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| Hilltops HC Tom Sargeant studies play in a CJFL game on Aug. 17. |
On Monday, Canada’s professional circuit announced some major rule changes. Starting in 2026, the famous rouge has been altered.
No points will be awarded for missed field goals, punts and kickoffs that go through the end zone via either through the air or a bounce. If a returner fields any of those types of kicks in the end zone and is tackled in the end zone or kneels down in the end zone, a single point rouge will be scored.
A 35-second play clock will replace the 20-second play clock in 2026. Next year once a play is blown dead, a 35-second play clock begins. Also in 2026, team benches at all CFL stadiums will be on opposite sides of the field.
In 2027, the field of play will change. The field of play between the goal-lines will be 100 yards instead of 110 yards. The depth of the end zones will shrink from 20 yards to 15 yards.
The width of the field will still be 65 yards. The uprights will be moved from the goal-line to the back of the end zone.
Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant had up and down feelings about the changes.
“I understand and respect the reason why they want to move the goalpost,” said Sargeant, who has guided the Hilltops to 14 CJFL title wins as head coach. “I think that is a safety element.
“Everything we’ve done when you look at the game of football with literature is trying to make the game a safer place. I think they’re trying to make it more Americanized. Do I agree with all the things, no I don’t, but you know right now that is professional sport.
“I coach amateur football. Hopefully, it doesn’t affect us and we can keep doing what we’re doing, because obviously for the blue and gold, it has worked out pretty well.”
Hilltops star fifth year defensive tackle Johnathon Stevens went to training camp with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and was on their practice roster until the time arrived for him to be assigned back to the Hilltops. The Eatonia, Sask., product has a fondness for how the game is now, but he believes CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston is trying his best to move the game forward.
“It is a little tough for me,” said Stevens. “All the respect to the commissioner there.
“He is trying to improve the league and do what he can do to help out there and help grow the game and make it more exciting for the fans, obviously. I have mixed feelings, but ultimately, it is not up to me with what happens. I do know no matter what the Canadian game is going to be great no matter what happens.”
As for the change in the field size, Stevens said you just have to adjust to it. He said the three players currently on the Hilltops roster that were born in the United States in receiver/safety Isaiah Vallderruten, running back David Collins and receiver David Boyd Jr. have all adapted to playing the larger Canadian sized field, so that adaptation can work going the other way.
“I’ve only ever played on one size of field there, obviously,” said Stevens. “If it came down to it, what else can you do.
“You’d have to adapt to it, and obviously, get used to new things as the Americans here. They had to get used to our field, so we’ll see how it goes.”
CFL rule changes gave Yausie new work
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| Jeff Yausie works the sidelines as the Hilltops DC on Aug. 17. |
Yausie had been focusing on his role as the defensive coordinator for the CJFL’s storied Saskatoon Hilltops reviewing video of their 52-26 victory over the Edmonton Wildcats at Emerald Hills Regional Park in Sherwood Park, Alta. That all changed on Monday morning when the CFL announced some major rule changes, and Yausie had to jump into action as the CEO of Football Saskatchewan in gathering information and having meetings about the changes.
Yausie said the staff at Football Saskatchewan didn’t have any idea the CFL rule changes were coming on Monday. One of the meetings included talking with Saskatchewan Roughriders president and CEO Craig Reynolds.
“I had meetings with Craig (Reynolds) from the ’Riders, and they were told to keep it top secret until the announcement, which totally makes sense,” said Yausie. “It was a complete surprise for us.
“Even Football Canada had received word like the night before at the last second, so there was not a lot of consultation across the players association and the amateur football. Obviously, it was a really well-organized announcement. They did their homework.
“They had some real good graphics and stuff to explain the changes and the differences.”
While the new rules will see the CFL change to a field that is 100 yards in length between the end zones as opposed to the current 110 yards, Yausie doesn’t think the CFL is moving to a version of the sport that more resembles what is played in the United States.
“I really don’t,” said Yausie. “To me, the only changes to make it more American football are 100-yard field and goalposts to the back of the end zone.
“I like goalposts to the back of the end zone, and I like 100-yard field. I think it’ll turn into more scoring, which is what their analytics told them. For us and the rest of the changes, I think you have to change and grow to get better and to keep up with the times.
“We’re excited about that. The concern is the change to the field sizes and how that affects amateur football. That is going to take time for that to figure out.”
Yausie said he was happy the changes that are coming in are staggered for 2026 and 2027. He added it would take more time in the amateur football world to change facilities and believes those changes could take five to 10 years before everyone adjusts. For teams that play in CFL stadiums, Yausie said they would be affected the most.
He believes it is possible that Football Canada might follow the CFL as far as rule changes go.
“I think they could,” said Yausie. “We’ll certainly analyze it as far as the rule changes that were made, not the field sized ones, but the rule changes to start.
“The good thing is the CFL is a professional league. We can analyze what they’re doing, and we can see if it works, if it doesn’t work. If it is great, then we’ll adopt and change.
“I think some of that will happen.”
Yausie admits it is also a challenge to secure money for sports facilities in Canada, so that exists as a hurdle when it comes to changing fields.
“For sure, dollars for sports is a huge concern,” said Yausie. “The cool part is in Saskatchewan we love our six-a-side football, our nine-a –side football and our 12-a-side football.
“Football is football. I don’t care what the field size is. They didn’t touch the 65-yard width, which is huge.
“They didn’t touch the downs like three-down football we are. They didn’t touch a yard off the ball. To me, it is really not Americanizing Canadian football.”
Reaction to CFL rule changes more mixed than
I thought
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| Andrew Harris in action for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2017. |
As a result, the reaction I’ve seen to the incoming rule changes is more mixed than I thought. To me, the reaction has been about 55 per cent negative and 45 per cent understanding. In my subjective view, it has been way more even than I expected.
I think the deal breaker would have been had the CFL elected to become a four-down game as opposed to sticking to three downs. Having three downs to gain 10 yards is the most defining characteristic of the Canadian game of football.
Had there been a change to four downs, I could envision the two CFL stronghold franchises in the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers losing half of their season ticket holders going into the 2026 campaign.
The CFL approached the rule changes with great skill. They highlighted the changes to the rouge. I think half of the fans of the Canadian game did not want any points to be given for balls that were kicked through the end zone – especially for missed field goals.
The alterations that were made to the rouge were something that most to all CFL fans could agree to. From there, the CFL eased into the other changes like adjusting the play clock and field dimensions.
The CFL approached the rule changes like skilled politicians. You make a change in the law or a program everyone pretty much can agree to and you proceed to add changes to other laws and programs people might be wary of after that.
With that approach, the CFL got a sizable number of people who felt OK with the rule changes.
As far as bringing in a 35-second play clock is concerned, I’ve had football people tell me there are consistency issues with the 20-second play clock regarding how officials allow teams to substitute in players. Those issues aren’t major ones and were something that was being dealt with in organizational meetings in the sport.
For myself, I still don’t like the rule changes, but they are not deal breakers that will make me decide to stop going to games. I will still go to CFL games.
Had they made it even more like the game in the United States, I wouldn’t like the changes, but I would still go for the curiosity factor. I also find I like football in all its forms including the flag and touch games.
I think the changes that were made open doors for the CFL to possibly get a television contract or streaming service contract in the United States and possibly expand again to the United States. I think the changes will help sell the league to legal gambling partners and possibly make it easier to get a video game done.
I haven’t gambled on any type of sports in years. With that noted, I realize the sports industry makes big money on gambling, and I think it is likely way more money than I originally thought.
I know in Canada the notion is there about expanding the CFL to Quebec City or Halifax, N.S.
However, I can see the CFL looking to the United States, because it is easier to do business there. To build any sort of sports facilities in Canada including potential stadiums in Quebec City and Halifax, those looking to build often rely on getting grants from the Government of Canada. Currently, the Government of Canada ties those grants to promises of the new facilities that are powered by green energy to a certain extent and are environment friendly.
Actually to be realistic, the Government of Canada makes the sports industry jump through various hoops in ways that parallel most other industries in the country.
In the United States, sports are a major industry. To use a metaphor, sports in the United States is a big-boss table that includes kings and queens, while Canada’s sports industry is a baby in a high-chair.
I think the CFL could use expansion to the United States as a way to leverage better business environments for its franchises in Canada.
I know almost all professional football circuits that have operated in the United States not named the NFL have failed. Still, I can see why the business people in the CFL would look in that direction. The current rule changes still keep the essence of the Canadian game, and I can see the business crew in the CFL thinking that could still be a great selling point there.
I also note that while I hate the CFL rule changes I don’t get overly emotional about it, and I don’t let it affect my life. I don’t own a team, so I have no control over what happens to that circuit.
It is an entertainment option. One day I might decide it doesn’t work for me anymore, and at that point, I will no longer be someone that buys tickets to games or merchandise.
I won’t pout or get upset or act like a bratty baby. I will just leave and go on to something else.
At this point, the CFL still works for me as an entertainment option.
If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.
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