COLD SNAP Canadian Pro Football simulation board game is easy to play! This page will show you how the game is played, using the Quebec and Ottawa teams from the fictional Inter-Provincial Football Conference set. (The IPFC set was created for fans who prefer an open-ended "what-if?" kind of scenario for their table game football adventures. Of course, there are several actual pro seasons available, too!)

We'll start with the Quebec offence on the field, facing the Ottawa defence, first and ten at its own thirty-five yard line. (Only a portion of each team's offence and defence cards are displayed here--when playing the game, all the members of the platoons on the field are visible, as well as special teams players like kickers, punters and return men.)

You'll notice that each player is given a numerical rating, expressed as a fraction. The top number represents the player's ability on pass plays, he bottom number his ability on runplays. "2" indicates superior ability, "1" average ability and "0" indicates a deficiency. Note also that there are various symbols appearing after some players' ratings. These are additional ratings that further alter play, depending on field position and time left in the game. All ratings are fully explained in the instructions.

To begin, you'll select the offensive play and intended receiver or ball-carrier. There are six basic offensive plays--inside run, outside run, play-action pass, short pass, medium pass, and long pass--and several limited-use plays such as a bootleg or trick play. Since it's first down, we'll keep it simple and call an outside run, giving the ball to the running back, Darren Ward.

Next, we roll one die to determine which of the four basic defense settings Ottawa has called--deep, up, safe or blitz. The solitaire defense table is printed on the playing field for easy reference, but you'll quickly memorize it! You roll a "3," which indicates a "safe" defense has been called.

To resolve the play, you turn to the "Outside Run vs. Safe Defense" page of the COLD SNAP game book, page 11. The game comes with colored tabs which you can affix for faster reference. You roll the dice, reading the result as a two-digit number; the black die first and the white die second. Thus, a "6" on the black die and a "5" on he white die is read as a "65."

Checking result "65," we are directed to defensive player "K," the right defensive tackle, Marvin Baker. The game book asks us if Baker is a superior run defender--and we see that he IS! THAT means that Baker slashes past the Quebec blocker and hauls down Ward for a three yard loss! (Had Baker NOT been a superior defender, Ward would have accelerated past Baker for a nine yard gain!) Lewis gets a high-five as the players un-pile, and Quebec now faces second and thirteen.

In Canadian pro ball, with only three downs to gain ten yards, second and thirteen is an obvious passing situation. You decide to test the airwaves with a medium pass to Quebec's slot receiver, Lonnie Peterson. Ottawa rolls another "3" on defense, but in this case that means they're playing "deep" to prevent the medium gain. You roll both dice for the play result--a "13." Turning to the "Medium Pass vs. Deep Defense" page, the game book directs you to check the quarterback's CMP grade, which is a measure of his passing accuracy. Quebec's Craig Kelley is rated "AAAA," a VERY accurate passer, which in this case means the pass was complete for 14 yards--first down, Quebec!

You decide to start out this new set of downs with a short pass to wideout Jerome Bell. You roll for the Ottawa defence--a 5, the "up" defence--they smelled it out this time. You roll a "36." Checking the "Short Pass vs. Up Defence" page, we're directed to check player GA, the left guard , for superior ability. Quebec's left guard Sam Stewart has only average ability, not enough to keep his QB from feeling the pressure, and Kelley throws incomplete. Too bad, because--as the game book illustrates--Bell had a seam, and with a little more time provide by Stewart, that ball could have been caught for a nice gain.

We'll leave the game here, with another key second down call coming up. That's how COLD SNAP Canadian Pro Football board game works! It's a lot like watching a game on TV! COLD SNAP gives you a perpsective on the game of pro football like no other board game out there--except for its American football companion board game, SECOND SEASON!