A first down shall be recorded whenever the yardsticks are ordered forward by the officials on a sequence of downs, whenever a touchdown is scored on an offensive play from scrimmage, and whenever a gain from scrimmage is made on the last play in a half that would have resulted in a first down being awarded had time not run out. However a first down shall not be awarded when a team first gains possession as a result of a kick, a fumble, a pass interception or a penalty.
First downs gained are subdivided to show the type of play responsible for the gain, as follows:
This category covers yardage losses suffered by a team that are not chargeable against the rushing records of individual players, or the team’s rushing or passing records for that game. Such losses are, however, included in determining a team’s total offence for the game and the season.
The following are examples of losses that belong in this category:
Distance into the Goal Area is measured only in the following circumstances:
A quarterback sack is awarded to a Team B player whenever the Team A quarterback is in possession of the ball behind the line of scrimmage and:
NOTE – In condition (iii) listed above, the play does not have to terminate for a quarterback sack to be awarded.
NOTE – In condition (iii) listed above, the Team B player is also to be credited with a forced fumble.
NOTE – The yards lost by Team A in any of the above situations shall be charged to Team A under Team Losses. The yards lost shall also be credited to the Team B player under Quarterback Sacks in the defensive stats section.
NOTE – If the sack results in a safety touch score, the Team B player will be credited with the sack and the yards lost to the goal line but not the two (2) points scored, which is a Team score.
NOTE – It is possible for the quarterback to be sacked for a loss of zero (0) yards, if the sack is less than one (1) yard.
It is not a quarterback sack but a rushing loss if:
A dribbled ball occurs when the ball is kicked while not in the possession or control of a player, i.e. a loose ball following a fumble, a blocked kick, a kickoff or a kick from scrimmage. Such a dribbled ball may be legally touched or recovered by the kicker or an onside player.
Net yards gained or lost, or points scored will be recorded in the same manner as the play in which the dribbling occurred.
Whenever a player is tackled while possessing the ball, only one opponent shall be credited with a solo tackle. Tackles will be recorded on all plays. Defensive and Special Teams Tackles will be recorded separately. The yards lost shall be credited to the player making the defensive tackle and will be identified as a Tackle for Loss.
Leaders for CFL statistical categories are determined by the following guidelines:
Net Punting Average shall be calculated by dividing the total number of punt attempts into the total number of punting yards, minus the punt return yards. Leaders are based on five punt attempts in a game, 100 for a season and 1,000 for a career.
A Forced Fumble is credited to a player who makes contact with an opposing ball carrier causing a fumble as defined in Section 11. It is possible that the player forcing the fumble may also receive credit for a fumble recovery and return.
A pass knockdown is credited to a Team B player who makes a Team A pass attempt become an incompletion by contacting the football in any manner.
Time of Possession is to be recorded by CFL Stats Crews and is to be credited to a Team whenever it is in possession of the football.
For kicking plays such as kickoffs, punts and missed field goals, Team B’s possession starts upon the successful control of the football.
The total Time of Possession (Team A’s TOP plus Team B’s TOP) for every CFL game must equal 60 minutes (60:00).
For statistical purposes, the line of scrimmage will be the yard line closest to the front of the ball (the front being the end of the ball farthest from the Team A Goal Line as defined in the Rule Book: Rule 4, Section 1, Article 1), except when the ball is resting inside the one-yard line, it will then be considered to be on the one-yard line.