XFL Rules Cheat Sheet for Game Day

XFL Rules Cheat Sheet for Game Day

 

Coinflip or Not: No, home team will have choice to defer to second half. Visitors have choice in OT.

 

Kickoffs: The kicker will be lined up on their 25-yard line. The rest of the kicking team will be spread out across the return teams 35-yard line. 10 players on the return team will be spread out 5 yards away on their 30-yard line. The returner will be back between the 20-yard line and endzone.

 

The kicker must kick the ball in the air and have it land between the 20-yard line and endzone. Kickoffs into the endzone and downed will see the ball on the 35-yard line. If the ball bounces through the endzone it will be placed on the 15-yard line. Kickoffs short of the 20 or out of bounds on the side will result in the ball on the 45-yard line. The 20 players in the scrimmage zone can’t move until the ball is caught or 3 seconds after it hits ground.

 

Note: There will be no surprise onside kicks. Team must notify officials and then the teams will line up in the traditional NFL still kickoff and rules for that kickoff.

 

Double-forward Pass: Teams will be permitted to throw up to two forward passes from behind the line of scrimmage as long as the ball didn't go beyond the LOS at any time during the play.

 

One Foot Inbounds on Passes: Besides securing the ball as normal, a receiver only needs one foot inbounds (or any body part) to successfully make a reception when catching a ball on the sidelines.

 

Point After Touchdown: No kicking. Teams will run a scrimmage play from the 2, 5 or 10-yard line. Which will result in 1, 2 or 3 points respectively. Defense can return the ball for a score equal to what the offense was trying to score.

 

Punts: All players including gunners can’t release until ball is kicked. Any kick going out of bounds inside the return teams 35-yard line will be considered a Major Touchback and the ball placed on the 35-yard line, as will any kick going into or out of the end zone.

 

Overtime: Shootout style with 5 plays from the 5-yard line for each team, 2 points per play. Plays will alternate between teams, with the visiting team having the option to go first or second. The highest score at end of 5 plays determines the winner. If tied after 5 plays for each team then the game will go to sudden death. Defense can’t score, only stop the play.

 

Notes: If a team gets mathematically eliminated before 5 plays the game stops right then.

 

If defense commits a penalty the offense tries again from 1-yard line. If the defense commits another penalty during the entire OT period, it results in an offensive score each time.

If the offense creates a pre-snap penalty the ball goes back pursuant to regular play rules. If the offense creates a post-snap penalty the play is over with no score awarded.

 

25-second Play Clock: Teams will have 25 second play clock once the ball is spotted. NFL uses 40 from end of play.

 

Running Game Clock: After incompletions or out of bounds plays the game clock will not stop. Other traditional game stops like timeouts, referee stops, and TV will still be in place.

 

Comeback Period; During last two minutes of each half: After incompletions and out of bounds plays the clock will instead stop until the ball is snapped. On plays that end inbounds the clock will be stopped until the ball has been spotted and 5 seconds have been run off the play clock.

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