Making History: The CFL's New Rules

Every rule in football or other sports is arbitrary. Their arbitrariness is illustrated by the separate rule books used by American high schools, colleges, the NFL, and other professional leagues. Despite their arbitrary nature, we become accustomed to them, embrace them, and come to believe they are the correct and proper rules.

The NFL followed the NCAA rule book until 1933, when they opted to go their own way. That year, the NFL reversed the NCAA’s 1927 decision to position the goal posts on t...