United Football League (2009) - Rules

Rules

In an approach similar to previous football leagues, the UFL mostly adheres to standard NFL and football rules with a few differences of note:

• No "Tuck Rule" – In the NFL, if a passer brings his arm forward in a passing motion and then loses possession of the ball as he is attempting to tuck it back toward his body, it is considered a forward pass (and thus an incomplete pass if the ball hits the ground). This "tuck rule" is one of the most controversial rules in the NFL; in the UFL, however, an identical play is called a fumble. The tuck rule was eliminated by the NFL in 2013.
• Blitzing/Rushing – On each play, the defense must use four down linemen who must be in a 3- or 4-point stance at the snap. No more than six defenders can rush the passer. Penalty for violating this rule is illegal defense (signaled as unsportsmanlike conduct), with a 15-yard penalty and a first down. This rule is meant to both protect the quarterback and encourage more scoring. A similar rule has been in effect for the NFL's Pro Bowl for several years.
• Intentional grounding – A quarterback is allowed to intentionally ground the ball to avoid a sack, provided he gets the throw back to the line of scrimmage. He does not have to be outside the pocket to do so.
• Fumbling out of the end zones – If the ball is fumbled forward into and out of the end zone, it is placed back at the spot of the fumble, whereas in the NFL this play is ruled a touchback and possession goes over to the defending team.
• Instant replay – As opposed to the NFL, where the referee reviews disputed plays (other than turnovers, scoring plays, and plays inside the two-minute warning) through a video monitor on the sidelines, all UFL replay reviews are viewed upstairs by a replay official, who has 90 seconds to make a ruling.
• Touchdown celebrations – Player celebrations (individual or group) are permitted only in the end zones or the bench areas.
• Overtime – Starting in 2010 (for the playoffs) and 2012 (for all other games), the NFL has adopted a modified sudden death overtime, where sudden death occurs only if the opening drive of overtime ends in a touchdown (before, any score would immediately end the extra session). The UFL has from its inception employed an overtime system that assures each team at least one possession. Therefore, if the first team scores on their opening drive (even if it is a touchdown), their opponent is then given the opportunity to equal that score on the next drive, or surpass it if the other team's first drive resulted in anything less than a touchdown and 2-point conversion. If both teams remain tied after each has had one possession, overtime then reverts to sudden death. If the score remains tied after 15 minutes, the game ends in a tie, except that post-season games will be played to a victorious conclusion. The first application of the OT rules occurred during the first UFL championship game in 2009 when Las Vegas won on a field goal after the first possession by Florida ended in an interception.