UFL tinkers with rules
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ARLINGTON, Texas -- The UFL is moving the touchback on kickoffs into the end zone to the 35-yard line and eliminating the onside kick, leaving a fourth-down conversion as the only option for a team tied or trailing in the fourth quarter to maintain possession after scoring.
The rules in spring leagues were the catalyst for dramatic changes to the kickoff in the NFL last season. The UFL put touchbacks at the 25 a year ago, while the NFL settled on the 30. There have been discussions among NFL teams about moving the touchback to the 35 for balls kicked into the end zone.
The eight-team UFL is moving the kickoff to the 30 after kicking from the 20 last season.
The remaining 10 players on the kickoff team will move to the 40 after being at the 20 with the kicker a year ago.
UFL teams had the option of attempting an onside kick at any point last season. Any team tied or trailing in the fourth also could try to convert a fourth-and-12 from its 28 to keep possession. The changes announced leave the fourth-down play as the only option.
The second season will begin the weekend of March 28-30.