By Michael Heilman
On Tuesday, the XFL announced the rules for the game as the season draws closer to February 8th. Dean Blandino, who is the rules analyst for NFL on FOX, is the head of officiating for the XFL. The XFL’s goal for this season is to speed up the game.
XFL commissioner Oliver Luck appeared on FS1’s First Things First to explain the new rules and how they came about. You can watch the full segment below.
Some of the rules that Luck explained will take some time to get used to, others are a wait and see. Here are the rules that you will see when the XFL season gets underway next month.
Kickoff
The kicker kicks from the 25-yard line and must kick the ball in the air and in play between the opponent’s 20-yard line and the end zone.
The coverage team lines up on the return side 35-yard line, and the return team lines up on the 30-yard line. Each team must have exactly three players outside the hash marks on both sides of the ball and cannot move until the ball is caught by the returner.
Out of bounds kicks and kicks that fall short of the 20-yard line will result in an illegal procedure penalty, taking the ball all the way out to the kicking team’s 45-yard line.
Players can move when the ball is touched by the returner or 3 seconds after the ball touches the ground (when the official waves his hand down).
If the ball is kicked into the end zone and is downed, it is a “Major” touchback, and the ball is placed at the return side 35-yard line.
If the ball bounces in bounds and then out of the end zone or is downed in the end zone, the ball is placed at the return side 15-yard line.
If a player on the return team touches the ball and it goes out of bounds, the ball is spotted where it went out of bounds.
If a team wishes to run an onside kick, it must indicate this to the official before the play, and the two teams will be permitted to line up using traditional NFL rules (i.e., 10 yards apart from the kicking team). There will be no surprise onside kicks.
Point-After Touchdown
After a touchdown, the team has the option of running a play from the 2, 5, or 10-yard line, worth 1, 2, or 3 points, respectively. The team must run an offensive play, and no kicking plays are allowed.
If the defense can cause a turnover and return the ball to the opponent’s end zone, the resulting score is equal to the number of points the offense was attempting to score on its PAT.
Punt
The punting team cannot release past the line of scrimmage until the ball is kicked.
Gunners must line up at the line of scrimmage and are permitted to move laterally once the ball is snapped until it is kicked.
Defenders over the gunner cannot cross the line of scrimmage until the ball is kicked.
If the ball goes out of bounds inside the 35-yard line, it is a “Major” touchback, and the ball goes to the 35-yard line.
If a punted ball lands in the opponent’s end zone or goes out of the end zone, the result is a “Major” touchback, and the ball goes out to the 35-yard line.
Fair catches are permitted
Double-Forward Pass
If a team completes a forward pass behind the line of scrimmage, that team may throw a second forward pass, as long as the ball has at no time crossed the line of scrimmage.
Once the ball has passed the line of scrimmage, no forward passes are permitted.
Overtime
Overtime shall consist of 5 “Rounds,” staged in alternating single-play possessions as is customary in NHL shootouts or MLS penalty kicks. A “Round” will consist of one offensive play per team. Each possession starts at the opponent’s 5-yard line, and the offensive team has one play to score. The team with more points after five rounds is the winner.
If a team has been mathematically eliminated before all five rounds have been completed, the game ends immediately (e.g., If Team A scores on its first three attempts and Team B is stopped on its first three attempts, then no subsequent plays are necessary).
If teams are tied after five rounds, then rounds continue until one team is leading at the conclusion of a round, and that team will be the winner.
For scoring purposes, each successful overtime score is worth 2 points.
The defensive team cannot score. If the offensive team commits a turnover, the play is over immediately.
If the defensive team commits a penalty, the offensive team will be allowed to re-attempt from the 1-yard line.
Any subsequent penalty committed by the defensive team on any subsequent play, including in future rounds, will result in a score awarded to the offensive team.
If the offensive team commits a pre-snap penalty, the ball will be moved back from the original spot, pursuant to regular rules, and the play will be re-attempted.
If the offensive team commits a post-snap penalty, the play will end, and no score will be awarded.
There will be a minimum of 20 seconds between plays with the ball-spotting official working in conjunction with TV and Official Review to signal when the next play begins.
Some other changes you will see in the XFL include a twenty-five-second play clock, fifteen seconds shorter than the NFL. Each team will have two timeouts for each half and the XFL will use the college football one-foot inbounds play and a ten-minute halftime. For more details on the XFL rules, click here.
What rules do you like in the XFL? What are your thoughts on the XFL overall? Leave a comment down below.
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