RULE 4 — SCRIMMAGE

SECTION 2 — METHOD OF SCRIMMAGE

At the commencement of a scrimmage play, one Team A player (the Centre) shall take position facing the opponent's Goal Line with the ball on the playing surface immediately in front and shall put the ball in play by snapping it back between the legs in one continuous motion to another Team A player behind the line of scrimmage. The ball must leave the hands of the Centre, who shall not touch the ball again until it has been in the possession of another player. The Centre may adjust the ball for the purpose of snapping it, but such adjustment is limited to one time.

Team A shall be subject to penalty for attempting to draw an opponent offside if:

  1. the quarterback makes a quick movement towards the centre position without the ball being snapped immediately or,
  2. the quarterback, having assumed a stance with hands under the Centre, bobs the head, moves the shoulders or flexes the knees in a jerking motion without the ball being snapped or,
  3. the quarterback, having assumed a stance with hands under the centre, moves away without the ball being snapped.

Team A shall be subject to penalty for attempting to draw an opponent offside if:

  1. the Centre fakes a snap, without snapping the ball or moves the ball forward.
  2. the Centre, having assumed a stance holding the ball quickly or suddenly moves the shoulders or flexes the knees without snapping the ball.

PENALTY: L5

Either team shall be subject to penalty for attempting to draw an opponent offside if a player makes a motion or voices a signal that, in the judgment of the official, is intended to draw an opponent offside. This shall include a "snap down" into a two or three point stance by an offensive lineman.

PENALTY: L5

Team A players must be completely behind the line of scrimmage, except that the head, arms and hands of the Centre may be in advance of the line of scrimmage.

If a Team A player clearly crosses the line of scrimmage by more than one yard, prior to the snap of the ball, the officials shall stop the play immediately and apply a penalty.

PENALTY: L5

If a Team B player is offside on his own one-yard line.

PENALTY: Team A shall be awarded a first down or score made.

If a Team B player goes offside and contacts an opponent or breaks the plane of the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped, the officials shall stop the play immediately and award the penalty, subject to the right of Team A to decline the yardage penalty and order the same down to be repeated as though a foul had not occurred. If the Team B player is within one yard of the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped, the play shall continue, subject to the penalty against Team B.

If a Team B player enters the neutral zone within one yard of the line of scrimmage causing a Team A player in the immediate proximity to move before the ball is snapped, Team B shall be subject to a penalty for offside.

If players of both teams are offside on the same play, the same down shall be repeated without penalty from the point of last scrimmage.

A player of either team who is offside and contacts an opponent, even though resuming an onside position prior to the snap, shall be penalized for being offside.

Team A may put the ball into play without waiting for Team B players to be onside, but an offside penalty cannot be claimed against Team B. Such an offside player shall not interfere with the play in any manner.

PENALTY: L5

THE OFFICIAL PLAYING RULES FOR THE CANADIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE 2016

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Content compiled and entered by Glen Johnson, Jeff Harbin 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 Darren Hackwood, Director of Officiating at dhackwood@cfl.ca. Any inquiries regarding CFL Statistical Scoring Rules may be directed to Steve Daniel, Director of Game Information and Head Statistician at sdaniel@cfl.ca.