Differences in Downs (Canadian and Amercian) Rules football

[Mulder]

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F60816FB3A5E12738DDDAF0A94DA415B858CF1D3

I came across the above, I was interested in finding out why the CFL stuck with 3 downs and the NFL 4. I'm posting it here because I want to hold onto that. Very Interesting I think!

[Mulder]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnside_rules

[Mulder]

Interesting quote in this article "At this time, American football also had three downs, and this remained the case until 1912. In this year, the rule makers elected to increase the number of downs from 3 to 4. The Canadian Rugby Union stayed with the Burnside rules, and kept three downs. Perhaps they would have followed the American example, but World War 1 forced the suspension of all official games for 2 years, and by the time things got going again, in the beginning of the 1920’s, any thoughts of changing the rules to meet the US standards had been dropped."

http://www.electro-mech.com/team-sports/football/why-are-there-only-3-downs-in-canadian-football/


Although I can't find another source to confirm it. Yet

[Mulder]

in 1882

Camp proposed that a team be required to advance the ball a minimum of five yards within three downs (a team had to surrender possession if they did not gain five yards after three downs (successful tackles),.
These down-and-distance rules, combined with the establishment of the line of scrimmage, transformed the game from a variation of rugby or soccer into the distinct sport of American football

http://www.angelfire.com/ia3/coltsnflrules/historynfl.htm#x1912


Hot Damn, I'm getting somewhere!

[1argoholic]

Inreresting stuff. I'm glad we stayed with the rules we have.