New Rule Changes

As this poster states: punters can angle the ball
to land 'in bounds close to the goal [goal-line],
the 'coffin corner, just as they always have, in4td.

The 2007 rule changes include the following:

  1. Rule 4, Section 2, Article 2 - Illegal Movement

Rule change – adding clause:

“This shall include a “snap down?
into a two or three point stance

by an offensive lineman.?

This rule will penalize offensive linemen 5 yards

for abrupt snap down into 2 or 3 point stance.

I need a clarification as to what this means.

Rationale for change –

To eliminate a tactic by offensive linemen,
solely designed to draw the defence offside.

  1. Rule 5, Section 4 – Kick from Scrimmage

Rule change – add as Article 3, and renumber
articles that follow:

“Kick from Scrimmage Going Out of Bounds in Flight?

On a kick from scrimmage going out of bounds in flight
between the 20-yard lines, the receiving team
will have the option of taking possession

at the point the ball went out of bounds in flight,

or having a 10-yard penalty applied against the kicking team
at the point of the last scrimmage, with the down repeated.

Rationale for change –

Forces kicking team on punts and field goal
attempts to land the ball in the field of play.

  1. Rule 7, Section 2, Article 3 – Unnecessary Roughness

Rule change - add sentence to (a) to read:

“Any player in possession of the ball,
who falls to the ground without contact

and is not attempting to advance the ball,

may only be touched down and may not
be contacted in any other manner.?

An excellent change.

It penalizes players who love to drive their forearms,
shoulder pads or helmets into a defenseless man
with excessive force.

Rationale for change – Player Safety –

Players on the ground are in an extremely vulnerable position
and should be protected from excessive contact.

  1. Rule 1, Section 7, Article 4 – Time in

Rule change – add text in bold as follows:

“After a time out for any reason,

time shall start again on the signal of the referee

for any of the following reasons:

  • When it is snapped after team A commits
    an offensive foul prior to the snap,

inside their own 25 yd line.?

Rationale for change –

Eliminate situation where teams deliberately
take two consecutive pre-snap fouls

in order to run time off the clock.

  1. Rule 7, Section 2, Article 3 – Unnecessary Roughness

Rule change – add clause to read:

“Tackling an opponent by grabbing the inside collar
of the side or back of the shoulders?

Rationale for change – Player Safety -

Eliminating the dangerous “horse collar? tackle.

  1. Rule 7, Section 2, Article 3 (h) – Unnecessary Roughness

Rule change - add specific wording:

“Contacting an opponent above the shoulders
in an unnecessarily rough manner,

including the long snapper on kicks
from scrimmage, and convert attempts.?

Rationale for change – Player Safety –

Protection for long snappers who are in a
vulnerable position when snapping the ball.

  1. Rule 7, Section 2, Article 4 – Roughing the Passer

Rule change – Re-word clause (c):

“All rushing defenders must make every attempt
to avoid hitting a passer at or below the knees,

either if their path to the passer was unrestricted, or if they are coming off a blocker?

Rationale for change – Player Safety –

Defensive players must avoid contact
at or below the passer’s knees.

  1. Rule 7. Section 2, Article 4 – Roughing the Passer

Rule change – add clause to read:

“Contacting the passer if either
the initial source of contact,
or primary source of contact,

is the defender’s helmet?

Rationale for change – Player Safety –

Defensive players may not lead
with the head or use the head

as the primary contact point
to hit a passer.

Ducking the head and launching at
a passer is not acceptable.

Recommended Interpretation Changes for 2007

  1. Blocking on Kick returns

The illegal blocking rule states that a player
can not contact an opponent from behind.

Rule change - To interpret a player having four sides

and it is only illegal to contact the player in the back.

We had so many long runbacks called back last year
so we knew this was coming. Excellent!!

Rationale for change - Creates more legal blocks
on the side of the defensive player.

3. Rule 7, Section 2, Article 3 – Unnecessary Roughness

Rule change - add sentence to (a) to read:

“Any player in possession of the ball,
who falls to the ground without contact

and is not attempting to advance the ball,

may only be touched down and may not
be contacted in any other manner.?

An excellent change.

It penalizes players who love to drive their forearms,
shoulder pads or helmuts into a defenseless man
with excessive force


Forever known as the AJ Gass rule.