Alliance of American Football: What’s different from the NFL?

The AAF is offering fans football after the NFL season has ended. What is the difference in the AAF rules as compared to the NFL? Fans will notice the Alliance of American Football is offering a similar game to the NFL. The differences in the two leagues include no kickoffs, overtime rules and defensive formations.

There are no kickoffs in the AAF. Teams will start at their own 25-yard line after scores and at the beginning of each half. The elimination of kickoffs is one of the ways the AAF is looking to increase player safety.

The AAF’s play clock is 35 seconds, five seconds shorter than the NFL.

If a game goes into overtime both teams receive the ball, but the game can end in a tie after each team’s possession. Each team gets the ball on the 10 yard line with four downs. There are no field goals allowed in overtime.

Teams must go for two after touchdowns as way to add excitement to the next play after a TD. Field goals are allowed in regulation but are not part of the overtime format.

In addition to faster games, the AAF wants to promote high scoring games. To do this, the league has implemented an illegal defense penalty. Teams cannot have more than five players rushing at a time.

Since there are no kickoffs, this means there are no onside kicks in the AAF. Instead, teams can opt to have the ball in a fourth-and-12 situation, but the team must be trailing by 17 points or more.

Onside kicks are not a part of The Alliance and instead “onside conversions” will be a new addition. If a team is trailing by 17 points or more inside of five minutes remaining in a game, they must convert a fourth-and-12 from their 28 in order to keep the ball.

AAF officials will have the assistance of the sky judge, who can make player safety calls from the press box as well as pass interference calls with five minutes remaining in the game.

The image used as the header for this blog is courtesy of the AAF.