Canadian Football Rules
CANADIAN FOOTBALL RULES
(As they apply to Cheerleaders)

DEFINITIONS

Ball in goal: The ball is in goal if it is on or behind the goal line, even in the air.
Bounds are defined as the "inside" of the sidelines, side-lines-in-goal, and dead-lines.
Convert (one point): After a touch down an offensive team has the opportunity to kick the ball over the opponent's field goal.
Convert (two points): After a touch down, a team has the opportunity to attempt to run the ball or pass the ball (again) across the opponent's goal line.
Defence: When the opponent has or gains possession of the ball.
Downs:  A scrimmage during which the team in possession of the ball attempts to advance the ball towards the opponent's goal by running or passing the ball
Field Lines: The lines marking the sides of the field are named Side-Lines.  The lines marking the ends of the field are named Goal Lines. Twenty yards behind each goal line, and parallel to it, is marked a line named the Dead- Line.
Field Goal:  At any time the team on offence can attempt to kick the ball over the opponents goal (three points)
Field-of-Play:  between the sidelines and goal lines.
First in Ten: The first (of three) downs in which the team on offence has moved the ball (less than 10 yards) towards the opponent's goal.
Fouls / Penalties: an illegal action (or non-adherence to rules) that results in the team losing distance on their advance or defence, a play being considered illegal, or other decisions (as determined by the officials) that are detrimental to the offending team.
Fumbling occurs if the player last in possession has lost control of it.
Game Length: 60 minutes of play.
Goal Area: The area bounded by the Goal Line, the Dead-Line, and the Side-Lines-in-Goal
Incomplete Pass occurs when the ball is thrown and the receiver does not catch it..
Intercepted Pass occurs when the ball is thrown and a member of the opposite team gains possession.
Kick off: The ball is kicked by the team in possession of the ball into the defensive team's zone at the beginning of the first and third period
Line of Scrimmage is the line at which each play (down) begins (teams face-off).
Offence: When the team has or gains possession of the ball and is attempting to advance it towards the opponent's goal.  A successful offence occurs when the team in possession of the ball advances it 10 yards or more in three downs.
Pass (successful): When a player throws a ball to a team-mate whom successfully gains control of the ball.
Period length: 15 minutes of play (four per game). If a touchdown is scored on the last play of a period the period is extended to include the convert attempt.
Substitutions:  Players being replaced by another member of the team (ball must be dead).
Tackling is defined as the act of grasping or encircling a ball carrier with hands and arms
Team size: There are twelve players on the field from each team.
Touchdown:  When the ball is advanced into the opponents goal-area without being fumbled or intercepted (running, or passing to a team-mate in the goal-area). (Six points)
Zone:  A team's zone extends from the (mutual - i.e. middle of the field) 55 yard-line to the dead line behind the goal they are defending.




Concepts:  Possession of the Ball
Possession means having the ball firmly held in hand or hands, arm or arms, leg or legs, or under the body.

When players of the opposite teams have possession of the ball it belongs to the player who first gained possession and who has not lost possession.

If players of both teams legally gain possession of the ball simultaneously it belongs to the team which last previously had possession.

A ball not in possession of a player is still in play. A ball is considered to have been fumbled if the player last in possession has lost control of it.

Concept:  Dead Ball
Whenever a field official blows the whistle - has signalled a score; when the ball goes out-of-bounds, when a forward pass is declared incomplete, when the ball carrier is tackled and the forward progress or throwing from behind the line of scrimmage has been halted.

When a ball carrier is tackled and driven back towards the ball-carrier's own goal - the most forward point of advance (as determined by the player's body) is considered the point where the ball became dead.

When the quarterback, in possession of the ball, intentionally kneels on the ground during the last three minutes of a half, or, when having possession of the ball in his own goal area, a player intentionally kneels on the ground (opposing team gets one point).

When a player is not attempting to advance the ball.

Concept:  Starting new Periods and Halves
Kick off direction at the start of the game is determined by a coin toss and commences at the 55-yard line.

Goals are exchanged at the end of the first and third periods. At the start of the second and fourth periods the ball is put into play at a point corresponding exactly to the point at the other end of the field where the ball became dead at the end of the previous period. It is put into play in exactly the same manner as if play had not been interrupted.

The kick-off to start the second half takes place at exactly fourteen minutes after the conclusion of the first half and is kicked off at a point corresponding to where the ball became dead at the end of the previous period (possession is continued).

Concept:  Ball is not in play
Whenever an official blows the whistle for any reason i.e. goal is scored, ball is out of bounds, penalties or injury (after ball is dead), substitutions, end of period, team request for time-out (one 30 second time out per team, per half), or when ball is dead during the last three minutes of period (under certain conditions)).

Concept:  Out of bounds
When, on any play, the ball is fumbled out of bounds, or touches a player in the field of play and then goes out of bounds, it belongs to the team which last touched the ball in the field of play.

The ball is next be scrimmaged:
(a) at the point where the ball went out of bounds, or
(b) at the point where the ball was last touched in the field of play; whichever point is closer to the goal line of the team entitled to possession.


Concept:  Team Going from Offence to Defence
When a team scores a touch down (after the convert attempt) or a field goal.

When the team in possession of the ball does not advance the ball 10 yards in three downs.

When the team in possession of the ball kicks the ball down the field for its third down.

When the opposing team intercepts the ball (intercepted pass, fumble, or tackle).

When the ball is fumbled by an offensive player and is LAST touched by a defensive player before it goes out of bounds.

When the ball is kicked out of bounds it belongs to the opposite team.

Once offence is lost, the opposing team gets three downs to move the ball 10 yards STARTING at the place on the field where the ball is next considered out of play.

When a player directs the ball other than by kicking, from the field of play over the opponent's goal line where it is recovered by an opponent, or is touched by an opponent before going out of bounds in the goal area, there is no score and the ball is awarded to the opponent's team at its 25 yard line.

THINK ABOUT THE RULES AND COME UP WITH AT TWO STRATEGIES (OTHER THAN SCRIMMAGING) A TEAM ON OFFENSE MAY USE FOR THEIR THIRD DOWN.  (YOU'LL NEED TO HAVE THESE FOR YOUR QUIZ)
































SIDE LINE CHEERING CONVENTIONS


Cheerleaders MUST attend once game per week during football season (schedule will be available in September.

ALL TEAM MEMBERS (CHEER AND FOOTBALL) ARE EXPECTED TO DRESS UP FOR SCHOOL (SKIRT/SHIRT AND TIE) ON A SENIOR GAME DAY.

Cheer team members are responsible for ensuring they have their uniform, have signed out sweaters, jackets, poms, signs etc. and have considered what they need to stay WARM on a fall evening in Edmonton!  (WEAR FIGURE SKATING TIGHTS (girls), BRING MITTS, EXTRA SOCKS, BLANKETS, HOT CHOCOLATE, ETC.

Cheer team members are responsible for getting SIGNATURES from the acting supervisor recording their presence at the game.

New team members must spend their first two games in the stands FOCUSED on watching the game, learning the rules, watching the cheers and SITTING WITH THE SUPERVISOR IN THE STANDS!  Starting on their THIRD game, new members must be in uniform and sit QUIETLY on the sideline, joining in the cheering when comfortable or instructed by the Supervisor.

When a Cheer team member is on the sideline, they must HOLD POSITION (formation determined by the Captain), hands on hips, feel should width apart (no slouching)! until instructed otherwise by Coach/ Supervisor or Captain.  You must pay attention to the game. NO SOCIALIZING!

The Captain has ABSOLUTE authority on the Sideline (his/her decisions will be questioned ONLY by the Coach or Supervisor EVEN IF YOU THINK THE CHEER IS NOT RIGHT!)

DURING PLAY the Cheer team focuses on Chants and simple Cheers, FACING the crowd, encouraging them to join in.  CAPTAINS!!!  Listen to the Crowd!  IF THEY HAVE STARTED A CHEER - JOIN IN!

WHEN THE BALL IS NOT IN PLAY Cheer teams focus on more elaborate Cheers and Routines ALSO FACING THE CROWD (CAPTAINS - continue effective crowd chants for as long as possible.

THE STUDENT MANAGER OR SUPERVISOR will signal the CAPTAIN as to when to stop a Cheer or Chant for the following reasons!
•   We are cheering for Defence and have just gained possession of the ball (or Vice Versa)
•   We are Chanting and the ball is no longer in play (and the crowd is not interacting).
•   We are mid-Cheer and the team does something spectacular (intercepted pass, touchdown) at which point the team faces the field and, basically goes nuts (until the Captain calls an appropriate cheer)
•   The Supervisor considers the Cheer inappropriate for any reason.

NO NEGATIVE CHEERING OR NEGATIVE INTERACTION WITH OPPOSING CHEER TEAMS OR SPECTATORS  (EVEN IF THEY ARE DOING IT)!

The Captain approaches the opposing Cheer team's captain BEFORE game time to discuss "trading off cheers".  Chants can occur simultaneously but performance cheers should be "traded off".

The Cheer team lines up on either side of the gate to Cheer the team onto the field before the first and third quarter.

THE CAPTAIN CALLS THE CHEER BY ITS NAME.  And counts "5,6,7,8" so the team turns to face the crowd in unison.  THE TEAM MOVES INTO POSITION AND AWAITS THE CAPTAIN'S COUNT IN.  - another "5,6,7,8" starts the Cheer.  After some "hoopla", listen for the Captain's last "5,6,7,8" to turn again to face the field.

OTHER CHEER TEAM MEMBERS START A CHANT ONLY IF THEY HEAR THE CROWD CHANTING (and the Captain doesn't hear it).

When the Captain calls "Stop" the Cheer stops and the team returns to the last formation.  PLEASE NOTE that depending upon what is happening in the game, the Captain may call a different Cheer before the team has a chance to do the last one called.

ONLY THE CAPTAIN SPEAKS ON THE FIELD and can reprimand team members for talking, being out of position, not paying attention, etc.

IF YOU MUST TAKE A BREAK, quietly walk off the field and sit with the supervisor. If you don't know a Cheer called, walk only to the sideline fence through the Cheer, then return to formation.  When the supervisor tells you to, return to the field after a break, DO NOT ARGUE!  THIS IS FOOTBALL IN CANADA!  WE ARE ALL COLD BUT WE WILL CHEER, EVEN IN THE SNOW!

IF THERE IS AN INJURY ON THE FIELD (EITHER TEAM), CHEER TEAM MEMBERS ON THE SIDELINE GO DOWN ON ONE KNEE UNTIL THE PLAYER GETS UP (AT WHICH TIME THE TEAM STANDS AND CLAPS).  NOTE! ANY TEAM MEMBER WHO SPOTS AN INJURY SHOULD IMMEDIATELY GO DOWN ON ONE KNEE AND CALL FOR THE REST OF THE TEAM TO DO THE SAME!  (This can actually help the officials realize there has been an injury.)

NO STUNTING ON THE SIDELINE UNLESS YOU HAVE PERMISSION FROM THE SUPERVISOR.

GYMNASTICS MUST BE DONE ONLY ON THE GRASS EDGE OF THE SIDE-LINE AND ONLY WHEN THE GRASS IS CLEAR AND DRY.

FEEL FREE TO DO WHAT EVER YOU WANT WHILE SIDELINE CHEERING (with in reason) when waiting for the Cheer to start.  THIS INCLUDES GOING UP INTO THE STANDS AND HANDING OUT TEAM SIGNS, ETC.  (So long as you do not stop to sit down and socialise in the stands!)

ALWAYS END A CHEER WITH NOISE, ENTHUSIASM (jumping, screaming, yelling "Go O'Leary" etc., waving signs, shaking poms, etc.)

AFTER FOOTBALL SEASON, YOU MUST ATTEND A MINIMUM OF ONE  SPORTING EVENTS PER MONTH (even if we are just sitting in the stands, in uniform, Cheering the School on).