Rule changes for 2007
Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 3:52 pm
Just got back from a conference clinic and we spent about 2 hours on the rule changes for this season. Most are timing changes, which will save the time lost going back to the 2005 rules.
Following a TV time out the play clock with only have 15 seconds instead of 25. It is important to understand that a TV timeout is one called for by the network, not the officials or a team. I am sure you all have been at a TV game and seen the guy with the headset and orange glove who controls timeouts for TV. Only if he is the reason the time out is called will the play clock have 15 seconds. If for example a team calls a timeout and then the network goes to a full media timeout, the play clock will start with 25 seconds. The reason given for this change is that during media timeouts the teams are usually waiting on the field ready to go.
A charged team timeout is now 30 seconds (instead of 60) plus the 25 second clock. This is because the majority of timeouts called are to save play clock time, prevent a delay violation, etc. Media may still extend this timeout to a full media timeout, but as explained above the play clock will start with 25 seconds.
When there is a change of possession to the team that was just on defense, the clock will start on the snap. 2005 rule that was changed last year which everyone seemed to hate.
Clock will start on a Free Kick after it is leagally touched be the receiving team. Again changing last year's rule change. Look for this one to change again next year or the following year to have the clock start when the ball is kicked unless it is in the last minute or two of the half. The kickoff is part of the game, why shouldn't the clock be running when it is first kicked?
Kickoffs will now come from the 30 yard line unless moved by a foul. Self explanitory.
Kickoffs out of bounds will have as one option taking the ball at the 35. There are still three options for the receiving team when a ball is kicked out of bounds. They can take it at the spot it went out of bounds, have the kicking team rekick from 5 yards back, or take the ball at their 35. Previously the rule stated the receiving team could take the ball 30 yards from where it was kicked. The rules committee didn't want the receiving team taking over at the 40, so they kept the 35 yardline the same.
A down replayed because of an inadvertent whistle will have the clock be reset to the time of the previous play.Self explanitory.
The 25 second clock on free kicks will start when the umpire hand the kicker the ball.Previously the clock wouldn't start until the kicker had the ball on the tee. Sometimes this could take a few minutes as the kicker worked the ball trying to make it loose. This will really speed up some games as there will be much less down time watching the kicker hold and massage the ball.
Kicking team fouls added to administration of all kicks at succeeding spot or previous spot. Allows all fouls by the kicking team to be added to the end of the kick or the end of the run and the kickoff not having to be redone.
Definition of area regarding coin flip. Administrative, nothing anyone cares about.
Defensive players may not be pushed or lifted by a teammate. This is almost completely for kick block attempts. We have all seen the players behind the linemen pushing on the backs of the linemen trying to get thru. There were a large number of injuries because of this and hopefully this will reduce them.
And the biggest one will likely come next year. The addition of a 40 second play clock in addition to the 25 second clock. This will be just like the NFL.
Following a TV time out the play clock with only have 15 seconds instead of 25. It is important to understand that a TV timeout is one called for by the network, not the officials or a team. I am sure you all have been at a TV game and seen the guy with the headset and orange glove who controls timeouts for TV. Only if he is the reason the time out is called will the play clock have 15 seconds. If for example a team calls a timeout and then the network goes to a full media timeout, the play clock will start with 25 seconds. The reason given for this change is that during media timeouts the teams are usually waiting on the field ready to go.
A charged team timeout is now 30 seconds (instead of 60) plus the 25 second clock. This is because the majority of timeouts called are to save play clock time, prevent a delay violation, etc. Media may still extend this timeout to a full media timeout, but as explained above the play clock will start with 25 seconds.
When there is a change of possession to the team that was just on defense, the clock will start on the snap. 2005 rule that was changed last year which everyone seemed to hate.
Clock will start on a Free Kick after it is leagally touched be the receiving team. Again changing last year's rule change. Look for this one to change again next year or the following year to have the clock start when the ball is kicked unless it is in the last minute or two of the half. The kickoff is part of the game, why shouldn't the clock be running when it is first kicked?
Kickoffs will now come from the 30 yard line unless moved by a foul. Self explanitory.
Kickoffs out of bounds will have as one option taking the ball at the 35. There are still three options for the receiving team when a ball is kicked out of bounds. They can take it at the spot it went out of bounds, have the kicking team rekick from 5 yards back, or take the ball at their 35. Previously the rule stated the receiving team could take the ball 30 yards from where it was kicked. The rules committee didn't want the receiving team taking over at the 40, so they kept the 35 yardline the same.
A down replayed because of an inadvertent whistle will have the clock be reset to the time of the previous play.Self explanitory.
The 25 second clock on free kicks will start when the umpire hand the kicker the ball.Previously the clock wouldn't start until the kicker had the ball on the tee. Sometimes this could take a few minutes as the kicker worked the ball trying to make it loose. This will really speed up some games as there will be much less down time watching the kicker hold and massage the ball.
Kicking team fouls added to administration of all kicks at succeeding spot or previous spot. Allows all fouls by the kicking team to be added to the end of the kick or the end of the run and the kickoff not having to be redone.
Definition of area regarding coin flip. Administrative, nothing anyone cares about.
Defensive players may not be pushed or lifted by a teammate. This is almost completely for kick block attempts. We have all seen the players behind the linemen pushing on the backs of the linemen trying to get thru. There were a large number of injuries because of this and hopefully this will reduce them.
And the biggest one will likely come next year. The addition of a 40 second play clock in addition to the 25 second clock. This will be just like the NFL.