BAFA Rules Committee

Rule difference

Consequence/recommendation

British rules permit a league to allow the use of a kicking tee on field goal attempts. NCAA prohibits the use of a tee. (2-15-4-a-1)

This may have an impact on BCAFL who are the only league to adopt this. Our recommendation would be for them to do without tees. If that's not the case, they would need to request that an exceptional rule be created.

British rules include a definition of a coach. No NCAA equivalent. (2-27-13)

This rule allows us to exclude ejected coaches from the team area. We will move provisions for ejections from the team area into Rule 13.

British rules define a take-a-knee play. No NCAA equivalent. (2-30-5)

This rule was introduced because of a spate of fights near the end of games, but this has not been a problem in recent years. British rules disqualify players charging into opponents on a take-a-knee play. No NCAA equivalent. (9-1-2-r) Officials will be strongly advised to eject players causing problems on take-a-knee plays.

British rules require the teams to be in the team areas during the toss. NCAA rules say they may come to the 9-yard lines. (3-1-1)

This is not a crucial issue and we doubt anyone will notice the difference.

British games use a sudden death tiebreaker. NCAA uses an equal possession system. (3-1-3)

BSL have gone to the NCAA tiebreaker for 2004 and we strongly recommend other leagues to adopt it.

NCAA requires the use of the tiebreaker in all tied games. British rules allow leagues to determine if a tiebreaker is used during regular season games. (3-1-3)

The BSL do not use a tiebreaker for regular season games, and we envisage no problem if they wish to continue to this policy. We will adopt provisions in Rule 13 to permit this.

British rules allow for games of different lengths. NCAA allows only 15 min quarters. (3-2-1)

We will adopt provisions in Rule 13 to permit leagues to play shorter quarters.

British rules allow a “blowout” rule to be adopted. NCAA no equivalent. (3-2-2-h)

No league has ever adopted the blowout rule so this will not be missed.

Rules regarding suspended games differ. (3-3-3-c, d, e)

There have been no problems in fitting the playing rules to league regulations in this regard in the past, and we don't anticipate any in the future, provided we interpret a "conference" as being the equivalent of a league - which is not hard to do.

In British games, the two-minute warning can be a full-length timeout (like in the NFL). In NCAA, the timeout is only as long as it takes to inform the captains and coaches (3‑3‑8)

This is not a crucial issue and we doubt anyone will notice the difference.

In British rules, taking the ball off the field is a delay of game penalty - 5 yards. In NCAA it is unsportsmanlike conduct - 15 yards. (British 3-4-2-b-4, NCAA 9-2-1-a-2)

This happens very rarely and we don't believe will cause a problem. In 2004, officials will caution players that "next year that will be 15 yards".

In NCAA rules, the kickoff takes place from the 35-yard line (unless relocated by penalty). In British rules, the kickoff takes place 15 yards from halfway, to account for variations in field length. (6‑1‑1)

We will account for this (along with other field variation matters) in Rule 1.

British rules carry over all personal fouls on tries to the kick-off. NCAA only personal fouls against the passer, kicker, holder or snapper carry over. (8-3-3-b-1)

This is rare and we do not envisage any major problems with this.

British rules require disqualification of a player not on the team roster. No NCAA equivalent. (9-1-4-e)

League regulations regarding rosters (providing they meet the minimum standards of the BAFA Disciplinary Code) will prevail.

NCAA considers a player removing his helmet on field to be an unsportsmanlike act (15 yard penalty). No British equivalent. (9-2-1-a-1-e)

This happens very rarely and we don't believe will cause a problem. In 2004, when it happens officials will caution players that "next year that will be 15 yards".

British rules treat dissent with an official's decision as unsportsmanlike conduct (15 yard penalty). No NCAA equivalent. (9-2-1-a-1-e)

We will continue to regard dissent as an unsportsmanlike act even if not explicitly cited in rule.

In NCAA rules, a player who commits two unsportsmanlike fouls is ejected automatically. No British equivalent. (9-2-1 penalty)

We envisage some initial issues with this - it may result in a slightly higher number of ejections in the first season under this rule - but that they will disappear quickly as players come to realise that once they have been penalised once, the next offence is final (like in soccer). In 2004, when it happens officials will caution players that "next year that will mean automatic ejection".

British rules permit spiking the ball after an apparent touchdown. NCAA considers this unsportsmanlike conduct (15 yard penalty). (9-2-1-a-3-b)

This happens very rarely and we don't believe will cause a problem. In 2004, when it happens officials will caution players that "next year that will be 15 yards".

NCAA disqualify players with illegal cleats. No British equivalent. (9-2-2-d)

We do not envisage any problems with this.

British rules for fighting and the BAFA Disciplinary Code are simpler than NCAA's rules on suspensions. (9-5)

We will move provisions for suspensions under the BAFA Disciplinary Code into Rule 13.