RULE CHANGES FOR 2007 SEASON?

[TigerDad 0]

Any word on changes to the rules, esp those concerning the clock ? I know many of the coaches weren't happy last year.

[autkidd 0]

I do remember reading somewhere that the clock rules are going back to original but don't quote me on that...

And kickoffs are at the 30 now..

[Tigerclaws 0]

After TV timeout play clock is only 15 sec.

[WarTiger 4,092]

here are all of the rule changes for 2007 from the ncaa website.

NCAA FOOTBALL RULES COMMITTEE

2007 Major Rules Changes (Approved April 12, 2007)

Rule 3-1-1

The coin toss begins when the field captains leave the nine-yard marks and ends when the captains return to the nine-yard marks.

Rationale: This change clarifies when the coin toss begins and ends and avoids unnecessary confrontations between teams.

Rule 3-2-2-h

Following television timeouts, the ready for play period will, with the teams on the field, be 15 seconds. Exception: Free kicks.

Rationale: This change will eliminate some dead time during televised games and encourage teams to be on the field ready for play. The committee estimates about three minutes of time savings.

Rule 3-2-2-i.

This proposal alters the inadvertent whistle rule to read: “(i). If an inadvertent whistle occurs on a play and the down is replayed under the provisions of Rule 4-1-2-b, then the time and status of the game clock and play clock shall be reset to their position prior to the play in which the inadvertent whistle occurs. If necessary, instant replay can be consulted to determine the exact time and status of the game clock and the play clock.”

Rationale: This allows an official to add lost clock time in the rare case where an inadvertent whistle is blown.

Rule 3-2-5

When the ball is free-kicked, the game clock shall be started when the ball is legally touched in the field of play or crosses the goal line after being touched legally by Team B in its end zone and subsequently stopped when the ball is dead by rule.

Rationale: This reverts to the 2005 rule. The 2006 rule, which started the clock when the ball was kicked, created some difficult situations at the end of the half and game and the rule overall did not achieve its intended effect.

Rule 3-2-5-e

When Team B is awarded a first down, the game clock is stopped and starts on the snap.

Rationale: This reverts back to the 2005 rule. This rule change last year was a large part of changes that eliminated about 16 plays from the game and cut about 15 minutes of elapsed time off of the game. The committee believes the elimination of participation opportunities for student-athletes is too much and addressed the overall length of game issues in other ways.

Rule 3-3-7-a

A team timeout is 30 seconds plus the 25-second play clock interval. This provision will only apply to televised games. Conference television contracts will supersede this rule. (For example, if a team calls a timeout and a conference television agreement allows for a television timeout to be used, this timeout extends to a full media timeout. The television partners – through normal protocols – make the decision through their timeout coordinator when the ball should be whistled ready for play.)

Rationale: This change eliminates 30 seconds from team timeouts. The committee believes many timeouts are called to simply stop the clock (or when a team has formation, substitution or play clock problems). This reduction in time will save about three to six minutes, depending on how many timeouts are used during the game.

Rule 3-4-2-a (Possible Implementation in 2008)

Consuming more than 40 seconds to put the ball in play after declared ready for play is an illegal delay. When the play is completed, the 40 second clock will start. The administrative duties listed below would continue to use the 25 second play clock.

Exceptions (administrative duties):

• Free kick.

• Measurements

• Fumbles.

• Penalties.

• Touchbacks.

• Injury timeouts.

• Live ball out of bounds.

• Team B awarded a first down.

• Team timeouts.

• Try.

Rationale: This possible change is being raised now to alert conferences and teams to the change in how the ball will be marked ready for play. The AFCA is in strong support of this system of play clock management and believes it will bring more consistency to the pace of play. The rules committee has been asked by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel to collect information throughout this season to determine the effect of this possible change.

Rule 6-1-1

Unless relocated by penalty, the kicking team’s restraining line on kickoffs shall be the 30-yard line.

Rationale: This change will create more kickoff returns and therefore create more action. This change will save about one minute of playing time and eliminate a play with no action (touchbacks).

Rule 6-1-2

Insertion following the second sentence in the rules regarding kickoffs:

“…between the inbounds lines. The referee shall declare the ball ready for play when the kicker receives the ball from the official. After the ball is ready …”

Rationale: This change will eliminate some down time when the kicker receives the ball. When the kicker receives the ball, the kicker will have 25 seconds to kick. This will save about two minutes of elapsed time in the game.

Rule 6-2-1-Penalty

Penalty for a free kick out of bounds altered to be five yards from the previous spot or the receiving team awarded the ball 35 yards beyond Team A’s restraining line.

Rationale: This change is in relation to the kickoff spot being moved to the 30-yard line. The committee decided that the penalty for a kickoff out of bounds should remain at the 35-yard line (or 35 yards from the spot it was kicked). Teams also have the option of moving the kicking team back five yards and kicking again.

Rules 7-1-3, 7-1-4, 9-1-2, 9-3-3-a

Team A fouls added to administration of all kicks at the previous spot or succeeding spot.

Rationale: This change allows penalties to be assessed on the kicking team at the end of the run, if the receiving team chooses. This change is estimated to save about two minutes of elapsed time, depending on how many times this change occurs in a game.

Rule 9-3-5-b-3

Defensive players may not “be picked up by a teammate or elevated, propelled or pushed.”

Rationale: This change is intended to address blocks on extra points and field goals where linemen are pushed from behind by other players, creating a dangerous situation for the kicking team’s blocking linemen. This type of blocking scheme is becoming more prevalent and the committee believes it creates a significant safety risk.

Rule 12-3-1

Egregious fouls added to reviewable instant replays:

• Five or three downs, which must be corrected within that series of downs.

• Tackle or interference from bench that goes undetected on the field.

• Kick caught or muffed.

Rationale: These changes allow video replay to correct errors otherwise not allowed by rule, but obvious and correctable.

Interpretations

Add on FI-44 under Approved Ruling 7-3-6:

XI. Airborne receiver A85 possesses the ball and in the process of going to the ground, first contacts the ground with his left foot as he falls to the ground inbounds. Immediately upon hitting the ground, the ball comes loose and touches the ground. Ruling: Incomplete pass. An airborne receiver must maintain control of the ball if going to the ground in the process of completing a catch.

XII. Airborne receiver A85 possesses the ball and in the process of coming to the ground, first contacts the ground with his left foot as he falls to the ground inbounds. Immediately upon hitting the ground, the ball comes loose but never touches the ground prior to him regaining control. Ruling: Catch. If the receiver is inbounds and is going to the ground and looses control, as long as the player remains inbounds and the ball never touches the ground, it is a completed pass.

XIII. Airborne receiver A85 possesses the ball and in the process of coming to the ground, first contacts the ground with his left foot inbounds as he falls to the ground out of bounds. Immediately upon hitting the ground out of bounds, the ball pops loose, and A85 catches it before it hits the ground. Ruling: Incomplete pass regardless of whether or not the ball hits the ground because the receiver is out of bounds when the ball is possessed.

XIV. Receiver A85 stretches out at the B2 and possesses the ball but is going to the ground on his own as he is attempting to complete the catch. As A85 falls to the ground in the end zone, the ball immediately comes loose and falls to the ground. Ruling: Incomplete pass. Any receiver going to the ground on his own in the process of making a catch must maintain control of the ball when he hits the ground.

XV. Receiver A85 is airborne in the end zone and possesses a pass but while airborne is hit by a defender which causes A85 to fall to the ground. Immediately upon hitting the ground, the ball comes loose. Ruling: Incomplete pass. An airborne receiver contacted prior to completing all the requirements of a catch must still maintain control of the ball after hitting the ground.

Rationale: Most officials use these guidelines when determining whether or not a catch was made. Clarifying these items and including them in the rules book as interpretations will assist with the consistency of the application of the rules regarding whether or not a catch is made.

12-6-1-d-2

Add “on the field” so the announcement read will be: “After review, the ruling on the field stands.”

Rationale: Better wording for officials when making announcements of replay decisions

[townhallsavoy 2]

Blah bleh bleh blah. I'll just say "WTF!?!?!" until I figure it out during the season.

[Ranger12 53]

Looks like most of the annoying time clock rules from last season has been reverted back to the old rules. No more rushing on to the field after a change of possession and rushing the plays after a first down.

Going to be interesting to see them try to enforce the rule of the lineman not being allowed to be pushed across the line on field goal attempts. If I read the rule correctly, that could even be enforced on goal line stands.

[Ryan Sanders 123]

Hmm.. I am glad they went back to the old way of clock management. =D