CFL to move hashmarks closer to the centre of field in 2022

The league returned to the field last season after skipping the 2020 campaign due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But many cited a drop-off in the level of play as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (23 offensive points per game) were the league’s top-scoring team and Montreal Alouettes (371.8 yards per game) boasted the top-gaining offence.

Last year’s average attendance dropped to 19,164 compared to 22,917 in 2019 when the Hamilton Tiger-Cats led the CFL in scoring (26.1 points per game) and offence (393.7 yards per game).

This year, the CFL will move its hashmarks closer to the centre of the field (28 yards from the nearest sideline rather than 24). That means they’ll be nine yards apart rather than 17. Since all plays start with the ball between the hashmarks, the change will make more of the field available for offences.

“For me, it goes back months listening to some of our GMs and coaches explain this,” Ambrosie said. “Here’s what they say: When you’re on the left hash, there is no coach that wants that ball thrown to the right sideline because it’s just too far and that ball is going to be in the air a long time.

“What this does now is make the entire field part of an offence’s canvas. When one of the features of your game is a large field, then you learn through conversations with football guys that you’re not really using that field the way it was designed to be used and you have an elegant solution to bringing the entire field back into play, I think you have to consider that a success.”

Following a field goal or single, offences will now start from the 40-yard line rather than the 35. And teams kicking off to start a game or following a TD will do so from the 30-yard line rather than the 35.

Kickoffs following a safety will now be from the 20-yard line rather than the 25.

“The closer you are to your end zone the more cautious you are,” Ambrosie said. “This just takes that one step closer to an offence being able to go out there and play football and activate its entire offensive playbook because you’ve taken away some of the risk from a field position point of view.

“I think we’re going to see offensive co-ordinators send their guys out with the intention of every new drive being a scoring opportunity. That to me is exciting.”

Defensive co-ordinators, however, likely won’t share Ambrosie’s enthusiasm.

“I think our defensive co-ordinators will have their work cut out for them but they’re a very talented bunch,” Ambrosie said. “Don’t think for a moment they won’t come up with some solutions.”

Other changes include:

— All no-yard penalties will be 15 yards. Previously, teams were penalized five yards if a punt hit the ground first and 15 yards if they infringed upon the five-yard area around a returner while the ball was still in the air. Also, punts that go out of bounds before reaching an opponent’s 15-yard line will result in a penalty rather than only those that go out before the 20-yard line.

— Two quarterbacks will be allowed on the field simultaneously so long as all other ratio rules are satisfied.

— A communications co-ordinator from the officiating department connected to the on-field crew via headset will be on each team’s bench. That will allow for information to be shared with coaches without the referee coming to the sidelines, thus improving game flow.

— Any penalty occurring at the end of the first and third quarters will be assigned at the start of next quarter rather than triggering an extension of the existing quarter.

— The command centre’s ability to help on-field officials — without a coach’s challenge or officials’ huddle — will now include possession and boundary rulings as well as administrative rulings like formations without an end or ineligible receivers downfield.

— Quarterbacks who fake giving themselves up on running plays will be flagged for objectionable conduct.

— Any player receiving two unnecessary roughness calls or two objectionable conduct penalties (or combination of the two) in a game will be ejected.

CFL training camps are scheduled to open May 15. Teams will play two exhibition games _ for the first time since 2019 _ and a full 18-game regular campaign opens June 9 with the Montreal Alouettes visiting the Calgary Stampeders.

The Grey Cup will be held Nov. 20 in Regina.

“I’ve said for a while now, take me to a game that’s 49-49 with a minute remaining,” Ambrosie said. “I know regardless of the final outcome, fans will go home happy.

“I think these changes are going to give us a chance to play real, wide-open CFL football and it’s going to have a very positive affect on fan enjoyment.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 27, 2022.

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

CFL to move hashmarks closer to the centre of field in 2022

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