Post by David on Feb 29, 2016 22:52:46 GMT -8
We're underway in the IFL Regular Season, which means we have some new rules to comprehend. For the most part, the Indoor Football League isn't that much different from the Arena Football League, but there are some major differences.
We will add more rule differences over time, but here's what we do know:
Belt - is the area five (5) yards beyond the defensive line of scrimmage. The belt runs sideline to sideline. The belt disappears at the snap.
Blitzer - the player who identifies himself to the offensive team and the officials as a potential blitzer by virtue of his alignment and raising his hand (if two linebackers are present in the box). He must be located in the alley, behind the defensive box at the snap.
In the Bank - means a penalty which cannot be administered on the kick-off, but will be enforced prior to the next play from scrimmage. The half may not end with a penalty in the bank. In such cases, there will be an un-timed down.
Offensive Motion - in the Indoor Football League the offense is allowed to have two (2) men in forward motion prior to the snap of the ball.
Note: Only one receiver is allowed in motion in the AFL
Punt - it is illegal to punt in the indoor game, but a variation is possible by the way of a missed field goal. Field goals that stay in bounds may be returned by the defense. If not recovered, the ball can be downed at the spot by the offense. If the field goal attempt goes out of bounds via the sidelines, the ball will be spotted and place at the point of exit by the side judge. Should the missed field goal go through the back of the end zone, the ball will be placed at the spot of the kick attempt behind the line of scrimmage.
Stunting or Twisting - When a defensive lineman is rushing the passer, there is no "stunting" or "twisting."
Rouge - a team is awarded one point for a rouge if any of the following conditions are met:
1) A rouge may only be scored on free kicks and is scored when a member of the receiving team is not able to advance a free kick out of his own endzone, or the player is declared down in their own endzone.
2) A rouge will be awarded to the kicking team if the receiving team commits a penalty in the receiving team's endzone and the ball has not been advanced out of the endzone.
Field Goal Posts - are ten (10) feet wide by 18-20 feet tall with the bottom cross bar hung 10 feet above the ground. Field goal posts are hung from the arena ceiling.
Note: There are no rebound nets like in the AFL. If the ball is kicked out of the back of the endzone, the ball will be placed at the 20 yard line.
Field of Play - game fields are 50-yards long with up to 8-yard endzones. The field is 28-yards wide and marked every five (5) yards with wall-to-wall lines. 12 inch hash marks begin five (5) feet from the center of the field.
Note: The field dimensions are the same as the AFL's field dimensions.
Scoring - touchdowns are worth six (6) points, conversion place-kicks are one (1) point, conversion pass or run is two (2) points, field goals are three (3) points, a safety is two (2) points, and a rouge is one (1) point.
Overtime - there is no limit to the number of overtime periods. Each consists of a series by each offense.
Offensive Unit - eight (8) players will be active on the field during scrimmage consisting of three (3) down lineman. Four (4) players must be lined up on the line of scrimmage before the snap occurs. Two men can be in forward motion prior to the snap of the ball.
Defensive Unit - eight (8) players will be active on the field during scrimmage consisting of three down lineman. The jack-linebacker is not required to be in the defensive box. If he is, the blitzing linebacker must identify himself.
Free Defense - Defensive linemen can drop into coverage. The defense theoretically can have eight in coverage. The Jack linebacker isn’t confined to a 5-yard box like in the AFL. The Mac linebacker is free to roam after the ball is snapped. One linebacker can blitz, either the Jack or Mac, but they have to line up in the box (see "Blitzer").
Defensive Backs - have to be at least 5 yards off the line of scrimmage unless they’re lined up directly in front of a receiver. This prevents a DB from lining up between receivers or just outside the tackle box for run-stopping purposes.
Wall Balls - The walls are live in the kicking game, unlike the AFL, which makes onside, squib kicks and squib kicks into the walls appealing options to IFL teams. However, in the passing game, IFL plays are blown dead if a pass touches a wall (balls are live in the AFL, even if they touch the wall).
Running Clock - The timing rules in the IFL are the same as they are in the AFL (including 1-minute timing rules), but with one key difference: the clock stops on a touchdown. In the AFL, the clock continues to run until the extra point attempt has finished. In the IFL, the clock stops upon a touchdown score and the PAT Attempt/2-point conversion is an un-timed play.
We will add more rule differences over time, but here's what we do know:
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Alley - is the area bordered by the outside shoulders of the two offensive guards. The alley is established at the snap and does not move during the down.Belt - is the area five (5) yards beyond the defensive line of scrimmage. The belt runs sideline to sideline. The belt disappears at the snap.
Blitzer - the player who identifies himself to the offensive team and the officials as a potential blitzer by virtue of his alignment and raising his hand (if two linebackers are present in the box). He must be located in the alley, behind the defensive box at the snap.
In the Bank - means a penalty which cannot be administered on the kick-off, but will be enforced prior to the next play from scrimmage. The half may not end with a penalty in the bank. In such cases, there will be an un-timed down.
Offensive Motion - in the Indoor Football League the offense is allowed to have two (2) men in forward motion prior to the snap of the ball.
Note: Only one receiver is allowed in motion in the AFL
Punt - it is illegal to punt in the indoor game, but a variation is possible by the way of a missed field goal. Field goals that stay in bounds may be returned by the defense. If not recovered, the ball can be downed at the spot by the offense. If the field goal attempt goes out of bounds via the sidelines, the ball will be spotted and place at the point of exit by the side judge. Should the missed field goal go through the back of the end zone, the ball will be placed at the spot of the kick attempt behind the line of scrimmage.
Stunting or Twisting - When a defensive lineman is rushing the passer, there is no "stunting" or "twisting."
Rouge - a team is awarded one point for a rouge if any of the following conditions are met:
1) A rouge may only be scored on free kicks and is scored when a member of the receiving team is not able to advance a free kick out of his own endzone, or the player is declared down in their own endzone.
2) A rouge will be awarded to the kicking team if the receiving team commits a penalty in the receiving team's endzone and the ball has not been advanced out of the endzone.
Field Goal Posts - are ten (10) feet wide by 18-20 feet tall with the bottom cross bar hung 10 feet above the ground. Field goal posts are hung from the arena ceiling.
Note: There are no rebound nets like in the AFL. If the ball is kicked out of the back of the endzone, the ball will be placed at the 20 yard line.
Field of Play - game fields are 50-yards long with up to 8-yard endzones. The field is 28-yards wide and marked every five (5) yards with wall-to-wall lines. 12 inch hash marks begin five (5) feet from the center of the field.
Note: The field dimensions are the same as the AFL's field dimensions.
Scoring - touchdowns are worth six (6) points, conversion place-kicks are one (1) point, conversion pass or run is two (2) points, field goals are three (3) points, a safety is two (2) points, and a rouge is one (1) point.
Overtime - there is no limit to the number of overtime periods. Each consists of a series by each offense.
Offensive Unit - eight (8) players will be active on the field during scrimmage consisting of three (3) down lineman. Four (4) players must be lined up on the line of scrimmage before the snap occurs. Two men can be in forward motion prior to the snap of the ball.
Defensive Unit - eight (8) players will be active on the field during scrimmage consisting of three down lineman. The jack-linebacker is not required to be in the defensive box. If he is, the blitzing linebacker must identify himself.
OTHER DIFFERENCES (UN-OFFICIAL TERMINOLOGY)
Tight Ends - are illegal. IFL offenses cannot throw to an offensive lineman. To make up for this lack of a passing option, IFL offenses may allow 4 wide receivers on offense.Free Defense - Defensive linemen can drop into coverage. The defense theoretically can have eight in coverage. The Jack linebacker isn’t confined to a 5-yard box like in the AFL. The Mac linebacker is free to roam after the ball is snapped. One linebacker can blitz, either the Jack or Mac, but they have to line up in the box (see "Blitzer").
Defensive Backs - have to be at least 5 yards off the line of scrimmage unless they’re lined up directly in front of a receiver. This prevents a DB from lining up between receivers or just outside the tackle box for run-stopping purposes.
Wall Balls - The walls are live in the kicking game, unlike the AFL, which makes onside, squib kicks and squib kicks into the walls appealing options to IFL teams. However, in the passing game, IFL plays are blown dead if a pass touches a wall (balls are live in the AFL, even if they touch the wall).
Running Clock - The timing rules in the IFL are the same as they are in the AFL (including 1-minute timing rules), but with one key difference: the clock stops on a touchdown. In the AFL, the clock continues to run until the extra point attempt has finished. In the IFL, the clock stops upon a touchdown score and the PAT Attempt/2-point conversion is an un-timed play.
