Latest news with #rulechanges
Forbes
a day ago
- Sport
- Forbes
NFL Preseason Begins: Here Are This Year's Key Rule Changes
The first full week of the NFL preseason kicked off Thursday with a slate of three games, providing more teams and fans a look at some new rules that can impact first down measurements, touchbacks and more. The rule changes were approved by NFL owners over the summer. (Photo by) Getty Images First down measurements: First downs will no longer be measured by a chain gang, who have been replaced by Sony's Hawk-Eye virtual measurement system (the system was used in July's Hall of Fame game). Touchbacks: Touchbacks for kickoffs have been moved from the 30-yard line to the 35-yard line, incentivizing the kicking team to keep the ball in play or have to deal with their opponents being a short trip away from reaching field goal range. Replay Assist: Five additional penalties can be overturned by referees using replay assist, which can be used to review face masks, running into the kicker, roughing the kicker, horse-collar tackles and hitting a defenseless player, though the assist cannot retroactively apply to a penalty not flagged on the field. Onside Kicks: Onside kicks are allowed at any point during games as long as the kicking team is trailing the receiving team, a change from last year's controversial kickoff revamp that limited onside kicks to the fourth quarter. Overtime Possessions: Though it will not apply to preseason games, fans should keep an eye out for regular season overtime starting in September, when both teams will be guaranteed to possess the ball in the 10-minute period, unless the clock runs out on the opening possession. Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts : We're launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day's headlines. Text 'Alerts' to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here . Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jalyx Hunt was fined $5,690 for doing a bow and arrow celebration during Super Bowl LIX. That celebration will not be considered wrongdoing in the 2025 season, so long as players do not point the imaginary bow and arrow at opponents, according to CBS Sports. Following the Hall of Fame Game between the Los Angeles Chargers and Detroit Lions in July, six teams are playing Thursday. The Indianapolis Colts are playing against the Baltimore Ravens in the 7 p.m. EDT slot followed by the Philadelphia Eagles and Cincinnati Bengals at 7:30 p.m. EDT and the Las Vegas Raiders and Seattle Seahawks at 10 p.m. EDT. Key Background Recent NFL rule changes like the introduction of the dynamic kickoff in 2024 have been trying to strike a balance between increasing player safety and promoting more exciting play, though last year's change was widely panned as being confusing and not resulting in the additional action the league suggested. Under the new kickoff format designed to lessen the chance of big hits, there were 332 more kickoff returns in 2024 than in 2023, when the league recorded the lowest return rate in its history, but 64% of kickoffs still ended in touchbacks and thus were not returned. The league also added the option to wear guardian caps, a padded layer worn over helmets, in regular season games. A group of at least 20 players were spotted wearing the caps during the 2024 regular season, according to Further Reading Why Did The NFL Change Kickoff Rules? The 'Dynamic Kickoff' Explained—Ahead Of Ravens-Chiefs Opener (Forbes)
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
"League de-emphasized the physicality of the game" - Grant Hill explains how rule changes helped Steve Nash's Suns revolutionize basketball
"League de-emphasized the physicality of the game" - Grant Hill explains how rule changes helped Steve Nash's Suns revolutionize basketball originally appeared on Basketball Network. The Mike D'Antoni-coached Phoenix Suns changed the game forever. Their high-octane and positionless style, led by Steve Nash, became a precursor to the modern NBA game we see today. Legendary forward Grant Hill, a member of those Suns teams, claimed that while D'Antoni's system was revolutionary in itself, changes within the league also helped propel it to what it became. "That [D'Antoni] style of play changed things," Hill said in 2013, via ESPN. "A lot of the sets that people run, the thinking, the getting up and down are Phoenix and Mike D'Antoni's system. A couple of things came together and aligned perfectly. The league de-emphasized the physicality of the game, [made it] less physical, more scoring. I think they made a concerted effort to increase the scoring and not have these 84-85 ballgames." The banning of handchecking, reducing the back-court violation to eight seconds, and the legalization of zone defense were some of the rules that paved the way for faster and entertaining games. While most teams stuck to their old ways of orchestrating half-court sets and letting plays develop, D'Antoni was cooking up a system to take advantage of these new rules. Copycats The world first saw D'Antoni's radical offense in the 2004-05 season. The Suns led the league with 95.9 estimated possessions per 48 minutes. With Nash at the point guard spot, the Suns jacked up shots in less than seven seconds. Some were 3-pointers, while others were quick layups or dunks. Phoenix easily breached the 100-point mark, and more importantly, they were winning games. Other teams tried to integrate some of D'Antoni's principles into their playbooks. "It's a copycat league. People see something that works, they try it," Hill noted. "The same thing happened back in the '90s: very methodical, coaches called plays. A lot of trapping. It was a grind-it-out, physical, defensive battle. Maybe that started with the Pistons and was carried over by [Pat] Riley in the early '90s with the Knicks. Slowly teams started to incorporate that."Relentless Speaking on the "Mind the Game" podcast with LeBron James, Nash reflected on the Suns' timeless influence on the NBA. He observed that teams could not keep up their tempo. Nash and company did not waste time getting into their actions and sets. This constant pressure broke teams even before the final buzzer sounded. "I remember we started the year, I had like 31 and five or something. And I think what we noticed is, by the fourth quarter, teams were done. A lot of times, teams were done," Nash told LeBron James. "It was the relentless pace—pace after makes, getting it out, and I'm just going. Happy to throw ahead, or happy just to take it. If it's semi-transition or, you know, secondary break, we're straight into our drag action. We're running the floor. We're getting to it against a defense that's just trying to get back," the two-time MVP continued. Only a fool would call the Nash-led Suns bums. They may not have won a title but changed the game for good. If it weren't for the Suns, the NBA wouldn't be as entertaining and tactical as it is story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Prepare for confusion in new flag football season: 'Crazy stuff is going to happen'
With the City Section now having more girls flag football teams (93) than 11-man teams (71), the growing popularity of the sport is clear. But the sport faces a huge challenge when official action begins on Aug. 8 — rule changes. Confusion among all the stakeholders — coaches, players, officials, parents — is certain to take place in the early games. That was evident during a meeting on Wednesday. City Section coaches received a briefing from Nelson Bae, the section's rules interpreter. There were so many questions that City Section commissioner Vicky Lagos had to halt them or the meeting would have lasted for hours. Coaches were told to submit their questions later. A national rulebook was established by the National Federation of State High School Assns. and some of the changes are massive, such as the addition of punting and screen blocking. "Crazy stuff is going to happen," Bae told the coaches. "All of us are going to have to adjust. I've already seen some things, 'This is going to be a problem.'" Screen blocking could be a vocal point of confusion because, as Bae said, penalties could be called on every play similar to holding in 11-man football. No contact is allowed when blocking but deciding who made the contact and who receives the penalty will be the judgment call that could have parents yelling in the bleachers if they don't understand the correct interpretation. Coaches are having to train players not to use their hands and rushers can't run into moving screens or a penalty is supposed to be called. "Go around," Bae advised. It will be confusing in early games, particularly until everyone adjusts. There will be four playoff divisions, up from three last season, as the sport enters its third season in the City Section. Coaches have been seeking out soccer players to serve as punters. Prepare for the unexpected this fall. Sign up for the L.A. Times SoCal high school sports newsletter to get scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Sun
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Premier League will see more rule changes next season – when will this ever end? I have NO idea what football rules are
CLAUDIO RANIERI earned the nickname 'Tinkerman' during his spell at Chelsea as he was forever changing his player line-ups but that meddling moniker should surely now be passed on to football's governing bodies. Next season there will be more new rule changes. When will this ever end and are you, like me, baffled and bamboozled in equal measure as to what the actual rules of football are? 2 2 From next season goalkeepers will be penalised for holding on to the ball for more than eight seconds, with the punishment a corner to the attacking team. Referees are supposed to indicate when a keeper has held the ball for three seconds, giving him five more seconds to release it. Apparently, this new rule has been tried and tested and will be in place for next season. So what was wrong with the old rule which gave keepers six seconds to release, with punishment in the form of an indirect free-kick? Beats me. It was hardly ever enforced anyway. The body which has come up with this latest daft tinkering, I meant well-researched brainstorm, the International Football Association Board, must have spent ages on it. Probably in a well-stocked five-star hotel somewhere near Fifa's Swiss Alps headquarters. The purpose of this newest change is to cut down on time-wasting but how can extending possession from six to eight seconds do that? And also the fact that the 'old' rule was almost never imposed surely means it was a good rule. A bit like competent refereeing, if you don't know they are there, chances are the official is doing a decent job. Every year we are told greedy water companies will clean up their act and every season football makes changes which confuses the hell out of fans. Dirtying the waters, so to speak. We have had 'golden' goals, 'silver' goals, the advance ten-metre rule, you name it. If anyone can successfully tell me what the current rules around handball are, please let me know. As for VAR, well let's just say the jury is still out on that one. We have been told the introduction of Semi-Automated Offside Technology will solve the ridiculous amount of time it has taken Stockley Park assessors to actually reach a decision. Well, that wasn't true last weekend at the West Ham v Forest game, as that quick check we were promised turned into an excruciating six-minute delay as the offside technology was not working. And don't get me started on the financial fair play rules. Professor Brian Cox might be able to name all the stars in the sky but even he would struggle with that. I'm the first to admit that some changes have been of great benefit. In 1992, the introduction of the backpass rule where keepers cannot handle the ball when it has been deliberately kicked to them by a team-mate is one. When will this ever end and are you, like me, baffled and bamboozled in equal measure as to what the actual rules of football are? Karren Brady Goal-line technology came in 2012 following the uproar over the Frank Lampard World Cup 'goal-that-never-was'. That was another. But in recent seasons the dribble of rule changes has become a downpour. From allowing the kick-off to be taken in any direction, to teams now requiring a mandatory captain, complete with armband, to additional subs if a player has received a concussion injury. Have any of these actually improved fans' enjoyment? Just leave the game alone please. The International Football Association Board should adhere to the wise man, more likely wise woman, who said, if it isn't broke, don't fix it. Or to put it another way, stop bloody tinkering. I'm just waiting for the first referee next season who awards a corner after a keeper has transgressed this newest rule change. Cue hundreds of examples by irate fans where the 'offence' was not spotted. Football. They say it used to be a simple game which involved two jumpers and a ball. Not any longer.
BreakingNews.ie
11-05-2025
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
David Clifford relishing freedom as new rules create space for forwards
Kerry star David Clifford says he is enjoying the new dynamics introduced by recent rule changes, particularly the shift back to one-on-one duels and more space for forwards to operate. With blanket defences less prominent and teams no longer able to put 15 men behind the ball, forwards like Clifford have been quick to capitalise. The Fossa man scored 2-5 in Kerry's Munster final win over Clare last Sunday, helping the Kingdom to a fifth consecutive provincial title. Advertisement Having returned mid-way through the league, Clifford admitted it took time to adapt. "I came back in the middle of the league, so it was hard to get used to some of the rules," he said. "Once you get your head around them, it is very positive — both when you're playing in the games and even watching as a neutral." He believes the rule changes have brought back the traditional corner-forward battle. "As a corner forward, it's come back a bit more to the one-v-one duels, which is enjoyable. You go into a game marking the top full-back or corner-back — you're going to lose some balls and they're going to kick a score. Advertisement "The next play, you might win the ball. That dual element is very enjoyable. "I think you're seeing across the country now that some of the top corner-forwards are back playing well, getting scores and being more involved. The corner-forward taking on his man and scoring — I think that's one of the most enjoyable parts of the game to watch." With a Division One title and Munster silverware already secured this year, the focus inevitably turns to the All-Ireland — the one remaining prize in 2024 for Jack O'Connor's side. Clifford, who made his senior debut in 2018, lifted Sam Maguire in 2022 but has also suffered heartbreak, losing All-Ireland finals in 2019 and 2023 and falling to Armagh in last year's semi-final after extra-time. Advertisement "Any year you are unsuccessful is very disappointing, particularly in extra-time to Armagh," he said. "For them to go on and win it shows how close we were. "That's the general rule: if you don't win it, the next season you're trying to right those wrongs. "But you can't go through the whole season just thinking about the All-Ireland either, because you're wishing your life away in one sense. "It's something that drives you on more than it is pressure. It gives you massive motivation — but it's not something taking up your thoughts on a daily basis, because then your life is not going to be that enjoyable." Advertisement Last month, Kerry edged past Cork in extra-time in the Munster semi-final — a game Clifford said they would likely have lost in previous years. The 26-year-old believes that result, and the lessons from last season's defeat to Armagh, could prove crucial heading into the group stages. With Roscommon, Cork, and either Louth or Meath awaiting them, Clifford is anticipating more fine margins. "The margins are so small. You take Joe's goal — if that hits the crossbar and comes out, then we don't win the game. Advertisement "All you're trying to do really is put yourself into those situations as much as possible. Whether that's in training or league games, you're trying to get used to those stressful moments, so that when it happens in a big game, it's not the first time you've been there." Reflecting on last year's journey, Clifford added: "Against Armagh, we went through the group stage winning handy enough. Even the quarter-final against Derry — while it was tight, we weren't behind for long. "All of a sudden, you're trailing in a big game and you haven't really experienced that. It's just about putting yourselves in those situations and learning from them."
