Here is my take on the new rules for the 2012 European season.
Points of Emphasis
There is more and more focus on securing the helmet with buckled chinstraps. It may even become a rule – in the future – that a player, whose helmet comes off, must leave the game for 1 play.
Announcements
The dead ball signal is on its way out. If the referee has a mike, which he is now supposed to have, work is being done to eliminate the S7 signal and go directly to for example S19 when announcing FST.
This is not reflected in the rulebook, but it will be in the CCA mechanics manual and many conferences already use it.
1-4-4-d
Pants no longer need to cover the knees. It is recommended, however.
1-4-5-m
Gloves may now be of any color again.
Even the color of the opponent’s jersey.
1-4-5-p
Teams are no longer limited in how many towels can be worn by players.
All towels, however, must be solid white and no larger than 4″ by 12″.
1-4-11
Television monitors are now allowed in coaches’ booths in the press box.
Identical equipment must be available for both teams. this is not a major issue in EFAF/IFAF.
2-12-2, 4-2-4 and 8-2-1-a
The definition of the goalline extended has been changed and the distinction between diving and going into the air because of contact with an opponent has been eliminated.
Here is the rule broken into (hopefully) plain English:
To score a touchdown, the ball – in player possession – has to break the goalline plane, which includes both pylons.
There are now only two situations where the goalline is extended:
- If the ball carrier touches the pylon
- if the ball carrier touches the ground in the endzone.
In each of these 2 situations, the ball still has to cross the goalline or goalline extended for a touchdown to be scored.
In the field of play a ball carrier running across the sideline is now – per interpretation – considered an airborne player.
In other words, the ball will be out of bounds where it crosses the sideline and not where it is when the ball carrier’s foot takes the next step out of bounds.
2-27-4-d-1
The definition of a back in the backfield has been changed slightly. There used to have to be “daylight” between the back and the nearest A lineman. Not anymore.
Now they just cannot break the plane of the line drawn through the waistline of the nearest A lineman.
2-27-5
Definition of passer
The passer is any player who throws a pass. The pass no longer has to be legal for the passer to be a passer.
2-27-12
A disqualified player must leave the playing enclosure.
He must get so far away that he cannot see the field and that he cannot be seen from the field.
3-3-2-e
The game clock no longer stops if the ball carrier’s helmet comes off.
The play is still over but the game clock continues unless it is stopped for another reason.
Essentially, it is treated as if the ball carrier’s knee hit the ground.
3-4-4
10 second run-off.
The game clock is running. Either team commits a foul that stops the clock right then and there. For example FST or ING.
A foul that does not stop the clock right then and there, like for instance ILF or DPI is not included in this new rule.
The officials stop the clock because of the foul and the game clock reads 00:59 or less. In either half.
If the offended team accepts the penalty, they can now also accept a 10 second run-off on the game clock. They can also decide to accept the penalty and decline the 10 second run-off. If they decline the penalty they also, automatically, decline the 10 second run-off.
If the offended team accepts the 10 second run-off, they fouling team then has the option to cancel the 10 second run-off with a team timeout, but obviously only if they have any timeouts left.
The observant official will have noticed that in the case of intentional grounding or illegal forward pass, the foul doesn’t actually kill the play. The play is not over until the pass falls incomplete. However, these two fouls are included in the rule, but obviously, only if the pass actually falls incomplete.
If the 10 second run-off is accepted, the game clock starts on the ready for play.
If the 10 second run-off is declined, the game clock starts on the snap.
This, regardless of other clock rules.
3-5-3
Illegal participation
Illegal participation no longer exists. It is now a 5 yard substitution infraction whether it is a dead ball or a live ball foul.
The team with 12 players on the field is no longer penalized 10 extra yards because the officials were too slow to count.
Whenever possible, this still should be a dead ball foul as opposed to a live ball foul, unless it B12 is trying to get off the field and is very close to the sideline at the snap. In this case, it should be called as a live ball SUI according to a bulletin.
4-1-3-b
This rule has been clarified to allow the potential holder of a place kick to pass or run with the ball even after the kicker has moved away from his kicking position, as long as he (the kicker) was in position at the snap.
6-1-10
Illegal Wedge Formation
This rule came in last year and is now included in the new rulebook.
The rule has not been changed since last year.
6-3-2
Rule 6-3-11 deals with an A bat in the B endzone back into the field of play.
The priviledge to take this touching spot is extended to situations with an accepted penalty.
However, the addition to the rule states that the priviledge is cancelled in the case of offsetting fouls.
6-3-14
This rule applies when team A lines up in field goal or PAT formation. It does not apply in punt formations.
It is now illegal for any 3 B players on the line of scrimmage to line up shoulder to shoulder and attack the same A player at the snap.
Interestingly enough, it is a safety issue but it is a 5 yard formation foul. And it is a formation foul even though the formation is not enough for the foul. The formation is the first part and the attack on 1 A player is the second necessary part.
It is also interesting to note that there need not be a kick for this foul to be called.
7-1-2
ILS or FST
Illegal shift is now only possible after all 11 A players have been set.
If A breaks the huddle and the 11th player is still moving at the snap, this is now a FST.
It makes no difference if the huddle breaks before or after the RFP.
7-1-3-b
If team A does not comply with the 9 yard mark requirements, it is now a dead ball foul.
This is consistant with many other recent rule changes that make offensive fouls at the line of scrimmage dead ball fouls.
7-1-3-b-2
It is no longer illegal for offensive players on the line of scrimmage to lock their legs.
7-3-2
Intentional grounding
“A reasonable opportunity to catch the pass” is no longer in the rule.
Being in the area is now all that is required. The rest of the rule is unchanged.
How to define “being in the area” is up to your supervisor.
When in question, there is no foul.
7-3-2-h
Being legally able to ground the ball outside the tackle box now only applies to the person, who received the snap.
Normally, this means the QB.
9-1-6
Blocking below the waist
Last year blocking below the waist (BBW) was legal with exceptions. Now BBW is illegal with exceptions.
Basically, there are only 6 exceptions:
1. Against the runner. It is still legal to contact the runner below the waist. On any type of play.
2. On normal scrimmage downs BBW becomes illegal for the rest of the down if there is a change of possession.
3. And if there is a legal kick, regardless of the offensive formation, BBW is illegal throughout the entire down, even before the kick.
So just like in the case of offensive pass interference, a player can make a legal block, which becomes illegal, retroactively, because the ball is subsequently kicked.
The offensive formation is split into two categories the same way it was last year.
Group 1 is players on the line of scrimmage, positioned more than 7 yards from the midle lineman, players in the backfield positioned outside the tackle box and any player in motion.
Group 2 is the rest of the A players.
These groups have not changed since last year. However, the definition and philosophy has changed considerably.
In a “normal” formation with the linemen 2 feet or less apart, the tackle box is now considered to include the tight end. This means that the tight end and any back lined up behind the tight end can block low.
4. The players in group 2 can block below the waist just like they could last year.
5. The players in group 1 are restricted in the sense, that it is the angle of their block that determines its legality.
Their block has to be North-South or towards the sideline to their outside at the snap. That is it.
10 yards downfield and towards the original position of the ball are no longer considerations.
A player in motion is a special case. If he is on either side of the snapper his “outside” is away from the snapper, regardless of the direction of his motion.
If he is right behind the snapper at the snap, his “outside” is the sideline toward which he is moving.
6. Defensive players may block below the waist until the ball has gone more than 5 yards beyond the line of scrimmage.
There are 2 exceptions:
- B cannot block low against a player in position to receive a backward pass.
- B cannot block low against an eligible receiver beyond the line of scrimmage unless they are trying to get to the ball or the ball carrier.
The part of the rule pertaining to defensive players is incorrect in the new rulebook.
The above is from an interpretation after the rulebook was printed.
9-1-7
Action out of bounds
This is most likely going to happen on punts.
If a player – most likely an A head hunter – goes out of bounds trying to go downfield it is now illegal for an opponent to block him if both of the players are out of bounds. In the NFL the concept has been known as 4 feet in the white.
This is a PF.
9-1-16-a-5
Now it does not matter if a defender was legally or illegally blocked if he runs into or roughs the kicker.
If the block caused the contact, there is no foul.
This also applies to hits on the passer.
9-2-1
Unsportmanlike conduct
Unsportsmanlike conduct (UNC) can now be a live ball foul or a dead ball foul, just like, for instance a personal foul.
It is no longer a “live ball foul penalized as a dead ball foul”.
This applies to players on the field only.
If the foul is committed by a coach or anybody else on the sideline, it is still considered a dead ball foul.
When in doubt, it is a dead ball foul.
If committed by B and not in conflict with other rules, the penalty now includes automatic first down.
In terms of philosophy and mechanics, officials shall no longer rush to players after a great play in an attempt to prevent UNC. This is now the CFO mechanic.
It wil lbe interesting to see if EFAF / IFAF adopt this approach.
9-2-4
It used to be grounds for disqualification to intentionally contact an official. Now the intentional contact has to be forceful.
Yardage rule of thumb
15 yard penalties are now primarily reserved for:
- PF
- UNC
- PI
10 yard penalties are primarily:
- Illegal use of hands
- Holding
- Block in the back
- Illegal batting
- Illegal kicking
Note that the last 2 are new for 2012.
Umpire position
The NCAA will not move the umpire to the offensive backfield.