2019 New CFL Rules

[jerrym]

The CFL Rules Committee has proposed several new rules. I like them.



The CFL’s rules committee sat down for its annual meeting Friday and came away with changes to two of the most discussed issues through last season.
Replay will be tweaked for the 2019 season, allowing the command centre to assist a referee when they’re in situations where they miss an infraction against a quarterback or a kicker.
The other big change comes to the challenge rule, which will see a coach that wins a challenge keep his flag, to a maximum of two challenges per game.
A driving force on the change to the challenge rule, according to the CFL’s senior director of officiating, Darren Hackwood, was the number of fans that addressed concerns to commissioner Randy Ambrosie in his Randy’s Road Trip tour across the country this winter.
“He’s gotten feedback from fans that they’d like to see this change made,” Hackwood said. “It’s gotten pretty good support.
“The benefit is if a coach has to use his challenge early in the game…if you don’t change the rule they’re out of challenges. So if some big play happens toward the end of the game, nobody can challenge it and if there’s a miss on the field, this is what that is designed to solve. It’s the protection of giving a coach a second challenge.”
HIGHLIGHTING THE RULE PROPOSED RULE CHANGES

Coaches should be entitled to a second challenge if their first is successful, giving them a potential maximum of two per game instead of just one.
The ability for the Command Centre to upgrade a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty to a 25-yard penalty for a direct blow to the quarterbacks’ head or neck with the helmet when that player has a clear view to the quarterback
Allowing the Command Centre to assist Referees with called and non-called roughing the passer penalties
If a player receives two 25-yard penalties in the same game, he be disqualified from that game.
For an expanded list of proposed rule changes, click here (https://www.cfl.ca/2019/03/22/protecting-qbs-additional-challenge-headline-proposed-rule-changes/).
With the change to replay comes an on-field adjustment. The league added an eighth official to the field in light of a missed roughing the passer call on then-Saskatchewan Roughriders’ quarterback Brandon Bridge in the Western Semi-Final. The eighth official will not be on the field this season because the expanded use of replay and command centre feedback in-game will allow for the official to have access to more angles.
https://www.cfl.ca/2019/03/22/oleary-proposed-rule-changes-put-focus-hot-button-topics/

[doubleblue]

Head shots are a concern for sure. Some players like Herbert never seem to get it even with fines and suspensions. So I don't know about a 25 yard penalty making a difference for those type of players. Maybe the Defensive Coaches need to get fined as well. They're pushing the players to get the QB behind the scenes.

[AngeloV]

Head shots are a concern for sure. Some players like Herbert never seem to get it even with fines and suspensions. So I don't know about a 25 yard penalty making a difference for those type of players. Maybe the Defensive Coaches need to get fined as well. They're pushing the players to get the QB behind the scenes.

I think the thinking is a 25 yard penalty can be more detrimental to the team, and maybe the team would take their own action.

[jerrym]

The CFL Board of Governors has approved all the rule changes proposed by the Rules Committee last month. Overall, they look like an improvement to me.



The ratified rule changes for 2019 include:

Allowing the Command Centre to assist Referees with called and non-called roughing the passer penalties including instances where an obvious roughing the passer penalty was not called because a referee’s view was blocked.
The ability for the Command Centre to upgrade a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty to a 25-yard penalty for a direct blow to the quarterback’s head or neck with the helmet when that player has a clear view to the quarterback, and there are no mitigating circumstances such as a quarterback ducking his head.
Allowing the Command Centre to assist on-field officials in calling penalties when the injury spotter has intervened in a player safety situation.
Allowing the Command Centre to assist on-field officials with called and non-called roughing the kicker penalties.
Removing the stipulation that allows a defender to contact a kicker’s plant leg without penalty if the defender has touched the ball prior to contact.
Clarifying the definition of spearing to be when a player uses the top of their helmet as the primary point of contact to deliver a blow to an opponent.
Making the use of three or more wedge blockers on kicking plays illegal.
Making it illegal for a defensive player to deliver a forcible blow to the long snapper while the snapper’s head is down and they are in a vulnerable position and unable to protect themselves.
Whistling a play dead anytime a quarterback carrying the ball gives themselves up by sliding with any part of their body. Previously, a quarterback could only “give themselves up” by sliding feet-first.
Coaches will be entitled to a second challenge if their first is successful, giving them a potential maximum of two per game instead of just one.
A 10-yard objectionable conduct penalty will be assessed for faking or embellishing contact, otherwise known as diving.
Spearing on any player will be upgraded to a 25-yard penalty by the Command Centre when a spear is delivered to the head or neck, the player has a clear view to the opponent and there are no mitigating circumstances such as the player ducking into what would otherwise be legal contact.
If a player receives two 25-yard penalties in the same game, they will be disqualified from that game.
A kicked or thrown football will remain a live ball instead of becoming a dead ball when it touches a goal-post ribbon.
https://www.cfl.ca/2019/04/10/cfl-board-governors-approves-rule-changes-proposed-rules-committee/

[doubleblue]

That new rule for the QB sliding is going to be interesting how it is called. I can see the QB's taking advantage by now diving for an extra yard instead of a feet first slide.

I have never known a ball to be blown dead because a kicked or thrown ball contacted the goal post ribbon. Maybe I don't pay attention enough.