How Long is a CFL Game?
A typical Canadian Football League (CFL) game lasts approximately two and a half to three hours.
The duration of a CFL game can be surprising to some, given that the actual gameplay, separated into four 15-minute quarters, only adds up to one hour.
The rest of the game time is filled with halftime breaks, timeouts, commercial breaks, and delays due to reviews or injuries. CFL games provide an immersive and exciting experience for both the spectators at the stadium and those watching from home.
Understanding the Game Structure
Each CFL game consists of four quarters, each lasting 15 minutes. The clock stops frequently, though, which lengthens the real-time duration of the game.
A 20-minute halftime break separates the two halves of the game, and three-minute breaks separate the quarters. If a game is tied at the end of regulation, teams will play additional 15-minute overtime periods until a winner is determined.
The Role of Timeouts and Challenges
The game is also extended by timeouts and challenges. Each team has two timeouts per half that they can use at their discretion. Moreover, coaches can challenge certain calls on the field, leading to video reviews which can halt gameplay for a few minutes.
Impact of Commercial Breaks
Commercial breaks also factor into the length of a CFL game. As with many professional sports, advertising plays a significant role in broadcast games. Commercial breaks typically occur after scores, during timeouts, and between quarters and halves.
FAQs
If a game ends in a tie after regulation time, teams play in overtime. The teams will continue to play 15-minute overtime periods until one team has more points at the end of an overtime period.
There are three-minute breaks between quarters and a 20-minute halftime break. Additionally, timeouts and video reviews can add additional breaks in the game.
Each team is allowed two timeouts per half in a CFL game.
The primary factors that extend the duration of a CFL game are the stoppage of the game clock, timeouts, challenges, commercial breaks, and the halftime break.
The primary factors that extend the duration of a CFL game are the stoppage of the game clock, timeouts, challenges, commercial breaks, and the halftime break.
Both CFL and NFL games last approximately the same length of time in reality – around three hours, despite differences in their rules and structures.
As you can see, the duration of a CFL game isn’t solely determined by the hour of gameplay. The unique structure, including regular breaks, timeouts, and the possibility of overtime, all contribute to making each CFL game an extended spectacle of sport and entertainment.