Rules changes for 2010

BAFA has made very few changes this year to the playing rules.

Three changes have been made to make the game safer for players.

Firstly, the chin strap on a helmet is now considered part of the helmet for the purposes of the facemasking rule. It is a personal foul if a player twists, turns or pulls the face mask, any helmet opening, or now the chin strap of an opponent.

Secondly, there is provision in the rules for video review in the days after a game, and a player to be suspended for a flagrant foul committed during the game, whether or not it was penalised by the officials.

Thirdly, a rule similar to the NFL's "unabated to the quarterback" rule has been introduced. A defensive player can now be called for offside if he is clearly in the offensive backfield, even if he has not touched an offensive player.

The changes to maintain the competitive balance of the game include removing the running into/roughing protection from a kicker if he choses to run outside the tackle box. If the kicker is forced out of the tackle box to recover a botched or muffed snap he would still retain his protection.

The rule requiring at least seven players to be on the offensive line of scrimmage at the snap has been replaced by one requiring no more than four players to be in the backfield. The net effect of this is that an offence with only 10 men on the field will not be penalised if the missing man is a lineman.

From 2011, only balls with a white stripe will be legal.

Other changes include:

• a period is not extended if a foul committed by the offence on the last play involves loss of down
• if one goal is missing, the entire game will be played towards the available goal (this was recommended before; now it is mandatory)
• ineligible receivers can now go 3 yards downfield on a pass play without penalty

Jim Briggs, Chairman of the BAFA Rules Committee. commented, "The rule changes this year are relatively minor." He went on, "Each year college football in the USA makes changes to its rules to improve safety and to keep the game flowing. BAFA almost always adopts those changes, which keeps us in line with the Europe and the rest of the world. We are now playing a truly international sport."

The new rulebook does include a section defining a "BAFA game" and the age ranges for various categories of contest. It also outlines the requirements that need to hold for a game to be covered by BAFA's insurance.

Full list of rules changes for 2010

Full 2010 rulebook