XFL 2001 Rulebook

XFL 2001 RULEBOOK

Coin Toss
There will be no coin toss. Instead, a chosen member of each team will dash to the center of the field starting from 15 yards away. The first one to reach the ball, and maintain possession gets to choose whether they want to receive the ball or kick-off.

No Fair Catches
There will no fair catches on all punts. To protect the punt returners, members of the kicking team must stay five yards away from the returner until the ball is caught, or else there will be a penalty. Punts of more than 25 yards will be a live ball, recoverable by either team.

Play Clock
Unlike the CFL and the NFL where the play clock is 20 seconds and 40 seconds respectively, the XFL league will utilize a 35 second play clock between plays when the clock has been stopped. Teams will get 25 seconds to prepare themselves when there is no stoppage in time.

Quarterback Rules
XFL quarterbacks will be down if they slide, and cannot be hit afterwards. Otherwise the quarterback is free to be hit unless he throws the ball away in time. A quarterback is deemed down when his forward progress is stopped, thus there is no "in-the-grasp" rule. Head slaps are stated illegal in the XFL.

Offense/Defense
Offensively, one player may be in forward motion outside of the tackles. The XFL returned to the good old days of pass defense as defensive backs will be able to employ the "bump and run" all the way down the field. Later, the league eliminated the "bump and run" rule beginning with week 5. Defensive players will only be allowed to bump offensive players within five yards of the line of scrimmage.

One Foot Inbounds
Just like in College football rules, the XFL will require that a receiver or defender need only one foot inbounds to make a reception or interception. If after catching the football with one foot inbounds the player is still inbounds, he can continue heading downfield towards the endzone.

Punting/Returning
Players from the kicking team will not be able leave the line of scrimmage until the ball is kicked. The returning teams must run kickoffs back out of the end zone, unless the kick carries through the end zone. Along with the No Fair Catch rule, there are no touchbacks. If the ball is punted out of bounds a 10 yard penalty is given out.

Point After
After a touchdown, teams need to pass or run into the endzone from the one for the extra point. If there is a fumble or interception, the defending team can return the ball to the opposite endzone for a one point of its own. On April 4, 2001, the league has modified its point after touchdown rule. Beginning in the playoffs, teams can go for two points at the five-yard line, or for three at the 10-yard line. Under the new rule, should the defensive team return a turnover for a score it will receive the number of points the offense would have received.

Overtime
EACH TEAM WILL GET THE BALL AT LEAST ONCE:

Each team will have four downs from the opponent's 20-yard line. Team A may not attempt a field goal until fourth down. If Team A scores a touchdown in less than four downs then team B must score in the same number of downs. There will be PAT attempts.

THE BREAKDOWN:
A. Each team will have a possession Exception: Team B intercepts a pass or fumble and returns it for a score. Game over.
B. Ball will be placed on the 20-yard line. No 1st down possible.
C. Team A cannot attempt a field goal until 4th down.
D. If a touchdown is scored by the first team in overtime on either 1st , 2nd , 3rd , or 4th down the team on defense must match the down and the score or be declared the loser.
E. If no touchdown was scored by the first team in overtime, the defense can waive the first three downs and choose a fourth down to attempt a field goal to win the game.
F. PAT attempts will be from the 2-yard line.
G. The defense can return an interception or a fumble for a score. A scrimmage down returned for a touchdown = 6 points. A returned PAT = 1 point.
H. If you score a touchdown and on the try Team B intercepts and returns it for a score, they get one point and the ball on the 20-yard line for a chance to win. Exception: When the team that was on defense first has a PAT returned for a score after the original offensive team had already scored.
Example: Team A scores a TD = 6 points but misses the PAT. Team B scores a TD = 6 points. On their PAT, Team A intercepts a pass and returns it for a 1-point score. Team A wins 7-6.
I. If neither team scores or both teams score the same number of points overtime will continue until a winner is declared. The team on defense during the first overtime will be on offense for the second overtime.

XFL 2001 Tie-Breaker System
1) Head-to-head record versus all other teams finishing with the same record in the division.
2) Best won-loss record in games played within the division.
3) Best net points in division games
4) Best net points in all games
5) Greater point differential in head-to-head games
6) Best net touchdowns in all games
7) Coin toss
NOTE: If two or more clubs remain tied after third or other clubs are eliminated during any other step, tiebreaker reverts to step 1 of the two-club format.