UFL League Rules: NFL Testing Ground Through Spring Football
Mike Pereira and Dean Blandino, who served as the heads of officiating in the USFL and XFL respectively, are teaming up to lay the groundwork for what the rules and officiating will look like in the UFL.
The USFL and XFL shared similarities in their rulebook last year, including concepts borrowed from the XFL in 2020 like timing rules, the overtime shootout format and double-forward passes.
So it stands to reason that the UFL will carry over those concepts in a hybrid fashion. The question becomes, will any new innovations be introduced?
With NFL executive VP of football ops Troy Vincent acting as a go-between for the two leagues, it's likely that any rules the NFL would like to see experimented with will see the light of day in the UFL.
The controversial and unorthodox XFL kickoff, which has an equal share of supporters and detractors, is legitimately in consideration for the NFL. The kickoff has proven effective in enabling returns and increasing safety, which are both paramount to the NFL's future vision for kickoffs. Expect it to be in the UFL.
A recent report by TSN's Dave Naylor at the CFL Winter Meetings suggests that the XFL kickoff is also in consideration for the great league up north. The CFL is looking to limit returns and improve safety in the league.
Despite all this, there is a possibility that the XFL kickoff doesn't make its way over to the UFL. There's talk that the USFL's version of pushing back kickoff to the 20-yard line, which ensures great field position and returns, remains a carryover concept, even though it doesn't address safety concerns.
The presentation and style of play in the UFL is where the league can make its biggest impact in setting the course for pro football moving forward. The level of transparency and use of technology by the USFL and XFL is what has set them apart and ahead of the NFL. Likewise, the UFL can immediately go places where the NFL can't because of red tape.
The UFL is on friendly terms with the NFL and is a partner in the football ecosystem. If done correctly, it can be a leader in the field as well.
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Mike Mitchell is a pro football writer/insider with decades of experience covering and following multiple leagues. He covers the New York Jets for TheJetPress.com at FanSided. He has also written for XFL Board and at Hub Publishing covering the CFL, XFL and USFL.