DCHP-1 Online

rouge ((n.)) extended use of an English football term of obscure origin Cdn Football

• 1 n. a play in which the team receiving a punt behind its own goal line is unable or unwilling to carry the ball back into the field of play, thus conceding a point to the opposition.

  See also: safety touch (def. 1)  single (point)  touch-in-goal  

  • 1895  A "rouge" occurs when a man . . . touches the ball down behind his own goal. . . .
  • 1954  Other Canadian features which aroused interest were the rouge and the fact that kicks must be run back. . . .
  • 1966  If only our rouge were added to the American game, football . . . wouldn't leave a thing to be desired as a game.

• 2 n. the single point conceded on such a play.

  • 1964  The above article [1895] mentions the only peculiarly Canadian feature of football which endures namely the single point, either the "rouge" or the "touch in goal."