Introduction to USFL:
Time:
- Regulation Time:
- USFL, like NFL, is broken down into FOUR (4) fifteen (15) minute quarters.
- Play clock: 35 seconds (25 for administrative stops)
- The game clock stops for first downs inside the final two minutes of the second and fourth quarters.
- Game clock will run continuous during the 1st and 3rd quarters regardless of an incomplete pass or player out of bounds.
- There is a commercial break timeout between the 1st to 2nd quarter break as well as the 3rd to 4th quarter break.
- There is a 15 minute break between the 2nd and 3rd quarters for halftime.
Overtime:
Overtime will be a shootout:
- Each team alternates 1-play possessions from the 2-yard line (each score is worth 2 points).
- Each team gets up to 3 plays, the team that scores the most points wins.
- If Team 1 scores on the first 2 plays and Team 2 doesn’t score (4-0), Team 1 will win.
- Sudden death is initiated if the game is tied after 3 possessions.
Extra Points:
After scoring, teams will have the option of attempting a 1-point kick from the 15-yard line, a 2-point scrimmage play from the 2-yard line, or a 3-point scrimmage play from the 10-yard line.
- Once the team has declared their choice they cannot change their extra point option (timeouts or penalties won’t allow changes).
- If a touchdown is scored on a 1 or 2-point try by either team, 2 points are awarded.
- If Team A scores a touchdown on a 3-point try, then 3 points are awarded; if Team B scores a touchdown on a 3-point try, then 2 points are awarded.
Onside Kick vs Scrimmage Play:
Teams will have two options to keep the ball after scoring:
- An onside kick from the 25-yard line.
- Running a 4th-and-12 play from their own 33-yard line. If a team makes a first down, it keeps the ball; if it fails, the defense gets the ball.
Kickoffs/Punts:
All kickoffs must be made from the 25-yard line:
- No kicking team member may line up any further back than one yard. The receiving team must have a minimum of eight players in the set-up zone between their 35- and 45-yard lines
- After a kickoff travels 20 yards, the first touch must be by the receiving team. If untouched, the kick becomes dead, and the ball belongs to the receiving team at that spot.
- For punts, gunners may not line up outside the numbers and can’t be double-team blocked until the ball is kicked.
Replays:
Each coach gets one replay challenge.
- The replay crew can overrule incorrect personal foul calls (roughing the passer, hits on defenseless players, facemasks, horse collars, etc.). They will also be responsible for determining whether the act of pass interference is obviously intentional when it occurs 15 yards beyond the line of scrimmage.
Forward Passes:
- Teams are allowed to throw two forward passes from behind the line of scrimmage.
Penalties:
- Defensive pass interference: A defender intentionally tackling a receiver beyond 15 yards becomes a spot foul.
- Also, the penalty is a spot foul if it occurs 15 yards or less from the line of scrimmage or a 15-yard penalty from the line of scrimmage if the spot of the foul is beyond 15 yards.
- Offensive pass interference: If a pass doesn’t cross the line of scrimmage, there are no pass interference or ineligible player downfield penalties.
