American Football

I know next to to nothing about it. I couldn't tell you who the current Super Bowl champion is. That said I've been watching a few games, trying to understand the game. It appears to have several limitations which means it will never gain wide acceptance internationally. It can be entertaining though, I enjoyed watching the Bengals choke the other day. These NFL players seem to lack the ability to protect the ball when in possession of it, you'd think these highly paid athletes would be able to do that, but they cannot.

The game is similar to Rugby Union, but more similar to Rugby League.

Where do I think American football goes wrong? There doesn't appear any incentive to keep the ball in play or to make play continuous. This has me scratching my head.

I've come up with some rule changes to address this. I've not tried to change the rules too much, instead tweaking to make playing the ball, and playing the ball with the foot important - hence foot-ball.

Rule changes, in order of importance:-

1. The Quarterback cannot intentionally throw the ball out. The ball must be kicked or run out or passed to another player or kept in hand. This makes skill a component of Quarterback play.

2. The ball must be touched down when a touchdown is scored. If the ball simply crosses the plain the score is worth 4 points.

3. Play does not end when a knee goes down. This has to be the silliest thing I've seen. Play only ends when the ball touches the ground (fairer). This way, both players can contest the ball, and tacklers must hold the player and get him down, while if not held the player with the ball can commence running again (so long as the ball did not touch the ground).

If a player is held up and is not advancing then it can be called ball grounded.

I wouldn't allow intentional ball grounding unless a touchdown. Intentional grounding - the equivalent of taking a knee - would be a penalty and loss of possession.

In fact a lot of penalties would result in loss of possession; such as, time wasting, foul play, and so on.

4. Punts must always be returned until a tackle is made or the ball is kicked out. No running out or taking a knee (see 3 above too) or fair catch stuff. The receiver can kick the ball out though, if he chooses. Play resumes from where the kick was made. (I would not scrap the fair catch as it could still happen from a  kick in general play, just not from a punt directly following a snap).

6. Only skull caps may be worn, no helmets.