Single (football)
Encyclopedia
In Canadian football
, a single (single point, or rouge) is awarded when the ball is kicked into the end zone by any legal means, other than a successful field goal
, and the receiving team does not return, or kick, the ball out of its end zone. It is also a single if the kick travels through the end zone or goes out of bounds in the end zone without being touched, except on a kickoff. After conceding a single, the receiving team is awarded possession of the ball at the 35-yard line of its own end of the field.
Singles are not awarded in the following situations:
In all these cases the defending team is awarded possession of the ball at the 25-yard line.
In the United States, singles are not usually recognized in most leagues and are awarded only in matches played under the auspices of the Indoor Football League
(formerly United Indoor Football
) and the now-defunct American Indoor Football Association. It is applied only on kickoffs in both leagues, and is scored if the receiving team fails to advance the ball out of the end zone when kicked. The AIFA also allowed a single to be scored by kicking a kickoff through the uprights (as in a field goal); this type of single is nicknamed (and has since been codified in the AIFA rules as) an "uno," from the Spanish
word for the number one. At one point, the Philadelphia Public League
(the public high school football
sanctioning body in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
) awarded three points for kicking a kickoff through the uprights.
The Canadian Football League
has discussed abolishing the single but proposals to do so as recently as 2005 have been rejected. A less sweeping proposal would see the single eliminated on punts and field goal attempts that pass out the sidelines of the end zone – such a change would eliminate the "consolation" point for a failed coffin corner attempt. Another proposal would have the rouge scored only when kicks from scrimmage are deemed 'returnable' having touched the end zone or a return team player without being advanced back into the field of play.
In the official rules, the single point is also called a rouge, French
for "red", and the origin is unclear. One theory is that a red flag was used to signal the score in the game's early days. Another is that, because the conceding team had a point deducted from its score on the play in earlier days, the tally was called a "red point".
However, the concept of the 'rouge' dates back to several public school sports played in England from the early 19th century. In field hockey played at Rossall School, and the Eton Field Game
, both of which are still played today, a 'rouge' can be scored after the ball has gone into the local equivalent of the 'end zone' after striking another player. The Sheffield Rules
, a 19th-century code of football, also utilized the rouge as a secondary scoring method. The behind is a similar concept used in Australian rules football
(with the exception that behinds also count even if the ball hits the posts), as is the point in Gaelic football
.
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
, a single (single point, or rouge) is awarded when the ball is kicked into the end zone by any legal means, other than a successful field goal
Field goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
, and the receiving team does not return, or kick, the ball out of its end zone. It is also a single if the kick travels through the end zone or goes out of bounds in the end zone without being touched, except on a kickoff. After conceding a single, the receiving team is awarded possession of the ball at the 35-yard line of its own end of the field.
Singles are not awarded in the following situations:
- if a ball is downed in the end zone after being intercepted in the end zone
- if a ball is fumbleFumbleA fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
d outside the end zone - if the kicked ball hits the goalposts
- when a kickoff goes into the end zone and then out of bounds without being touched
In all these cases the defending team is awarded possession of the ball at the 25-yard line.
In the United States, singles are not usually recognized in most leagues and are awarded only in matches played under the auspices of the Indoor Football League
Indoor Football League
The Indoor Football League began in 1999 as an offshoot of the troubled Professional Indoor Football League. Keary Ecklund, the owner of the Green Bay Bombers and Madison Mad Dogs, left the PIFL after its first, financially-troubled, season to start his own league. Unlike the PIFL, the IFL was an...
(formerly United Indoor Football
United Indoor Football
United Indoor Football was a United States indoor football league that started in 2005. Ten owners from the National Indoor Football League, including one expansion and two from arenafootball2 took their franchises and formed their own league...
) and the now-defunct American Indoor Football Association. It is applied only on kickoffs in both leagues, and is scored if the receiving team fails to advance the ball out of the end zone when kicked. The AIFA also allowed a single to be scored by kicking a kickoff through the uprights (as in a field goal); this type of single is nicknamed (and has since been codified in the AIFA rules as) an "uno," from the Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
word for the number one. At one point, the Philadelphia Public League
Philadelphia Public League
The Philadelphia Public League traces its origin back to 1901, with the formation of the Philadelphia Interscholastic League, a conference encompassing all the city's high schools, public and private. Prior to this date, the public and private schools in the area had been competing among...
(the public high school football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
sanctioning body in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
) awarded three points for kicking a kickoff through the uprights.
The Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
has discussed abolishing the single but proposals to do so as recently as 2005 have been rejected. A less sweeping proposal would see the single eliminated on punts and field goal attempts that pass out the sidelines of the end zone – such a change would eliminate the "consolation" point for a failed coffin corner attempt. Another proposal would have the rouge scored only when kicks from scrimmage are deemed 'returnable' having touched the end zone or a return team player without being advanced back into the field of play.
In the official rules, the single point is also called a rouge, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
for "red", and the origin is unclear. One theory is that a red flag was used to signal the score in the game's early days. Another is that, because the conceding team had a point deducted from its score on the play in earlier days, the tally was called a "red point".
However, the concept of the 'rouge' dates back to several public school sports played in England from the early 19th century. In field hockey played at Rossall School, and the Eton Field Game
Eton Field Game
The Field Game is one of two codes of football devised and played at Eton College. The other is the Eton Wall Game. The game is like football in some ways — the ball is round, but one size smaller than a standard football, and may not be handled — but the off-side rules — known as 'sneaking' — are...
, both of which are still played today, a 'rouge' can be scored after the ball has gone into the local equivalent of the 'end zone' after striking another player. The Sheffield Rules
Sheffield Rules
The Sheffield Rules were a code of football devised and played in the English city of Sheffield between 1857 and 1877. They were devised by Nathaniel Creswick and William Prest for use by the newly founded Sheffield Football Club. The rules were subsequently adopted as the official rules of...
, a 19th-century code of football, also utilized the rouge as a secondary scoring method. The behind is a similar concept used in Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
(with the exception that behinds also count even if the ball hits the posts), as is the point in Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
.