What is a catch in the NFL? This is seemingly simple question has left many NFL fans scratching their heads wondering what the league considers a catch.
The league's Competition Committee meets every year to discuss potential changes to the rulebook, and this year, changing the catch rule has been at the forefront of those discussions. However, there are a number of other rules being adjusted as well.
As such, here is the committee's 2018 playing rules proposals summary:
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1.) By Competition Committee; Makes permanent the playing rule that changes the spot of the next snap after a touchback resulting from a free kick to the 25-yard line.
Effect: Makes permanent the Playing Rule that changes the spot of the next snap after a touchback resulting from a free kick to the 25-yard line.
Reason: Player safety.
2.) By Competition Committee; Changes standard for a catch.
Effect: Changes standard for a catch.
Reason: Simplification and clarification of the rule.
3.) By Competition Committee; Makes the penalties for Illegal Batting & Kicking the same.
Effect: Makes the penalties for Illegal Batting & Kicking the same.
Reason: Officiating consistency.
4.) By Los Angeles Chargers; Amends Rule 15, Section 2, Article 5 to add fouls for roughing the passer and fouls against players in a defenseless posture as reviewable plays in the instant replay system.
Effect: Expands reviewable plays to include fouls for roughing the passer and fouls against players in a defenseless posture.
Reason: Permits the Instant Replay system to correct an officiating error.
5.) By Washington; Amends Rule 15, Section 2, Article 5 to add review of personal fouls as reviewable plays in the instant replay system.
Effect: Expands reviewable plays to include fouls for roughing the passer and fouls against players in a defenseless posture.
Reason: Permits the Instant Replay system to correct an officiating error.
6. By New York Jets; Amends Rule 8, Section 5, Articles 1-4 to change the enforcement for defensive pass interference.
Effect: Changes the enforcement of defensive pass interference penalties from the spot of the foul to a 15-yard penalty unless the foul is determined to be intentional and egregious by the officiating crew.
Reason: To reduce the severity of the penalty for defensive pass interference.
7.) By Competition Committee; Authorizes the designated member of the Officiating department to instruct on-field game officials to disqualify a player for a flagrant nonfootball act when a foul for that act is called on the field.
Effect: Authorizes the designated member of the Officiating department to instruct on-field game officials to disqualify a player for a flagrant non-football act when a foul for that act is called on the field.
Reason: Integrity of the game.
8.) By Competition Committee; Conforms the amount of time in which a team must challenge a play if there is a television commercial break following the play in question.
Effect: Conforms the amount of time in which a team must challenge a play if there is a television commercial break following the play in question.
Reason: Pace of play.
9.) By Competition Committee; Eliminates the requirement that a team who scores a winning touchdown at the end of regulation of a game to kick the extra point or go for a two-point conversion.
Effect: Eliminate the requirement that a team who scores a winning touchdown at the end of regulation of a game to kick the extra point or go for two-point conversion.
Reason: Pace of Play.
10.) By Competition Committee; If there is a turnover, a team may win an overtime game, even though it scores on its second possession.
Effect: If there is a turnover, a team may win an overtime game, even though it scores on its second possession.
Reason: The game should not end until a down has been concluded.
The rules above are proposals only at this point.
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