Kickoffs
On a kick off, until the ball is legally in possession, the only reviewable aspects are whether the ball is legally touched and who touched first, or last, before going out of bounds, and a called or non-called Illegal Participation penalty.
Running Plays
On running plays there are four basic situations which are reviewable:
Passing Plays
There are a number of situations where a pass play is reviewable, including the following major categories:
if it is ruled as a fumble and the offence successfully challenges the play as an incomplete pass; if the correct ruling is incomplete pass, the ball shall be ruled incomplete with downs continuing.
Kicking Plays
Plays that are reviewable primarily involve:
Scoring Plays
All scoring plays will be automatically reviewed by the replay official in the command centre. In addition all attempts of Field Goals and kicked Convert that have been ruled unsuccessful shall be automatically reviewed.
Change of Possession Plays
When a pass is intercepted or a fumble is recovered by the opponent (a “fumble lost”), the Replay Official will automatically review the play for all reviewable aspects except for a called or non-called defensive pass interference foul.
Plays Involving Offside Passes Or Forward Passes Made After Crossing The Line Of Scrimmage
Where a pass is thrown in a forward or offside direction, and is not a legal forward pass
Game Administration
Instant replay can be used for timing, downs and distance only in conjunction with a reviewable play.
Situations involving the clock; penalty administration; spotting the ball other than for first down; etc. are not reviewable.
When reviewing a play, the replay Official may change the ruling on any reviewable aspect of the play except for a called or non-called defensive pass interference penalty unless it was specifically challenged by a team.
Penalties which are created as a direct result of the change in ruling may be applied even though a flag had not been thrown, and penalties that were called during the play may be cancelled as a direct result of the change in ruling.
A penalty which occurred after the ball was ruled dead by replay review will not be applied, unless it is a Major Foul.
A called or non-called Illegal Participation foul may be challenged and is a reviewable aspect on any type of play or review.
When the Referee changes the ruling based on an aspect of the play other than what was challenged, the challenging team retains their challenge and is not charged a time out.
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Table of Contents
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Content compiled and entered by Glen Johnson and Andre Proulx
The CFL Official Rule Book is published annually by the Canadian Football League. Any inquiries regarding the CFL Official Playing Rules may be directed to Glen Johnson, Vice-President, Officiating @ gjohnson@cfl.ca.