In the NFL, the only way for a team to score a single point is on an extra-point attempt after a touchdown. That’s not the case in the CFL.
In the Canadian Football League, there is something called a rouge, which is worth one point. It is one of a number of differences between the two professional football leagues.
With the 111th Grey Cup set for Sunday, football fans will be watching from all over that may be surprised to see either the Winnipeg Blue Bombers or Toronto Argonauts register just a single point on the play. Don’t worry, The Sporting News has you covered on why that is the case.
Here is what you need to know about the rouge, the CFL’s one-point score.
What is a rouge in the CFL?
In the CFL, the kicking team is awarded a rouge if the team either misses a field goal or punts the football, and the receiving team does not get the ball out of their end zone. Or, a team can score a rouge if the ball goes through the end zone and out of bounds without being touched on a missed field goal or punt.
The receiving team will get the ball at the 40-yard line as a result of the play.
Rouges are not awarded if the ball is downed in the end zone after an interception in the end zone if the ball is fumbled outside of the end zone, if the ball hits the goal posts or if a kickoff goes into the end zone and out of bounds without being touched.
Why is it called a rouge in football?
The exact reasoning for a rouge being called just that is unknown. There are a number of theories behind the reason.
The word rouge is also the word for “red” in French. It is speculated that it may have come from a red signal used by officials to signal that the ball carrier did not exit the end zone, which meant that a rouge was scored.
