<P> Despite the fact that the CFL rules allow for a smaller legal ball and the NFL rules allow for a larger legal ball, there is a common misconception among media, fans, and even players that the current CFL ball is bigger . Some professional quarterbacks have stated that they notice a difference in size . </P> <P> Another difference between NFL and CFL balls is that Canadian balls have two 1 inch (25 mm) complete white stripes around the football 3 inches (76 mm) from the largest diameter of the ball and NFL balls have no stripes at all . College football and high school football both specify the use of stripes, but only on two of the football's four panels (the ones adjacent to the laces). </P> <P> In American football, a team has four downs to advance the ball ten yards, while in Canadian football the limit is three downs . </P> <P> In both games, the ball is placed at a line of scrimmage, in which a player known as the centre / center performs a snap to start a football play . In Canadian football, the snap is required to go between the centre's legs; there is no such requirement in American football, but it is invariably done this way anyway, so the center is in position to block following the snap . The defensive team must stay a set distance away from the line of scrimmage on their side of the line . </P>

How many downs do you get in the cfl