Game Revisions: NFL’s New Rules for 2016

Throughout its history, the National Football League (NFL) has undergone several rule revisions—some intentional, others out of necessity. These changes were made in a systematic and consensus-based process. Some changes were implemented immediately while others took much longer time under careful studies.

 

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These rule changes are made for the purpose of improving (ideally) the game, making it more exciting for viewers but without the need to reduce its integrity. Since 1974, the kickoff line has been moved three times in response to emerging circumstances and trends. Majority of the changes are also focused on players’ health and safety, creating guidelines for reduced risk of injury. In 2009, there was a rule revision to prevent defensive players from forming a wedge to block for the return man on kickoff returns to prevent injuries.

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For NFL 2016, several game rules have also been made. They are as follows:

• Permanently moving the line of scrimmage for try kicks to the defensive team’s 15-yard line, and allowing the defense to return any missed try
• Permitting the offensive and defensive play callers on the coaching staff to use the coach-to-player communication system regardless of whether they are on the field or in the coaches’’ booth
• Making all chop blocks illegal
• Expanding the horse collar rule to include when a defender grabs the jersey at the name plate or above and pulls a runner toward the ground
• Making it a foul for delay of game when a team attempts to call a timeout when it is not permitted to be done so
  Eliminating the 5-yard penalty for an eligible receiver illegally touching a forward pass after being out of bounds and re-establishing himself inbounds, and making it a loss of down
• Eliminating multiple spots of enforcement for a double foul after a change of possession
• Changing the spot of the next snap after a touchback resulting from a free kick to the 25-yard line
• Disqualifying a player who is penalized twice in one game for certain types of unsportsmanlike conduct fouls

My name is Jason Goldblatt, or Jace for short. I work as a freelance sports writer and sports blogger, with most of my posts revolving around football and the gridiron. See you on Twitter.

American Football in Europe: Touchdown Across the Pond

As we all know by now, “football” means two different things to the American and European sports fan, and casual observers in the continent have made remarks of how unusual the game is in their eyes. In Britain, for instance, it has been seen by some as a comically less violent version of rugby (to be completely fair, rugby is violent enough as it is).

However, this unfamiliarity hasn’t stopped the game from gaining a foothold in Europe. The game they call gridiron has cultivated a robust fanbase in what was traditionally a soccer-obsessed region, with enough fans creating a thriving American football scene across several European countries. Exhibition matches between teams have resulted in incredible turnouts, such as a sold-out match between the Dallas Cowboys and the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wimbledon Stadium.

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And the Europeans are not just mere spectators. Teams, governed by organizations like the European Federation of American Football, have emerged across several countries in the continent which face off in competitions like the Eurobowl and the European Championship.

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For organizers, Europe is still a major region for expansion. The demand is high enough that the National Football League (NFL), itself one of the main promoters of the sport in that corner of the world, has considered re-establishing a franchise in London. The NFL has previously supported a full-on branch in Europe, with teams playing from Germany and the Netherlands up until 2007.

This fanbase did not escape the attention of dedicated followers from the other side of the pond, though not a few of them look with amusement at the creative names adopted by the gridiron fans in Europe. The names of the many football teams in Europe often reflect the region’s history and cultural legacy, with a few of them, such as the Waterloo Warriors, being somewhat tongue-in-cheek in their naming.

Jason Goldblatt here. For more updates on all things football, follow me on Twitter.

Football: More than just a game

Now a lot of people find being passionate about something odd, particularly if it’s a sport. And football, which is thought to privilege athleticism over abstract thought, is not exactly something that inspires long, intellectual metaphorizing from the great minds of our age.

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As a writer and a football fan, I (and many others) beg to disagree.

Intellectual comparisons and allusions can come from almost anything, and sports are no different. The great filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock once likened the game to a real-life armed revolution, while the comedian George Carlin likened the quarterback to the field commander in the army.

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These allusions to battle and warfare are par for course with sports, which apply the same principles as warfare but with a more rigid rule set and with little or no bloodshed and destruction. Much like in real life battles, strategy and strength play an important and complementary role in achieving a victory. Moreover, we may never truly know who wins until after a game, bringing forward parallels to life.

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I have to admit, there is an element of fun involved in playing any sport, and football, rough as it is, is entertaining in its own right. But there really is more to the sport than what you would normally expect if you look at it in a different way. More than a game, football is a reflection of life.

A football fan since birth, Jason Goldblatt currently freelances as a sports writer. Follow him on Twitter for more on his views on football.