How do 6-a-side and 9-a-side tackle football differ from the full game?

The rule book lists these modifications to the 12-player game.

6-a-side

• Wherever the rule book says 12 players, use 6; wherever it says 20 yards, use 10 yards.
• For ball placement, subtract 5 yards from the indicated number (the ball must not be placed on the 5 yard line unless by penalty).
• Field: 100 yards goal line to goal line, 40 yards wide; end zones 10 yards deep; hash marks 13 yards from the sidelines.
• Game: 40 minutes of playing time, four 10-minute periods; the three-minute stop-time provision at the end of the 2nd and 4th quarters is played as two minutes.
• At least 3 offensive players must be stationary on the line of scrimmage when the ball is put into play.
• The centre is an eligible receiver if lined up on the end of the line wearing an eligible receiver's number; any other non-outside player on the line is ineligible.
• A kicked convert is worth 2 points; a convert by running or passing is worth 1 point.

9-a-side

• Wherever the rule book says 12 players, use 9; wherever it says 20 yards, use 15 yards.
• Subtract 5 yards from the indicated number for ball placement, except for converts.
• Field: 100 yards long, 50 yards wide; end zones 15 yards deep; hash marks 15 yards from each sideline.
• Game: 48 minutes of actual playing time in four 12-minute periods for all playoffs, with a 15 minute rest after the 2nd period (or another rest period the teams mutually agree).
• At least 5 offensive players must be on the line of scrimmage when the ball is put into play.

Source: Canadian Amateur Rule Book for Tackle Football 2026-2027, Rule Modifications.