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"Jack" Out Of The Box Among Several AFL Rule Changes Adopted By af2

March 3, 2008 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


CHICAGO - The arenafootball2 league (af2) has agreed to implement several rule changes that were approved by the Arena Football League's Board of Directors. The changes will take effect for the 2008 af2 season.

The most notable change will be the ability for the "Jack" linebacker to roam from sideboard to sideboard within five yards of the line of scrimmage once a play begins. In the past, the "Box Rule" prohibited the "Jack" linebacker from leaving an imaginary box behind the line of scrimmage until the ball was thrown by the quarterback. Rules governing "Mac" linebackers were unchanged.

"It's important for us to adopt these rule changes as we continue to serve as the official development league of the AFL," said af2 President Jerry Kurz.

The approved rule changes for the 2008 season are included in detail below:

1. Double Pass (illegal forward pass) out of the EZ

A second forward pass by a team in their own end zone results in a safety against the offending team.

2. Make Drop Kick formation for Drop Kick only

If a team lines up in a drop-kick formation (in which the designated kicker must be the player receiving the snap), then the team may only perform a drop kick, unless the kicker muffs or fumbles the snap. If the kicker muffs or fumbles the snap, he may run with the ball and/or pass the ball to an eligible receiver. This formation may only be used on a Fourth Down or the Last Minute of a Half.

3. Alignment Clarification for F.G. and E.P.

Tackles/ends (last player on the end of each line) are not allowed to overlap (shoe behind shoe is considered overlapped) their feet in scrimmage kick formations. Center and guards would be allowed to overlap their feet.

4. Offside on Kicking team

Penalty for offside on kicking team increased from 5 yards to 10 yards. Receiving team may still decline yardage.

5. Illegal touching by ineligible receivers

Unintentional illegal touching by an ineligible receiver is not a penalty, just the result of the play.

6. Kick returns with receiver "out of bounds"

Kick receiver may recover and return a kick after it has hit the ground if the player catches the ball cleanly and has at least one foot inbounds at the end line at the time of recovery.

7. Illegal Contact

If QB loses possession of the ball by fumble or muff that hits the ground, illegal contact is no longer applicable.

8. Defensive Box on pump fakes

Once the QB pump fakes, the defensive box restrictions are no longer applicable.

9. Injured Reserve System

Allow players to be waived/released and participate for a team other than the team that they were waived/released from prior to serving the minimum number of games (including bye weeks) on injured reserve as long as the player has been medically cleared to play.

Players that are traded prior to serving the minimum number of games (including bye weeks) on injured reserve may not compete for any team until they have served the minimum number of games (including bye weeks) from the time they were initially placed on injured reserve.

10. Defensive Box

The present rules and box restrictions on the Mac LB will remain.

Both linebackers must follow the current pre-snap formation rules, but once the ball has been snapped, the Jack linebackers may roam sideboard to sideboard, but may not retreat deeper than 5 yards from the line of scrimmage on the defensive side of the ball.

There is no change to Jack and/or Mac rushing restrictions.

11. Offensive Coach on the Field (same as 2007 season)

Only the team on offense may have a coach on the field. Defensive team may only have a coach on the field during timeouts.

12. End line on fumbles

Any fumble or backward pass that hits a wall adjacent to the end line (back line of the end zone) will be a dead ball upon contact with the wall.

About af2

With its ninth season set to kick off on March 28 with a 29-team membership, af2 serves as a vehicle to bring Arena Football to small-to-midsize cities and as a developmental league with an unmatched history of sending players, coaches and officials to major professional football leagues each year. af2 operates under the same Mission Statement and Fans' Bill of Rights as the Arena Football League, which begins its 22nd season on February 29. Log on to www.af2.com for more information.

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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.


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