Number of Replay Challenges Allowed per Game
Each team will be granted a second challenge if they are successful on their first challenge.
Rule 1.7.6 (page 18) — Replay Review
Rule 10.2.1 (page 69) — Overview
Roughing the Passer
Introduce a 25 yard Grade 2 Roughing the Passer penalty for delivering a direct blow to the passer’s head or neck area with their helmet when the offender has a clear view to the passer and there are no mitigating circumstances.
Rule 7.2.3 (page 56) — Grade 2 Unnecessary Roughness
Allow the Command Centre to assist the Referee in situations where the Referee does not have a clear view of contact to the passer.
Rule 10.3.1 (page 71) — Automatic Reviews
Increase the protection for a quarterback by ruling a play over when a quarterback slides in any manner or dives and part of the body other than the feet or hands touches the ground.
Rule 1.4 (page 15) — Dead Ball
Spearing
Refine the definition of spearing to when a player uses the top of their helmet as the primary point of contact to deliver a blow to an opponent.
Rule 7.2.3(f) (page 57) — Unnecessary Roughness
Introduce a 25 yard Grade 2 Spearing penalty when a player spears an opponent’s head or neck area when the offender has a clear view to the opponent and there are no mitigating circumstances.
Rule 7.2.3 (page 56) — Grade 2 Unnecessary Roughness
Multiple Grade 2 Penalties
Any player called for two Grade 2 penalties in the same game will be disqualified from that game.
Rule 7.2.3 (page 56) — Grade 2 Unnecessary Roughness
Rule 7.3 (page 59) — Disqualification
Roughing the Kicker
Allow the Command Centre to assist the Referee in situations where the Referee does not have a clear view of contact to the kicker.
Rule 10.3.1 (page 71) — Automatic Reviews
Crackback Blocking
Add a forcible block component to the current Crackback Block rule to make it illegal to deliver a forcible block or block below the waist when a player moves outside in from more than 3 yards outside the tackle and blocks an opponent.
Rule 7.2.3(m) (page 57) — Unnecessary Roughness
Rule 7.2.7 (page 58) — Crackback Blocking
Leg Whips
Make it illegal to use a whipping motion to deliver a blow to an opponent with the leg or foot while executing a roll block or while on the ground or on the way to the ground.
Rule 7.2.3(u) (page 57) — Unnecessary Roughness
Rule 7.2.14 (page 59) — Leg Whips
Long Snapper
Make it illegal to deliver a forcible blow to the long snapper while their head is down and they are in a vulnerable position and unable to protect them self.
Rule 7.2.3(h) (page 57) — Unnecessary Roughness
Wedge Blocking
Make it illegal for 3 or more players to align shoulder to shoulder within 2 yards of each other and move forward together in an attempt to block for a ball carrier on kick return plays.
Rule 5.2.6 (page 42) — Wedge Blocking
Adjust use of Replay
When a team is unsuccessful on a challenge it will lose a time-out. Allow a coach to challenge any reviewable play at any time during the game.
Rule 1.7.6 (page 17) — Replay Review
Rule 10.2.1 (page 69) — Overview
Simplify the types of Standard Reviewable Rulings that a coach can challenge.
Rule 10.2.3 (page 70) — Standard Reviewable Rulings
Allow a coach to challenge for Illegal Contact – Blocking Downfield only by eligible receivers and not interior line players.
Rule 10.2.2 (page 69) — Coach Challengeable Penalties
Add Roughing the Passer and Roughing the Kicker to situations where the Command Centre assists the Referee by automatically reviewing.
Rule 10.3.1 (page 71) — Automatic Reviews
Have the Command Centre review plays when the Injury Spotter stops the game to remove an injured player to determine if the injury was caused by an uncalled penalty.
Rule 10.3.1 (page 71) — Automatic Reviews
Create a 10 yard Objectionable Conduct penalty for embellishing contact by an opponent to try to draw a penalty.
Rule 7.4(e) (page 60) — Objectionable Conduct
Too Many Players in the Formation
Reduce the penalty from 10 yards to 5 yards when the offense is called for Too Many Players in the Formation
Rule 1.11.5 (page 26) — Too Many Players in the Formation
Time Count
Add a 10 yard penalty option when a team takes a Time Count foul on 1st or 2nd down in the last 3 minutes of a half.
Rule 1.7.9 (page 19) — Time Count
Manipulating the Clock
Add the time back onto the clock and apply the penalty when a team commits multiple fouls in a deliberate attempt to run time off of the clock.
Rule 8.8 (page 66) — Manipulating the Clock
Defense Offside and Intentional Grounding
Make Defensive Offside and Intentional Grounding offsetting penalties when they occur on the same play.
Rule 8.3.3 (page 62) — Offsetting Fouls
Crowd Noise, Stopping the Clock for Substitutions, Ball Automatically Dead when Hitting the Goal Post Ribbon
Eliminate these rules that are no longer applicable in the current game.
NOTE: All 2019 rule changes have been printed in bold throughout the Rule Book.
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Content compiled and entered by 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, Senior Director of Officiating at dhackwood@cfl.ca. Any inquiries regarding CFL Statistical Scoring Rules may be directed to Steve Daniel, Senior Director of Game Information and Statistics at sdaniel@cfl.ca.