Arena Football 101

The game of Arena Football is a great invention. Two weekends ago, the EverydayQB travelled to Boise for a weekend getaway and had an opportunity to watch the afl2 Boise Burn play in a shootout agains the Tri-Cities Fever. Of course, every Arena Football game is a shootout. The indoor, fast-paced football is backyard football meets roller derby which makes for an exciting and entertainig atmosphere. Here are some of the basic rules of Arena Football that differ from standard football:

THE FIELD

• An indoor padded surface 85 feet wide and 50 yards long with eight-yard end zones.
• Goal posts are nine feet wide with a crossbar height of 15 feet (NFL goal posts are 18-1/2 feet wide with the crossbar at 10 feet).
• The goal-side rebound nets are 30 feet wide by 32 feet high. The bottoms of the nets are eight feet above the ground.
• Sideline barriers are 48 inches high and made of high-density foam rubber.

THE PLAYERS AND FORMATIONS

• Eight players on the field; 20-man active roster; four-man inactive roster.
• Players play offense and defense with the exception of the kicker, quarterback, offensive specialist (the kick returner on defense) and two defensive specialists.
• Substitution: All non-specialists may substitute only once during each quarter.
• Four (4) offensive players must line up on the line of scrimmage.
• Three (3) defensive players must be down linemen (in a three of four-point stance). One linebacker may blitz on either side of the center. Alignment is two (2) or more yards off the line of scrimmage. No stunting or twisting.
• Offensive motion: Once receiver may go in forward motion before the snap.

TIMING

• Four 15-minute quarters with a 15-minute halftime.
• The clock stops for out-of-bounds plays or incomplete passes only in the last minute of each half or when the referee deems it necessary for penalties, injuries or timeouts.
• Each team is allowed three (3) time-outs per half

THE KICKING

• Kickoffs are from the goal line. Kickers may use a one-inch tee.
• Punting is illegal. On fourth down, a team may go for a first down, touchdown or field goal.
• The receiving team may field any kickoff or missed field goal that rebounds off the net.
• Any kickoff untouched which is out of bounds will be placed at the 20-yard line or the place where it went out of bounds, whichever is more advantageous to the receiving team.

PASSING

• Passing rules in Arena Football are the same as outdoor NCAA Football in which receivers must have one foot inbounds. A unique exception involves the rebound nets. A forward pass that rebounds off of the end zone net is a live ball and is in play until it touches the playing surface.

The game itself is a fast-paced, high scoring montage of great hits and great catches. The atmosphere is also exciting. Players fall over the boards into the stands, then get up and high five everyone in the crowd. Head coaches are on the field, calling plays and chatting with the stands in the front row, and every player on the team signs autographs after the game. The Arena Football Game is giving fans and players alike the chance to enjoy the game of football, making it competitive and entertaining to watch, as well as providing opportunities for young men to grow and improve their skill.

Check back tomorrow for an inside look at how the community supports afl2 teams.