XFL Press Release: Jan 16, 2001 - XFL OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCES RULES HIGHLIGHTS (page 2)
       
 
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NO FAIR CATCHES
XFL OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCES RULES HIGHLIGHTS (page 2)
January 16, 2001

In addition to these rules changes, the XFL also announced that no game will end in a tie due to its "can you top this" overtime rule, in which both teams will get the ball at least once. Each team will get four downs to score from the opponent’s 20 yard line. However, if team A scores a touchdown in less that four downs, team B only gets that many downs to respond.

Should neither team score, or should each team score the same amount of points on the same down, the first time around, they'll do it again until there's a winner.

“We think we have come up with an innovative, unique and fair way to decide a game which tied after regulation,” said Keller. “We wanted both teams to get the ball at least once in overtime, but if the first team scores a touchdown on the first play, everyone in the building and everyone watching on TV will know that if the second team doesn’t put it in the end zone on the first play, the game is over.”

All of the league's rules will soon be available when the XFL distributes its first-ever Rules Book prior to the start of the season on February 3. All XFL rules will be posted on the league's Web site, XFL.com.

HOW DO XFL RULES DIFFER?
The major rule changes adopted include:

    · THE MOST EXCITING FOURTH DOWN IN FOOTBALL: 
    No fair catches are permitted, but the returning player is granted a 5-yard protected area or “halo” where a member of the kicking team may not encroach until the ball is touched, and the kicking team may not cross the line of scrimmage until the ball is punted. At the same time, any punt traveling more than 25 yards past the line of scrimmage is a live ball and can be recovered by either team.
    · POINT AFTER TOUCHDOWN: 
    There will be no kicking of extra points. Teams will run a play from the two-yard line, and will receive one point if the conversion is successful. During the conversion the clock will be running, therefore the defensive team can earn one point by returning a fumble or interception into the opponent’s end zone.
    · ONE FOOT INBOUNDS: 
    As per the current collegiate rule, a receiver/defender needs only one foot inbounds on a reception/interception.
    · SHORTER PLAY CLOCK: 
    Teams have 35 seconds to get a play off after previous play is ruled dead and 25 seconds following any clock stoppage.
    · OTHERS

One man on offense may be in forward motion outside of the tackles.
Defensive players may use bump-and-run tactics on offensive players down the field.
Returning teams must run kickoffs back out of the end zone, unless the kick carries through the end zone.
Head slaps are illegal.

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