Unless I am in error of my understanding. THE new POLICY, regarding STANDING FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM. Is still a P-O-L-I-C–Y! Which is what it was last year, when the NFL said a POLICY is not a rule, and cannot be enforced. The only thing I see different is the OPTION to not come on the field. So it appears NFL only publicized it as appeasement to UNITED STATES CITIZENS. The only enforcement will be up to the owners,(and we saw they didn’t enforce it last year. Here is a list of the rule changes, as I understand them. 2018 NFL RULES CHANGES USE OF HELMET The most significant change for 2018 is the new Use of Helmet rule. The rule states that it is a foul if a player lowers his head to initiate and make contact with his helmet against an opponent. This rule pertains to all players on the field, and to all areas of the field. Visit the searchable 2018 NFL Rulebook. The officiating standards for the Use of Helmet rule are: Lowering the head (not to include bracing for contact) Initiating contact with the helmet to any part of an opponent. Contact does not have to be to an opponent’s head or neck area — lowering the head and initiating contact to an opponent’s torso, hips, and lower body, is also a foul. Making contact on an opponent (both offense and defense) Players can be ejected for use of helmet fouls — and all ejections will be reviewed by senior officials in Art McNally GameDay Central in New York. The standards for ejection are, if: The player lowers his helmet to establish a linear body posture prior to initiating and making contact with the helmet; The player delivering the blow had an unobstructed path to his opponent; and if The contact was clearly avoidable KICKOFF RULES Owners voted to change the kickoff rules for the 2018 season. The Committee will reevaluate the effects of the changes in the offseason. New kickoff rules for the 2018 NFL season. Beginning this season: The kickoff team must have five players on each side of the ball and cannot line up more than one-yard from the restraining line. For example, the kicking team will line up at the 34-yard line for a kickoff from the 35-yard line. At least two players must be lined up outside the yard-line number and two players between the inbounds lines (hash marks) and the yard-line number. At least eight players of the receiving team must be lined up in the 15-yard “setup zone” prior to kickoff; only three receiving-team players can remain outside of the setup zone. No wedge blocks are permitted. A wedge block is defined as “two or more players intentionally aligning shoulder-to-shoulder within two yards of each other, and who move forward together in an attempt to block for the runner.” Players initially lined up in the setup zone may still double-team a block if it is not a wedge block. Until the ball is touched or hits the ground, no player on either the receiving or kicking team may block within the 15-yard area from the kicking team’s restraining line. On an onside kick, the kicking team may not block in the first 10 yards. The ball is dead if it is not touched by the receiving team and touches the ground in the end zone (touchback). Visit the NFL rulebook to see the official language for the 2018 kickoff rules. CATCH RULE Owners voted to simplify the standards of a catch. There are now three main requirements for completing a catch. The player must: Owners voted to simplify the standards of a catch. Have control of the ball Get two feet or another body part down Make a football move, such as a third step, reaching or extending for the line-to-gain, or having the ability to perform such an act A player no longer must control the ball through the ground for a completed catch, and movement of the ball does not automatically result in loss of control. If a player loses control of the ball, it is an incomplete pass if the ball hits the ground before he regains control, or if he regains control out of bounds. A receiver is considered defenseless throughout the entire process of a catch, up until the player is capable of avoiding or warding off impending contact. ILLEGAL BATTING AND KICKING THE BALL It is an illegal bat if: Any player bats or punches a loose ball in the field of play toward his opponent’s goal line Any player bats or punches a loose ball (that has touched the ground) in any direction, if it is in either end zone An offensive player bats a backward pass in flight toward his opponent’s goal line. A forward pass in flight may be tipped, batted, or deflected in any direction by any eligible player at any time. No player may deliberately kick a loose ball or a ball that is in a player’s possession. Other rules changes for 2018 include: The spot of the next snap following a touchback on a free kick to the 25-yard line was made permanent. A designated member of the Officiating Department may instruct on-field game officials to disqualify a player for a flagrant non-football act when that foul is called on the field. The team that scores a winning touchdown at the end of regulation is no longer required to kick the extra point or go for a two-point conversion. In overtime, if the team that possesses the ball first scores a field goal on its initial possession and the second team loses possession by an interception or fumble, the down will be permitted to run to its conclusion, including awarding points scored by either team during the down. 2018 NFL POINTS OF EMPHASIS SPORTSMANSHIP The Competition Committee continues to emphasize the importance of sportsmanship. The league office will continue to hold players accountable for flagrant hits and non-football acts through… Continue reading NFL RULES CHANGES FOR 2018
