New rule changes

[Ursa Majoris]

A recommendation to eliminate force-out decisions on pass completions near the sidelines was approved. Now, officials will only have to decide whether a receiver landed in bounds or not. The intended result is more consistency. clap.gif

 

• The "Phil Dawson field goal rule" change passed. Now, certain field goals can be reviewed by instant replay, including kicks that bounce off the uprights. Under the previous system, no field goals could be replayed.

 

• Coaches can now defer a decision on the opening coin toss. This is similar to the college rule. Previously, the winner of the coin toss could only choose to receive or kick off.

 

• A direct snap from center that goes backward will now be treated as a fumble. Previously, it was ruled a false start.

 

• The 5-yard face mask penalty was eliminated. Now, only the serious face mask will be called (and will be assessed as a 15-yard penalty). The major foul will involve twisting or grabbing the face mask.

The middle three changes are OK. The last seems fine as it's worded as long as refs remember the wording.

 

The first is going to invoke the Law of Unintended Consequences and will be changed within two years.

[budlitebrad]

Unless literally carried out by a defensive player, receivers must land with two feet inbounds for a completion.

 

Pereira said that half of the 16 force outs last season were ruled correctly. The change eliminates the guess work.

[Sturphy]

Well at least everyone would be in agreement that it isn't a TD. I have plenty of rules that I don't like, but having a rule that isn't called consistently is even worse.

I concurr.

[kcmast]

Well at least everyone would be in agreement that it isn't a TD. I have plenty of rules that I don't like, but having a rule that isn't called consistently is even worse.

+1