Arena Football League sets postseason format
Published on November 4, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
NEW YORK â The Arena Football League Board of Directors approved an eight-team conference postseason format along with rule changes for the 2005 season during a meeting yesterday via conference call.
For the first time in the League's 19-year history, the postseason will be split into two conferences with the conference champions meeting at ArenaBowl XIX Las Vegas.
"An eight-team playoff leaves little margin for error with 17 teams," said AFL Rules and Competition Committee Co-Chairman and Arizona Rattlers General Manager GENE NUDO. "Conference championships add a heighten interest to our postseason format and will place higher importance on divisional and conference games."
2005 PLAYOFF FORMAT
· Eight teams qualify for the playoffs
· Playoffs are separated into conferences
- Four teams qualify from each conference (American and National)
- Two division winners
- Two wild-card teams (teams with the remaining best records within the
conference)
· Winners of the Divisional Playoff rounds within each conference advance to
their respective Conference Championship Games
· Winners of the Conference Championship Games advance to ArenaBowl XIX Las
Vegas
POSTSEASON SCHEDULE
Divisional Round Saturday and Sunday, May 28-29
Conference Championship Games Saturday and Sunday, June 4-5
ArenaBowl XIX Las Vegas Sunday, June 12
DIVISIONAL ALIGNMENT
AMERICAN CONFERENCE
WESTERN
Arizona Rattlers
Las Vegas Gladiators
Los Angeles Avengers
San Jose SaberCats
CENTRAL
Chicago Rush
Colorado Crush
Grand Rapids Rampage
Nashville Kats
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
EASTERN
Columbus Destroyers
Dallas Desperados
New York Dragons
Philadelphia Soul
SOUTHERN
Austin Wranglers
Georgia Force
New Orleans VooDoo
Orlando Predators
Tampa Bay Storm
In addition, the Board of Directors also approved a number of rule changes designed to present the AFL in the most fan-friendly way possible.
"The committee's goal is to constantly refine our game and put the best product on the field year-in and year-out," said Nudo.
RULE CHANGES
· No sidelines â the wall is out of bounds. Player must be forced or touched by a defender prior to coming in contact with the wall in order to be ruled out of bounds.
· The end-zone dasherboard is live â the same as it is in the field of play. Therefore, if a receiver catches the ball and touches the wall in the end zone prior to touching the field surface, he is not ruled out of bounds unless forced by a defender.
· Bonus penalty for defensive offsides or encroachment. Three defensive offside or encroachments in a half. For each additional infraction, the penalty is doubled (from 5 yards to 10 yards).
· Clock will start when foot hits the ball on kickoffs outside the one-minute warning.
· The "on the field" coach will be allowed to call a timeout.
· On defensive fouls within the last minute of each half, the offense will have the option to start the clock on the snap.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from November 4, 2004
- AFL teams active in free agent market - AFL I
- Kats Set Date For McGraw Concert - Nashville Kats
- Champs sign Rodney Wright - San Jose SaberCats
- Arena Football League sets postseason format - AFL I
- Soul launch new website - Philadelphia Soul
- Jeremy McDaniel back with Rush for 2005 - Chicago Rush
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