CFL proposed rule changes for 2015

[gbill2004]

CFL.ca Staff

TORONTO -- The convert would be less automatic, receivers would have more space, and the game would speed up.

Those are the projected outcomes if rules changes proposed today by the Canadian Football League’s Rules Committee are approved later this Spring by its Board of Governors.

“We have sought to be innovative while protecting the integrity of the game with a focus on player safety,” said Glen Johnson, the CFL’s Vice-President of Officiating and its representative on the Rules Committee.

“We believe we are recommending to our Board of Governors responsible ways to improve the tempo and flow of the game, reduce the number of stoppages including penalties, increase opportunities for scoring and excitement, and simplify our rules.”

The Rules Committee is recommending modifying the convert that follows a touchdown.

A kick for a single point, which now comes from the 12-yard line, would come instead from the 32-yard line.

Last year, 99.4 per cent of kicks for a single point following a touchdown were successful. For field goal attempts from between 31 and 33 yards, 81 per cent were successful.

In fact, there have only been 24 converts missed in 15 seasons, a frequency of just once in every 232 attempts or 47 games.

Under the proposal, a kicked convert that is wide would remain live and can be run back for a two-point score.

If a team opts to run or pass the ball into the end zone for a two point convert following a touchdown, the ball would be scrimmaged from the three-yard line, instead of the current five-yard line, which may entice more coaches to “go for two”.

Last year, there were only 23 two-point convert attempts, and seven, or 30 per cent, were successful.

[gbill2004]

@CFL_News: Not mentioned in that article but likely coming: no defensive contact on a receiver after 5 yards, and a 35 second clock. #CFL

@CFL_News: No contact whatsoever is allowed between WR's and DB's after five yards, meaning no more hand fighting downfield...via @CFLonTSN #CFL

[gbill2004]

From Drew Edwards:

Here is a brief summary of changes being proposed by the CFL rules committee after their meeting this evening. You can read the full release from the CFL. Remember, all of these still need to be ratified by the board of governors.

• a kick for a single point, which now comes from the 12-yard line, would come instead from the 32-yard line.

• a kicked convert that is wide would remain live and can be run back for a two-point score.

• two point converts would be scrimmaged from the three-yard line, instead of the current five-yard line.

• during the pre-season, a convert worth three points when a team chooses to run or pass the ball over the goal line from the ten-yard-line.

• defensive player would be allowed to contact a receiver within five yards of the line of scrimmage, but would not allow either a defender or a receiver to create or initiate contact that impedes or redirects an opponent beyond five yards.

• on a punt play, when the ball bounces on the ground and a five yard no yards penalty is called, the penalty will automatically be added to the end of the return, or from the point the ball was first touched by the return team, whichever is better. Currently, the receiving team has to choose between the five-yard penalty or the yards gained on the return.

• any time in the game the offence be allowed to signal to the referee that it doesn't want to substitute and it wants to use a tempo offence. The officials would then blow the play in immediately upon the ball and yardsticks being set for play.

• on punts, prohibiting the five interior linemen on the kicking team from leaving the line of scrimmage until the ball is kicked.

• remove the ability of a coach to request a measurement, leaving it to the referee to measure when he is unsure if a first down has been made or not.

• offensive pass interference subject to video review.

• no longer giving the receiving team the option of demanding that a team kick again after one of its kick offs goes out of bounds. The receiving team will either take the ball where it went out of bounds, or at a point 30 yards in advance of where the ball was kicked off, whichever is better.

[gbill2004]

@PentonKirk: 3. Five-yard no yards penalty will be tacked on to return instead of at spot of foul. #CFL

[sweep the leg]

Why stop at just these rules? Why not make the dbs run backwards at all times? Maybe let each team carry a bear on their roster?

[Floyd]

Five yard penalty if DBs make eye contact with anything.

Two point converts will scrimmage from the back of the end zone.

DL must give running backs three steamboats.

[comedygeek]

These are some of the dumbest rule suggestions I've ever seen. Are we heading towards touch football rules or something?

Seriously, this is ridiculous. I hope most of these don't pass.

[JuranBoldenRules]

Dumber every year, and they never seem to learn their lesson.  Pretty much every significant change they've made in the past has been reversed within a few years.

 

Make more rules that are difficult for officials who can't even apply the rules now correctly to attempt to apply.  Seems like a great idea.

[Jacquie]

I think it was on Sports Centre tonight but they said the no contact between DBs and receivers would make it like the NFL rule.

[sweep the leg]

I think it was on Sports Centre tonight but they said the no contact between DBs and receivers would make it like the NFL rule.

NFL dbs don't have to deal with the waggle.

[mbrg]

 

I think it was on Sports Centre tonight but they said the no contact between DBs and receivers would make it like the NFL rule.

NFL dbs don't have to deal with the waggle.

 

 

NFL field has 40% less space to cover than a CFL field.

[Mike]

Why stop at just these rules? Why not make the dbs run backwards at all times? Maybe let each team carry a bear on their roster?

 

The designated import spot has now been replaced by the "wildlife" spot where teams will be allowed to roster either a bear, deer or moose.

[Jpan85]

The new PI rules seem to me like it would be a more black and white call for the officials. Either contact or no contact.

[TrueBlue]

Didn't the NFL attempt to increase the distance on their converts last season? 

[Super Duper Negatron]

The convert changes are dumb. Just make the single point automatic unless they go for two.

 

The 3-point thing is stupid beyond belief.

[Mike]

The convert changes are dumb. Just make the single point automatic unless they go for two.

 

The 3-point thing is stupid beyond belief.

 

Thank god that's preseason only - which I don't understand either.

[Jpan85]

With the longer pat I like you can return it for two points if you return it all the way back. No penalty such as bad field position for returning it out so all should be return if possible.

[Blueandgold]

@PentonKirk: 3. Five-yard no yards penalty will be tacked on to return instead of at spot of foul. #CFL

This is the ONLY good rule change. The rest of them all honestly suck and make me lose respect for the CFL.

[17to85]

The CFL needs to learn that sometimes you just have to leave well enough alone. They never learn their lesson it seems. Too many rules that come up in the moment because something happened the year before and they have no eye for the long game. 

[TBURGESS]

The new PI rules seem to me like it would be a more black and white call for the officials. Either contact or no contact.

Not really. First the Ref has to decide who initiated the contact.  If it's the receiver that's offensive PI.  If it's the defender it's defensive.  Then the Ref decides if the contact matters and if it creates an advantage.  

 

 

Johnson said. “Beyond five yards, if there’s contact created, we’re going to determine which of the players did it and one of those players is going to draw a penalty if that contact is material to the other guy and creates an advantage.”

Still not black and white.

[sweep the leg]

The extra point rule is terrible. If they want change, just get rid of it completely. Make a td worth 7 points. Nobody ever misses it anyways and it would trim time off of the games.

 

This entire set of changes reeks of trying too hard.

[WBBFanWest]

Why stop at just these rules? Why not make the dbs run backwards at all times? Maybe let each team carry a bear on their roster?

If we can also mandate the use of a unicycle in some way, I'm all for it!

[BlueGoldBozo]

Well you know the old sayikng "Keep fixing it until it's broken!"

[bearpants]

I think it was on Sports Centre tonight but they said the no contact between DBs and receivers would make it like the NFL rule.

[bearpants]

 

Why stop at just these rules? Why not make the dbs run backwards at all times? Maybe let each team carry a bear on their roster?

 

The designated import spot has now been replaced by the "wildlife" spot where teams will be allowed to roster either a bear, deer or moose.

 

 

I would like to see a Moose lined up at DT... good luck stopping that... until they implement the "designated Ford F150 for O-line" rule... then it might be close...