Double-forward pass, 3-point PATs, one-foot-down rule prove XFL will focus on action
The XFL has billed itself as a more fun brand of football and some of its rules live up to the hype.
Among the most interesting rules are the extra-point options. A touchdown is still worth six points, but there will be no point-after kicks. A three-tiered point system allows teams to go for one, two or three points following touchdowns. They could choose to go for one point from the 2-yard line, two points from the 5-yard line or three points from the 10. So, a 9-point touchdown? Why not?
Double-forward passes behind the line of scrimmage are allowed, the game clock will not stop until the final two minutes and teams will have two timeouts per half.
The inaugural season of the eight-team league, including the Dallas Renegades, begins Sunday and concludes with a championship April 26.
Here are some of the major rules from the XFL release:
Safer kickoff returns — Coverage teams will line up just five yards apart to make the kickoff safer for players. Touchback penalties will be in place to incentivize returnable kicks and the potential for big plays.
More actions (and no kicks) for PATs — A tiered point system allows teams to go for one point from the 2-yard line, two points from the 5-yard line and three points from the 10-yard line. A possible “nine-point touchdown” means an 18-point deficit is still a two-possession game.
Shootout style overtime format — Each team’s best offensive and defensive players will determine the result of a game tied at the end of regulation time. Each team receives five attempts to score from the 5-yard line in a hockey shootout format, with the clubs alternating attempts (receiving two points per success) until one team’s total is insurmountable.
Double-forward pass — Multiple forward passes will be allowed behind the line of scrimmage to create more play options for offenses.
Running game clock and fewer timeouts — The clock will run continuously outside of the two-minute warning, and teams will only be allotted two timeouts per half.
25-second play clock — It will begin after the ball is spotted for the next play, eliminating some of the downtime between plays.
One foot in bounds — Only one foot needs to be in bounds to be counted as a reception. (This allows players to stabilize their bodies and reduce the chance of injury.)
Shorter halftime — Halftime will be a 10-minute period before the action resumes.
Dedicated ball-spotting official — Eliminates confusion, enables quicker ball spots and powers a faster game.
The eight-team league’s inaugural season begins Feb. 8. The Dallas Renegades open their season against the St. Louis BattleHawks on Feb. 9 at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The three-month season concludes with a championship game April 26.
This story was originally published January 7, 2020 at 11:29 AM.
