League Meetings Focus On Special Teams
December 15, 2009 - Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL) News Release
New Orleans, LA (December 15, 2009) - As a request per result wanting to see more action on kickoffs, the Southern Indoor Football League concluded their Winter Meetings on Tuesday addressing rule changes while discussing issues to help progress the league further as they progress into their second season.
The main focal point of the meetings consisted of beefing up special teams, making that part of the game more exciting for the fans. As a result, a first of its kind rule will be adopted in 2010 initially labeled the "The Ray Rule", adopted after Lafayette Wildcatters President Ray Ronquillo. Approved mostly to keep clubs from intentionally kicking the ball out of bounds; the rule will bring some excitement back to the kickoff return game giving more of what the fans want.
The rule states that clubs kicking the ball out of bounds on kickoffs between goal-line to goal-line will result in a reset of the play featuring a free return for the return team. Teams will reset without the kick as the returner will start the kickoff return at the sound of the officials first whistle.
"I would expect the fans to adopt this rule as a signature for our league," says SIFL President Thom Hager. "Having seen coaches kick the ball out the offenses hands, it robbed the fans of one of the most exciting elements of indoor football....the kick return." Accuracy
Other rules brought in for special teams include the implementation of the "The Bullet" on kickoffs. Proving that it has already been a fan-friendly play, teams will be awarded one point for a kicker kicking the football through the uprights as well as putting the receiving team at their own five yard line to start the possession. Teams are in the process of a voting on the name of this featured kick.
Additional major changes include the use of traditional arena rules at the linebacker position. In the inaugural season, defenses were only required to have one linebacker in the box while having four defensive backs featuring a true strong safety. Next season defenses will be required to have two linebackers in the box (Mack and Jack) eliminating the strong safety. In the Mack and Jack formation only one linebacker can blitz while the other can move laterally while not advancing past the line judge.
Other defensive rulings accepted consist of the twisting of defensive lineman, allowance of "Freeze motion" by receivers, and the strengthening of unsportsmanlike conducts.
"New changes will make it easier as they won't have to have to look at many positions during the pre-snap," says SIFL Director of Officials Dan Blum. "The changes will open up the game making the offensive and defensive play one-on-one making it more exciting for the fans."
For more information about this and other news including this weekends Winter Meetings, log onto www.southernifl.com.
• Discuss this story on the Southern Indoor Football League message board...
Southern Indoor Football League Stories from December 15, 2009
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
