How long is a CFL game, and what is the 3-minute warning?

A game is 60 minutes of actual playing time, divided into four quarters of 15 minutes each. The scoreboard clock is the official time. Goals change at the end of the first and third quarters, and the second-half kickoff takes place 16 minutes after the end of the first half.

3-minute warning: if the game clock is running and the ball is not snapped before 3:00 remains in each half, the clock stops at 3:00 and the 3-minute warning is given (a 2026 change). The game clock then starts on the snap on the first play after the warning, and the clock stops each time the ball goes dead for the rest of the half. The variable 20-second play clock is used for the last three minutes of each half.

Kneel out (2026 change): the offence can end a half by declaring to the Referee that it will "kneel out". It can do this when it has a first down, there are 40 or fewer seconds left, and the other team has no timeout. The player taking the snap kneels promptly and the Referee declares the half over regardless of the time left.

Coin toss: the Referee tosses a coin with the visiting captain calling. The winning captain declares whether to have first choice at the start of the first or the second half. The captain with first choice at the start of the first half chooses between kicking off or receiving, or which end to defend; the other captain has first choice at the start of the second half.