In addition to a new modified sudden-death overtime format for postseason games, a number of other playing-rules changes were adopted by the NFL clubs at the Annual Meeting in March.

The primary focus of those changes was enhancing player safety.

"We want to make the game safer both for the player getting hit and the player doing the hitting," says NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations RAY ANDERSON (right).

Here's the NFL 2010 Season rule changes:

UNNECESSARY ROUGHNESS

Existing unnecessary roughness rules have been standardized and protection for defenseless players has been expanded, including additional safeguards for defenseless players who have just completed a catch from blows to the head or neck by an opponent who launches, and long snappers.

"We wanted to make sure we have consistent language that lines up for all categories of players and expand the protection that applies to those players," says Atlanta Falcons President and Co-Chairman of the NFL Competition Committee RICH MC KAY.

All unnecessary roughness violations result in a 15-yard penalty.

HELMET REMOVAL

If a ball carrier's helmet comes off during a play, the ball will immediately be blown dead. "We watched some tape where players are running in the field of play without helmets," says McKay. "In our mind that is not a safe situation."

DEAD BALL FOULS

If there is a dead ball personal foul by either team following the end of the second or fourth quarter, the penalty yardage will now be enforced on the second-half kickoff, or the kickoff in overtime.

INSTANT REPLAY

Two adjustments were made to instant replay procedures in the interest of competitive fairness:

- If there is not an on-field ruling that a ball strikes a video board, guide wire, sky cam or any other object, the replay assistant may now initiate a booth review, even if the event occurs prior to the two-minute warning.

- If a replay review inside of one minute of either half results in the on-field ruling being reversed and the correct ruling would not have stopped the game clock, then there will be a 10-second runoff before the ball is put back in play.

JERSEY NUMBERS

In addition to numbers 60-79 and 90-99, defensive linemen are now permitted to wear numbers 50-59. Also, players who change positions are no longer required to switch jersey numbers if the change is from an ineligible position to another ineligible position (e.g. center to offensive guard) or from an eligible position to another eligible position (e.g. running back to wide receiver).

FAIR CATCH MUFFS

The penalty yardage for interference when a kicking team player attempts to catch a muffed kick has been eliminated. A penalty for unnecessary roughness, if applicable, would not be affected.

There will also be points of emphasis on several existing rules this season (although the rules themselves have not changed):

Good sportsmanship will continue to be emphasized

The use of abusive, threatening or insulting language or gestures directed at an opponent or an opponent's bench is considered taunting and will result in a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. Game officials will pay particular attention to in-the-face taunting of opponents.

All rules that encourage player safety will continue to be strictly enforced

This includes unnecessary roughness, chop blocks, clipping and illegal blocks below the waist on changes of possession. The focus will be on eliminating these tactics from the game.

There will also be one change in mechanics for NFL officials:

Initial position of NFL umpires

Will now be in the offensive backfield opposite the referee for all plays except for field goals, extra point tries and inside the two-minute warning of the second and fourth quarters. The most important factor in considering this move was the safety of the umpire.

POSTSEASON OVERTIME CHANGES

 

NFL owners voted at the Annual Meeting in March to amend overtime rules for the postseason to a MODIFIED SUDDEN DEATH format. Teams will now have the opportunity to possess the ball at least once in the extra period unless the team that receives the overtime kickoff scores a touchdown on its first possession.

"We felt this year's proposal gave us the opportunity to make a pretty good rule even better for the players," says Atlanta Falcons President and Co-Chairman of the NFL Competition Committee RICH MC KAY. "I really believe the more you talk about the issue, the more you understand the statistics, the more you say there must be a change."

The sudden-death overtime system that has been in place since 1974 will still be used for preseason and regular-season NFL games.

Here's a look at the NFL's overtime procedures:

PRESEASON & REGULAR SEASON -- SUDDEN DEATH

The sudden death system of determining the winner shall prevail when the score is tied at the end of regulation playing time of preseason and regular-season NFL games. The team scoring first during overtime play shall be the winner and the game automatically ends upon any score (by safety, field goal, or touchdown) or when a score is awarded by the Referee for a palpably unfair act.

At the end of regulation time, the Referee will immediately toss a coin at the center of the field in accordance with rules pertaining to the usual pregame toss. The captain of the visiting team will call the toss prior to the coin being flipped.

Following a three-minute intermission after the end of the regulation game, play will continue for one 15-minute period or until there is a score. Each team has two time-outs. General timing provisions that apply for the fourth quarter will prevail. The try is not attempted if a touchdown is scored. Disqualified players are not allowed to return.

Instant Replay: No challenges. Reviews to be initiated by the replay assistant.

POSTSEASON -- MODIFIED SUDDEN DEATH

The modified sudden death system of determining the winner shall prevail when the score is tied at the end of regulation playing time of postseason NFL games. The system guarantees each team a possession or the opportunity to possess, unless the team that receives the opening kickoff scores a touchdown on its initial possession.

At the end of regulation time, the Referee will immediately toss a coin at the center of the field in accordance with rules pertaining to the usual pregame toss. The captain of the visiting team will call the toss prior to the coin being flipped.

Following a three-minute intermission after the end of the regulation game, play will be continued in 15-minute periods until a winner is declared. Each team must possess or have the opportunity to possess the ball unless the team that has the ball first scores a touchdown on its initial possession. Play continues in sudden death until a winner is determined, and the game automatically ends upon any score (by safety, field goal, or touchdown) or when a score is awarded by the Referee for a palpably unfair act. Each team has three time-outs per half and all general timing provisions apply as during a regular game. The try is not attempted if a touchdown is scored. Disqualified players are not allowed to return.

Instant Replay: No challenges. Reviews to be initiated by the replay assistant.

Key Definitions

Possession: Actual possession of the ball with complete control. The defense gains possession when it catches, intercepts, or recovers a loose ball.

Opportunity to possess: The opportunity to possess occurs only during kicking plays. A kickoff is an opportunity to possess for the receiving team. If the kicking team legally recovers the kick, the receiving team is considered to have had its opportunity. A punt or a field goal that crosses the line of scrimmage and is muffed by the receiving team is considered to be an opportunity to possess for the receivers. Normal touching rules by the kicking team apply.

 

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NFL 2010 - New Rules for NFL 2010 Season