Could it be that the game of football cannot be improved and the rules have reached a state of perfection?
While you try to keep reading through the tears of laughter, that’s what the NFL Competition Committee has decided for at least this year by postponing any corrections in the NFL’s rules — sort of. There are smaller edits that are considered “editorial changes” that slightly alter the rules or refine the spirit of a particular rule. These changes are not voted on by NFL owners. The few items that were voted on made permanent a 2021 kickoff formation rule change and a rule that revised post-season overtime to allow for a guaranteed second possession (unless it’s safe) . The overtime rule doesn’t apply until the tundra has been sufficiently frozen over, so at the end of the long offseason there are no major new rule changes, which didn’t happen. not produced since 1968.
The only change made to the 1968 rulebook was to incorporate American Football League-specific rule differences, as a unified rulebook was used to prepare for the merger with the NFL.
Two years prior, the rulebook also remained unchanged, except for a slight non-rules change that was noted on the inside cover, shown in the image above. Due to controversy in the previous 1965 Western Division tiebreaker game, the height of the goal posts was raised. Field judge Jim Tunney was in the end zone to judge an tying basket that appeared to have traveled over the goal post – or outside, depending on who you ask. To reduce these exaggerated calls, Don Shula, then coach of the Baltimore Colts, recommended increasing the height from 10 to 20 feet above the crossbar, which quickly derived the nickname “Baltimore extensions”.
Editorial changes and points of attention 2022
There are a few editorial changes to the rulebook that were not voted on by the owners. Some come close to major changes, but in most situations they align with the spirit of the rule or clarify how the rule has been interpreted.
- New clarification is added regarding a setter who is tagged before the throwing motion begins and is able to pass the ball: “The direction of the pass is the responsibility of the setter…and the rules for intentional grounding s ‘apply’.
- A pass that hits a penalty flag in the air results in a draw. The clock and the ball will be reset and the down will be replayed. (If there are any 15-yard fouls, those will be enforced.) This lines up with the rule on hanging objects like cameras and scoreboards.
- Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett will already have an effect on the rules before taking an NFL snap. While playing for the Pitt Panthers in the ACC Championship Game last year, Pickett scored a touchdown on a play where he threw a slide to give up his lead, only to fake the move and continue his race. Because defensive players avoid contact when a runner begins to slide, the false slide puts the defense at an unfair disadvantage and is a potential safety issue. Therefore, a runner is considered down if he pretends to slip.
- Any illegal forward pass by the attacker inside the 2 minute warning will be assessed a 10 second run off penalty. Previously, this only applied to forward passes beyond the line of scrimmage. This now includes (1) double passes or (2) passes after the ball has crossed the line of scrimmage and returned behind it. The rule does not include illegal passes during kick-offs or after changes of possession.
- The “wearing a helmet” rule, which penalizes lowering the helmet and making contact with the opponent, will require an element of forced contact. Players who lower their helmets in an attempt to prepare for or avoid contact are not committing an illegal act, although it is certainly bad form. A defender who lowers his head so that the helmet triggers the attack is still an illegal act. Officials are also encouraged to watch the linemen use a shoving technique, a head dive and a forward thrust, similar to a bull using its horns.
- If the game clock is frozen and restarted, it was required that there be a minimum of 10 seconds for the restart. This is now changed and the referee can exercise discretion and restart the game clock where it is. The casebook gives an example where a player falls to the ground with an apparent injury with 2:09 left before halftime and 4 seconds on the game clock. game before the 2 minute warning.
- Replay is allowed to review the number of players on the field at any time, not just at the snap. New cameras have been installed for replay purposes that are not dependent on the television network, and player counts can be monitored at all times.
- A booth review is allowed when the kicking team has the ball in any kicking play. This only applied to muffled scrimmage kicks previously, and now all successful in-game kicks are automatic stand reviews.
- A back pass out of bounds was not explicitly listed as an act to illegally save time, but was a lapse of 10 seconds. Now it is included as a 5 yard penalty even if there was an intentional receiver of the back pass, and even if a back pass is missed forward.
In addition, there are certain points that the officials will focus on this year:
Illegal contacts will be highlighted this season, in the communications that the referees department has sent to the teams. For the attack, legal contact can only be established 1 meter down the field and the defense is entitled to 5 meters. It has always been interpreted that a full yard beyond is a foul, at 2 and 6 yards, respectively. The focus is on preventing these areas from getting close to 3 and 7.
Additionally, a defender or pass receiver cannot simply redeem a pass interference foul by simply looking at the ball. The player may legitimately make a play for the ball and is entitled to a path to the ball, but he may not deliberately play through the opponent. Typically, looking back at the ball gives the impression that a player is playing on the ball, but that won’t be the only decision not to throw a flag for pass interference.
So much for “no change” to the rules this year!
