2020 Proposed Rules Changes

[IndyBison]

These have not been spruced yet, but they are the ones being sent to the executive committee. Most are not major from a fan perspective. The one that has officials talking the most is the one with officials being on the field 90 minutes before the game. That could mean even earlier mornings to get to games for pregame.

1. Targeting – a player disqualified specifically for TGT will no longer be required to leave the field enclosure. They may remain in the team bench area even though they are no longer permitted to play in the game. It will be up to the head coach to determine the protocol (e.g. take his helmet, take his jersey, or send him to locker room).

2. Unsportsmanlike behavior (pre-game) – Game officials’ jurisdiction will now begin 90 minutes before kickoff as opposed to 60 minutes. At least three of the game officials will be on the field at 90 minutes. The “L” warm-up will take effect at 90 minutes. Any time a player is on the field, even if before the 90-minute mark, they must have a countable coach on the field with them. Additionally, any player on the field pre-game at any time (before or after the 90 minute mark) must have his number readily visible (doesn’t have to be the game jersey, can be a t-shirt, sweatshirt, etc.).

3. Substitutions – the defense having more than 11 on the field is now a live ball foul.

4. Instant Replay & Game Clock – if time expires in a half, and based upon the previous play, the game clock would have started on the ready for play whistle, there must be at least three seconds remaining on the clock in order for replay to restore time to the game clock.

5. Player Safety – Defensive linemen (within one yard of the L.O.S.), on scrimmage kick plays, must be aligned completely outside the frame of the snapper.

6. Player numbering – no more than two squad members may be assigned or wear the same number. The number zero is now also allowed to be worn and it is an eligible number.

7. Uniforms – wearing a fully compliant second jersey on top of another jersey will now be permitted by rule. Vests and/or altered jerseys are not allowed.

8. Penalty enforcement – all fouls that can be carried over the succeeding kickoff may also be carried over to the succeeding spot in extra periods. The fouls for improper jerseys regarding contrasting color with the opponent and/or numerals not contrasting with the rest of the jersey will now be penalized the same with both the loss of timeout and a 15-yard foul at the start of each half.

9. Instant Replay – wording will be added to the rule book that the expectation is that review times will not exceed two minutes. This will not expressly prohibit a review from going longer than two minutes, for example an end-of-game situation.

10. To note:
a. Kickoff rules will remain as they were in 2019.
b. Feigning injuries (by defensive players) was thoroughly discussed as a problem but there was no action taken to change the rules. The rules committee expects discussion between coaches and AFCA to eliminate this practice.
c. Uniforms – eliminating the practice of t-shirts hanging out from the bottom of jerseys and/or jerseys tucked under the pads will be a point of emphasis.

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[Professor Chaos]

So who will become the first #0 in Bison football history???

[ZHerd]

So who will become the first #0 in Bison football history???

Backup kicker?

[SDbison]

First rule is before adding another rule they need to get rid of 2 ridiculous rules. The sport is being ruined by too many rules and way too much involvement by the stripes.

[HerdBot]

2 minute limit in reviews? How about we focus on getting them right instead of putting the review team under unnecessary pressure

[IndyBison]

First rule is before adding another rule they need to get rid of 2 ridiculous rules. The sport is being ruined by too many rules and way too much involvement by the stripes.

Most rule changes aren't new rules. They are changes to existing rules. So by your definition they are getting rid of 10 rules to make these 10 new rules. Most of these have little or no impact on the game itself. For example, allowing the ejected player to stay on the sideline rather than going to the locker room. Or officials being on the field 90 minutes rather than 60 minute before the game.

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[WeAreThePride]

2 minute limit in reviews? How about we focus on getting them right instead of putting the review team under unnecessary pressure

If you can't get it in 2 minutes, then there is no right answer. It's a coin flip at that point, and officials just look for something they can use to justify a decision.

[HerdBot]

If you can't get it in 2 minutes, then there is no right answer. It's a coin flip at that point, and officials just look for something they can use to justify a decision.

Arent reviews made by the replay staff, not the on field officials?

[Professor Chaos]

One rule change I'd like to see is a two-tier system for targeting similar to how flagrant fouls are in college basketball. "Targeting 1" and "targeting 2" would both be enforced as personal fouls but a targeting 1 foul would only disqualify a player if it was his second such foul of the game and a targeting 2 foul would be the same immediate ejection rules as they have now. The problem is differentiating them but there's a difference between that targeting call that got the Nicholls' DB ejected last year in the Fargodome in the playoffs and something like this:



They'd probably have to try to judge intent somehow to determine which to call but I'd think officials, especially with the benefit of replay, would be able to differentiate them. What do you think Indy???

[Bisonator98]

3. Substitutions – the defense having more than 11 on the field is now a live ball foul.

What does this mean? The play will continue and the penalty enforced or declined after the play?