in the CFL, with receivers being allow to run towards the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped. In fact, many Americans watching the CFL for the first time comment that every play looks “offside”.
Wide-open play is what the CFL is all about. With only three downs, it’s difficult to march the ball all the way up the field, so big plays are needed. “Three yards and a cloud of dust” just doesn’t cut it in the CFL. Passing gets the nod over rushing, and even here the rules favor the offense. For example, a receiver catching the ball on the sidelines needs to have just one foot in bounds, not two, for the play to be legitimate. The wide field helps returners when it’s time to bring back punts, kickoffs and wide field goal attempts as well – long returns occur frequently, and offer plenty of excitement.
With wide-open play, scores are often higher. The 2010 season opener, a Grey Cup rematch between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Montreal Alouettes (appropriately held on Canada Day, July 1st ), was a spectacular shootout with Saskatchewan prevailing 54-51 in double overtime.
Over the years, the style of CFL football has influenced the kinds of players who tend to get signed and succeed. Smaller, shorter players with quick moves and acceleration are the staples of Canadian Football League rosters.
In the CFL, quarterbacks who can rush the ball and pass on the run do well, too. Jeff Garcia had an outstanding career in Calgary before he moved on to San Francisco. Diminutive Doug Flutie was a perennial all-star in Canada, winning MVP honors and leading his teams to several Grey Cup victories.
If you’re a college football fan, one of the joys of the CFL is getting to watch players who may have been considered to small or short for the NFL. Some, such as Dolphins’ star Cameron Wake, had a spectacular career in B.C. before signing with Miami.
Interested in watching a CFL game? It’s easier if you live close to the Canadian border, where you may be able to pick up TSN by cable or satellite (the network carries a full CFL schedule). If that’s not possible, the NFL Network is carrying fourteen regular-season games in 2010. Webcast fans will find all CFL games streamed online by ESPN3 (formerly ESPN 360, accessible via espn.com).
Canadian football is a different game, and may not be for everyone. But it can provide a nice change from what you’re used to watching. And if you’re a diehard in search of some summer football, the CFL offers a first-class option.