Frequently Asked Questions about Equipment

1. What is the size of a CFL football? Who makes the CFL football? Is the CFL football larger? When did the CFL change the size of their football? When did the CFL switch the manufacturer of their football?#

   The official CFL ball is a Wilson Official CFL Game Ball, constructed of Wilson Exclusive leather.

   The CFL football dimensions are defined in Rule 1, Section 2 of the Rulebook. The official CFL ball is 11 to 11 1/4 inches long with a short circumference range of 20 7/8 to 21 1/8 inches and long circumference range of 27 3/4 to 28 1/4 inches.

   The CFL and NFL football are similar in size. Technically, the CFL specifications are slightly smaller around. The following table shows the differences in the specifications from each league's rulebook with links to each ball's page on the Wilson website.

   	CFL	NFL
   Colour	Not specified	Natural tan
   Texture	Not specified	Without corrugations
   Inflation pressure	12.5 to 13.5 psi	12.5 to 13.5 psi
   Long circumference	27.75 to 28.25 inches	28.0 to 28.5 inches
   Short circumference	20.875 to 21.125 inches	21.0 to 21.25 inches
   Length	11.0 inches to 11.25 inches	11.0 inches to 11.25 inches
   Weight	14 to 15 ounces	14 to 15 ounces
   Laces	4.375 inches long and 1.125 inches wide	Not specified
   Stripes	Two 1-inch wide stripes 3-inches from the greatest circumference of the short axis	None

   Many believe by sight the CFL ball is bigger, perhaps because the misconception the CFL ball is currently larger influences their perception or the balls in their possession are not to the correct specifications. The colour difference and stripes are often given as an explanation for the illusion as well. Prior to 1985, the CFL specifications were larger than today's ball, with the long axis circumference specified from 28 to 28 1/2 inches and the short axis circumference between 21 1/8 and 21 3/8 inches¹. These specifications were in use since the formation of the CFL in 1958. By 1986 the CFL Spalding J5V football specifications were adjusted to better conform with the NFL size. Previously, the CFL accepted balls manufactured to the higher end of the tolerances while the NFL preferred the lower dimensions, resulting in a difference in size, especially in the short circumference. The Spalding balls, manufactured by hand, had a wider range of sizes and tended to not hold their shape, resulting in increasing complaints in 1985, and a switch to a conforming ball in a new contract with Spalding in 1986.² Stats_Man has some more information on the 1980's size change.

   Spalding held the contract as the supplier of official CFL footballs until 1995 when they were replaced by Wilson. Spalding had hand-made the J5V in Canada for decades, but they were always in short supply. Their new bid called for the ball to be manufactured in Korea. The CFL instead opted to switch to the American made Wilson football. Any indication that the Wilson ball was machine-made may be a misnomer, as Wilson's current info page indicates the 3-layer lining is hand-stiched to the football panels and how it is made videos seem to indicate all Wilson footballs are hand-made.

   The J5V model was not a signifier of the Canadian football size or specs but a Spalding brand that continues today in its rubber and composite footballs.

   In 1996, the CFL introduced the Radically Canadian marketing campaign which included the Our Balls Are Bigger slogan. Though championed by the league COO Jeff Giles for its edginess, it stirred some controversy not only for being in poor taste but for being inaccurate also.

   Players have taken the slogan to mean that the CFL's football is bigger than the NFL's.

   Although that was true for decades, the dimensions of both footballs are now essentially the same.

   "There's no difference in the balls now," Winnipeg quarterback Kent Austin said recently.

   "I used to have a tough time holding CFL footballs because they were so big. But they're the same size as the NFL balls these days."

   — July 6, 1996 Canadian Press article

   Austin came into the league in 1987, so he probably used a lot of old misshapen practice balls manufactured prior to 1986. If the Wilson CFL ball is made to the maximum specs and the Wilson NFL ball is made to the minimum specs, the CFL ball would be a 1/4 inch larger on the long circumference and 1/8 inch larger on the short circumference. There are also other differences in the ball beside size; the switch to Wilson as the manufacturer did not change the ball to an NFL standard manufacturing process with stripes. These differences may explain the reports of Canadian teams shipping balls to newly signed players, or it may be simply tradition that is continued to avoid subconscious issues that the ball is different because it looks different.

   Contrast the current size with one of the earliest specifications from 1906: 11 inches long, 23 inches in circumference and 13 3/4 ounces³.

   ¹ — Facts, Figures and Records: 1985 Edition (Toronto: Canadian Football League, 1985), Divider 6 – Rules, pg 1, Rule 1, Section 2: The Ball.

   ² — Frank Cosentino, A Passing Game (Winnipeg: Bain & Cox, 1995), 238-239.

   ³ — Facts, Figures and Records: 2008 Edition, (Toronto: Canadian Football League), 287.

2. How tall can a CFL kicking tee be? What are the rules applying to kicking tees? Does the CFL require place kickers use a kicking tee?#

   For place kicks (field goal and convert attempts) the kicking tee platform can be no higher than one inch in height as per Rule 5, Section 1, Article 3 of the CFL Rulebook. For kickoffs, the ball may be held or placed on a tee such that the lowest part of the ball is no higher than three inches off the ground.

   Kicking tees are not required to be used. Kickers may kick off the ground if they desire.

3. How many footballs are used in a CFL game? Does the CFL use K-balls? Do CFL players have to pay for footballs thrown, kicked or otherwise removed from the field of play? Do CFL players pay for footballs they keep or throw in celebration?#

   The home team must supply a minimum of twelve (12) new footballs to the officials dressing room at least one hour before game time per the CFL Regulations (1999 version available on cfldb has been revised since). The CFL does not use K-balls (or balls specifically only used on kicking plays). Balls will be rotated through the game and their continued use would depend on the weather conditions, condition of the ball and even location of the ball (ball swapped out when thrown or kicked out of bounds to speed play).

   Though lacking a reference, it is our belief that the CFL started allowing representatives from each team access to the game balls before the game for a period to prepare the balls. Preparation involves rubbing the balls with a damp towel or a brush supplied by the manufacturer Wilson in order to remove a slippery, waxy covering the balls ship with. If you have any confirmation of this practice, please contact us. (We may have confused CFL practices with this article, or perhaps this has been mentioned on a broadcast in recent years.)

   If the current Wilson agreement is similar to past agreements (125 balls were provided per team in 1986), Wilson would supply each each with a number of footballs each year for free (most to be used as game balls). The CFL would also receive a number of Grey Cup balls for free, plus additional footballs at a discounted price. The current official Wilson CFL football retails for approximately $100.

   According to a recent media report, CFL players are charged for the footballs they keep or throw into the stands, however they may be repeating a long-held belief and did not confirm the current practice. As there is a limited amount of balls available, a deterrent is needed to keep the number of game balls from being depleted. It is possible a team may pay for balls players keep for significant events, such as league or team records or balls given to family members, leaving only randomly thrown or kicked footballs charged to players.

Submit a Question

Didn't find the question/answer you were looking for? Submit a question (and optionally a corresponding answer) below that you would like to see added to the FAQ on this site. Submissions will be reviewed and evaluated for inclusion in our Frequently Asked Questions list. Questions are not published immediately. Due to abuse you must submit an email address with your question. Valid, non-duplicate generalist questions will be added. For specific questions not suitable for the FAQ, please see the contact page.