In-Depth
XFL: Alterations
Five ways the XFL is shaking up the rules and getting fans closer to the game
1
Exciting kickoffs and post-touchdown plays:
The kicker will kick off from the 25-yard line. The coverage team will line up on the return side 35-yard line, and the return team will line up on the 30-yard line. Players can move only when the ball is touched by the returner, or three seconds after the ball touches the ground. The goal is to make kickoffs safer for players while preserving its excitement. Following touchdowns, the XFL is doing away with the point-after kick. Teams can run a play from the 2-, 5- or 10-yard line. If the play is successful, it will be worth one, two or three points, respectively.
2
Fast football:
Instead of using a 40-second clock like the NFL, the XFL will implement a 25-second play clock. A dedicated ball spotter — that's his only job — will help minimize time between plays. The XFL hopes to play each game in less than three hours, so outside of the last two minutes of each half, the game clock will run even after incomplete passes and out-of-bounds plays. What’s more, halftime will be only 10 minutes long.
3
Fan engagement:
Details are still pending, but the goal is to bring fans closer to the action and humanize players. The league has been discussing giving portions of the fan base — perhaps season-ticket holders — access to the field pre- or postgame. Fans may be able to get autographs from players before the game. The XFL has also been working on having groups of children on the field with the players before each game for the national anthem.
4
In-game interviews:
Fans won’t have to wait until the end of the game to hear from the star player. The broadcast partners will have the opportunity to conduct sideline interviews with players and coaches, especially following key plays such as a touchdown drive or momentum-shifting turnover. Fans in the stadium will see in-game interviews broadcast on the video screen.
5
Sounds of the game:
Multiple players are expected to wear microphones to give fans a better idea of what is occurring on key plays, especially if players offer off-the-cuff verbal reactions while coming off the field. It’s another example of how the XFL is trying to humanize players and create a narrative about how the game is unfolding in real time.
