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Glossary of CFL Terms

There are a number of terms unique to the Canadian Football League. For new or curious fans cfldb provides this glossary of some phrases and their definitions. If there is a term not listed here that you would like added, please use the contact form to let me know.

Please see the FAQ for answers to questions beyond terminology such as schedules, players, rosters and compensation.

Active Roster

Prior to each game, each member club shall establish its active roster at:

• a maximum of 42 players, including three players who shall be identified as quarterbacks and 39 other players, of whom not more than 19 may be imports, or

• a minimum of 41 players, including two players who shall be identified as quarterbacks and 39 other players, of whom not more than 19 may be imports.

College Draft

The annual draft of Canadian players graduating from universities in Canada and the United States. The details governing the eligibility of players and draft conduct is defined in Section 6 of the CFL By-laws.

Designated Import

A designated import is a import designated to only replace another import on the field. This restriction provides for additional non-imports to play starting positions while provided a larger roster size. The designated import restrictions are defined in the CFL By-laws, Section 8, sub-sections 1 and 2 as amended by Article 3 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

• When the Member Club dresses its full quota of import players three shall be designated imports and designated as special team players who may enter the game at another position only upon the understanding that another import player is required to leave the game for that play.

• When the Member Club dresses 18 import players, two shall be designated imports and designated as special team players who may enter the game at another position only upon the understanding that another import player is required to leave the game for that play.

• When the Member Club dresses 17 import players, one shall be a designated import and designated as a special team player who may enter the game at another position only upon the understanding that another import player is required to leave the game for that play.

Disabled List

A player who is judged unfit to play for reasons other than a football related injury may, at the request of the Club, be placed on the Disabled List as defined in Section 9, Item D of the CFL By-laws.

Franchise Territory

The operating and marketing area granted to a franchise. Definitions of Franchise Territory is defined in the CFL Constitution, Article IV and the current franchise territory limits are record in paragraph 4.07 of that section.

Game Roster

See Active Roster.

Graduating Junior

A junior player who attains the age of 23 during the current calendar year.

Import

Defined in the league By-laws, Section 8, paragraph 3 as:

(a) A player who has received training in football outside of Canada by having participated as a player in a football game outside of Canada prior to attaining the age of seventeen years.

(b) A player who has received training in football outside of Canada by having participated in a football game as a player outside of Canada after attaining the age of seventeen years, but who has received no football training in Canada prior to attaining the age of seventeen years.

Injured List

Section 9F of the CFL By-laws define the nine-game injured list, as amended in the 2010 CBA (pg. 42).

The nine-game injured list players' salaries do not count against the salary cap. There is also a one-game injured list where players can be placed and not count against the active roster or reserve list. Players' salaries on the one-game injured list do count against the cap.

Junior Player

A person shall be considered to be of junior age in any year prior to the year in which the age of twenty-three years is attained as defined in Section 5 of the CFL By-laws. Franchise territorial rights assign the exclusive right to contact, negotiate with and sign a junior player to the Club's territorial limits whom the junior player is domiciled within. A junior player shall be permitted to participate in that member Club's practice sessions without being signed to a Standard Player Contract.

Negotiation List

A Club may claim exclusive negotiation rights to a specified number of players on its Negotiation List, and may make changes daily.

The full rules regarding Franchise Negotiation Lists can be found in Section 3 of the CFL By-laws.

Non-Active List

Players not under contract who are permitted to practice with a Club are declared on the Non-Active List.

Non-import

Defined in the CFL By-laws, Section 8, paragraph 4 as:

(a) A player other than one referred to in paragraph 3.

(b) A player who was physically resident in Canada for an aggregate period of five years prior to attaining the age of fifteen years.

Option Clause

Each player contract contains a clause which gives the Club the option to renew the contract for another season.

Reserve List

Players on a Club's roster who are not dressed for a game are carried on the Reserve List. The Reserve List shall consist of up to four players.

Retired List

A player who elects to retire may, at the request of the Club, be placed on the Retired Players List. Players placed on the Retired List are subject to rules regarding when they can return to active duty as defined in Section 9, Item B of the CFL By-laws.

Rookie

A player who has not been named on any CFL team's active roster, reserve, injured or disabled list, or the equivalent category of a team in any other professional league at the time a game was played in a previous season.

Roster Cutdown Day

The date determined by the league when a Club is required to establish its roster within the prescribed limits.

Roster Quota

The League determines the number of players a Club may have on its roster, the number that may dress for a game, and how many may be imports. The roster size and ratio are negotiated in the collective bargaining agreement with the Players Association.

Suspension List

A player who violates his contract with the Club may, upon application to the Commissioner, be placed on the League Suspension List as defined in Section 9, Item C of the CFL By-laws.

Territorial Rights

A person given a junior player designation may not be, either directly or indirectly, contacted, negotiated with or signed by any other member Club other than the one whose territory the player is domiciled.

Waivers

Waivers are defined in the league By-laws, Section 4.

Before a club may terminate a player's contract it must give other Clubs the opportunity to claim the player's services.