Post by Canton Cougar Fan on Oct 25, 2007 20:19:08 GMT -5
NEW YORK – The Arena Football League’s Board of Directors today approved several rule changes to take effect for the 2008 season.
A significant change is the addition of a coach-to-player communication device added to one defensive player on the field. This change makes the Arena Football League the first in professional football to allow one defensive player to have a communication device in their helmet. In the past, only the quarterback has been allowed to use a communication device to receive information.
“The atmosphere and the energy that the fans emit during an Arena Football game is such that both teams need to be on equal footing with communication from coaches,” explained Dallas Desperados Chief Operating Officer SHY ANDERSON, who also serves as Chairman of the AFL Rules and Competition Committee. “The main concern was competition, but we are excited as this will also provide ESPN an opportunity to allow the viewing fans to get a look at what both teams are thinking pre-snap.”
A second significant change will be the ability for the “Jack” linebacker to roam from sideboard to sideboard within five yards of the line of scrimmage once a play begins. In the past, the “Box Rule” prohibited the “Jack” linebacker from leaving an imaginary box behind the line of scrimmage until the ball was thrown by the quarterback. Rules governing “Mac” linebackers were unchanged.
Other rule changes approved for 2008:
Offsides on kicking team – Offsides penalty on kicking team increased from five to 10 yards.
Endline on fumbles – Any fumble that hits a wall adjacent to the endline will be a dead ball upon contact with the wall.
Defensive box on pump fakes – Once the quarterback pump fakes, the defensive box restrictions are no longer applicable.
A significant change is the addition of a coach-to-player communication device added to one defensive player on the field. This change makes the Arena Football League the first in professional football to allow one defensive player to have a communication device in their helmet. In the past, only the quarterback has been allowed to use a communication device to receive information.
“The atmosphere and the energy that the fans emit during an Arena Football game is such that both teams need to be on equal footing with communication from coaches,” explained Dallas Desperados Chief Operating Officer SHY ANDERSON, who also serves as Chairman of the AFL Rules and Competition Committee. “The main concern was competition, but we are excited as this will also provide ESPN an opportunity to allow the viewing fans to get a look at what both teams are thinking pre-snap.”
A second significant change will be the ability for the “Jack” linebacker to roam from sideboard to sideboard within five yards of the line of scrimmage once a play begins. In the past, the “Box Rule” prohibited the “Jack” linebacker from leaving an imaginary box behind the line of scrimmage until the ball was thrown by the quarterback. Rules governing “Mac” linebackers were unchanged.
Other rule changes approved for 2008:
Offsides on kicking team – Offsides penalty on kicking team increased from five to 10 yards.
Endline on fumbles – Any fumble that hits a wall adjacent to the endline will be a dead ball upon contact with the wall.
Defensive box on pump fakes – Once the quarterback pump fakes, the defensive box restrictions are no longer applicable.
