Glen Johnson, the league’s VP of officiating, held a media session to explain the CFL rule changes that will be in place for the 2015 season, and to discuss the reasoning behind the changes. He took this opportunity not only to provide insight into why the changes were made, but also to explain how the changes improve aspects of the game that hindered the officials in the past.
In December 2014, the board of governors and general managers met to discuss how to increase game flow. Johnson said that numerous persons in that meeting commented that games felt like they took to long to complete; however, game times had not changed from the normal average of two hours and 55 minutes long. The reasoning behind the “slow feeling” of game was the lack of game flow, which the rule changes are designed to address.
Illegal Contact
Objectives: Simplify the Illegal Contact rule for everyone. Create more space on pass plays, create more exciting plays, increase offence and scoring opportunities.
The basic premise is that the defensive player can jam a receiver that is in front of him within five yards of the line of scrimmage, but cannot create or initiate contact on the receiver that impedes or redirects the receiver beyond that five yard mark.
The reasoning behind this rule change seems fairly simple: it will make the DB run the route with the receiver but cannot use the “catch technique”, as Johnson pointed out, where a DB catches the receiver and disrupts the route. The rule change will create more space on the field for a receiver to make a play.
The rule also works on both sides. Johnson noted thatthe receiver can no longer use his forearm to create space, known as the “flipper technique”. With this change we should see cleaner passing plays and also WRs and DBs using more finesse as opposed to getting a way with little creative clutching and grabbing. Hand fighting will still be allowed while fighting for position as long as the receiver isn’t redirected in any way.
Modifying the Convert
Objectives: Add some uncertainty to the one point convert while increasing the likelihood of the two point convert. This will add excitement to the game and provide coaches with more strategic choices based on the score in the game.
This rule change is fairly clear: the game will be made more exciting with the single point convert moved back to the 25 yard line, making it a 32-yard PAT. Johnson noted that PATs in the past 15 years have been successful 99 percent of the time, making it automatic. A 32-yard attempt, however, is only successful on average 83 percent of the time. He also noted that during preseason there were more PATs missed in two weeks than in the entire last season. The two point convert also gets a face lift: from five yards out the two point convert was successful 30 percent of the time, but by moving the ball up to the three yard line the likelihood of success increases to 38 percent of the time.
Five yard No Yards Penalty added to the end of play
Objectives: Reduce the number of Five Yard No Yards penalties by making the penalty more punitive. Improve game flow and speed up the pace of the game.
This rule change will speed up the game by reducing the number of No Yards calls. There were 50 percent more No Yards penalties compared to years past, indicating that it needed to be more severe.
Hold Kicking Team Players at LOS
Objectives: Provide more space for returnees resulting in longer returns and potentially more scoring. Increase excitement. Reduce the number of Illegal Blocking fouls and make it safer for players.
When a decision is made for a team to punt the ball now, there will be five ineligible line players who must remain behind the neutral zone before the ball is punted. The long snapper and the two blockers to his left and right must stay back before the ball is punted. Johnson noted that this will create space as the interior blockers will not be allowed to take off freely down the field until the punt has taken place. In reviewing film we could see the dramatic difference holding these five players back makes. The returner now has a lot of green to work with. Coaches will now have to create different schemes for attacking the returner, whether by sending more gunners downfield (reducing punt protection), or by telling the punter to create more hang time on their punts.
Coaches Cannot Request Measurement
Objective: Eliminate an unnecessary stoppage in the game.
This eliminates coaches taking an uncounted “time out”. The official will still measure when he is unsure if a first down has been made or not.
Additional Notes
Johnson explained that officials have been at training camps getting reps with players for the upcoming season and to get some practice. He noted that the changes were received relatively well; teams weren’t fighting them, concentrating instead on their scheming and game planning for dealing with the new rules. Johnson himself was also involved with coaching staff, reviewing film with coaches to identify where the new penalties would be called.
Overall the rule changes should have a positive effect on the league. Game flow was clearly a primary interest for the board of governors, and these changes were designed to directly address the issues. Scoring should also see a increase by year end, as players will have more room to make plays.
And to add to their officiating capabilities, officials will now all be equipped with wireless head sets which will eliminate what Johnson called the “production” of an official running down the field to meet with the referee to tell him who was involved in the foul. Good on the league for addressing that issue.
