Off-season Rule Change

[Stats Junkie]

There are 3 stats that the CFL currently doesn't track that are under consideration. All three have been programmed into the Genius stats system but currently turned off.

1. Half Sacks - last tracked by the CFL in 1984, the half sack is once again being considered. A half sack would only be applied in situations where two players are equally deserving of a sack. I believe there is a very good chance we see this in 2025.

Note: the NFL rule book allows for a half sack to be awarded to 3 players if they all contributed to a sack. This will not be the case in the CFL

2. Tackle Assists - the CFL is considering tackle assist as a stat. A tackle assist would only be awarded in situations where 2 players are equally involved in a tackle. The draw back to this stat is that the Genius system was programmed for NCAA where tackle assists get full value as tackles. This stat would be more likely to be adopted if the system followed the NFL rules where tackle assists are a separate stat.

3. QB Pressures - QB Pressures was a CFL stat for one season (2017) then got killed after one week in 2018. With PFF providing this stat, there are requests for the CFL to follow suit. Due to some silly reasons (that I won't discuss here) I don't see this one happening soon.

[Jesse]

Would like to see all of those included.

[Jockitch]

Personally have always wanted to see the CFL add more seconds between plays. Such as going to 25 seconds which gives teams a bit more opportunity to call audibles, have less appearances of disorganization and of course play calling from the OC
Not to mention the Defence using that extra few seconds

At the end of a game, the fans shouldn't be griping that they got extra cold due to added time possibly used

[TecnoGenius]

2. Tackle Assists - the CFL is considering tackle assist as a stat. A tackle assist would only be awarded in situations where 2 players are equally involved in a tackle. The draw back to this stat is that the Genius system was programmed for NCAA where tackle assists get full value as tackles. This stat would be more likely to be adopted if the system followed the NFL rules where tackle assists are a separate stat.

What would constitute an assist?  Like being in the way / corralling a player back towards the final tackler?  Or physically touching/slowing but not bringing down?

[TecnoGenius]

Personally have always wanted to see the CFL add more seconds between plays. Such as going to 25 seconds which gives teams a bit more opportunity to call audibles, have less appearances of disorganization and of course play calling from the OC

Ya, but the CFL stops the clock much of the time already.  If you watch the time between plays, there's really not much difference between NFL and CFL.  We just achieve it differently.

If they added more time to our 20s playclock, it might result in crazy delays between plays compared to the NFL.

[DM83]

On a different note. Are we mistakenly going to use the stupid NFL kickoff rule.

[TecnoGenius]

On a different note. Are we mistakenly going to use the stupid NFL kickoff rule.

For the love of all that is holy I hope not!  I'm seeing that for the first time as I tune into the NFL post-season (the only NFL I watch all year).  It's horrible!  Just as hokey and lame as the XFL or AAF or whatever league dreamed it up.

And it doesn't seem to be helping anyhow?  I saw a blocker get blown up anyways, thought I don't remember the game.

Our KO returns really don't result in too many injuries.  I think that huge blowup late '23 is the last big one.

[theaardvark]

No need for NFL KO rules.  We have the halo.  If anything, the NFL should adopt our KO rules rather than those USFL type ones.

The only rule I'd love to see changed is the onside kick rule.  I love the USFL one, instead of an onside kick, you can take the ball 3rd and 15 at your 35(45).  One shot at getting a penalty or making 15 yards. So much more fun than the on side kick, and much safer... and it frees the team up from practicing a stupid play that is rarely needed.  Practicing a 3rd and 15 play instead of an onside kick play can be much more useful during the game.

[TecnoGenius]

The only rule I'd love to see changed is the onside kick rule.  I love the USFL one, instead of an onside kick, you can take the ball 3rd and 15 at your 35(45).  One shot at getting a penalty or making 15 yards. So much more fun than the on side kick, and much safer... and it frees the team up from practicing a stupid play that is rarely needed.  Practicing a 3rd and 15 play instead of an onside kick play can be much more useful during the game.

I like our OSK.  I also like how teams are getting creative with the ground kicks.

I'm not sure anyone ever got hurt on our OSKs, except for maybe the guy going up for it and overextending.  There is not enough time or space to get a full run going.

3rd & 15 is too easy.  Remember when BLM was dominating in CGY?  Ya, he'd convert 15 or 20 yards every single time against us.  I don't want a team that is so dominant having a way to basically possess the ball forever.

With our existing OSK it doesn't matter how good a team is: there's a massive amount of luck involved... and the QB quality has nothing to do with it.

[ModAdmin]

Tweek in the rules governing training camp rosters...

"Draft picks have always been considered non-counters for their first camp and that will continue, allowing Canadian rookies to develop without the pressure of being axed for numbers after a couple of days. However, teams were informed via a memo in November that players from previous draft classes who had been sent back to school to complete their U Sports eligibility would no longer be automatically granted this exempt status for a second training camp."

https://3downnation.com/2025/03/30/opinion-subtle-tweak-to-cfl-training-camp-roster-rules-could-mean-less-opportunities-for-canadian-development/

[Blue In BC]

Tweek in the rules governing training camp rosters...

"Draft picks have always been considered non-counters for their first camp and that will continue, allowing Canadian rookies to develop without the pressure of being axed for numbers after a couple of days. However, teams were informed via a memo in November that players from previous draft classes who had been sent back to school to complete their U Sports eligibility would no longer be automatically granted this exempt status for a second training camp."

https://3downnation.com/2025/03/30/opinion-subtle-tweak-to-cfl-training-camp-roster-rules-could-mean-less-opportunities-for-canadian-development/

Wouldn't this also apply to global players? We'll have 2 that would have previously been non counters?

[Jesse]

Wouldn't this also apply to global players? We'll have 2 that would have previously been non counters?

Are globals non-counters in the first place. Isn't there a minimum requirement, not the other way around?

[ModAdmin]

Are globals non-counters in the first place. Isn't there a minimum requirement, not the other way around?

"Each team may have a maximum of 45 players (min. 44), including three quarterbacks, at least one global player, 21 national players including one nationalized American. Teams can dress a maximum of 19 Americans not including quarterbacks and the nationalized American.

https://www.cfl.ca/game-rule-ratio/

[Blue In BC]

Are globals non-counters in the first place. Isn't there a minimum requirement, not the other way around?

As far as I know they are since they are drafted each year.

[theaardvark]

Interesting that having a NAT QB counts towards ratio for starters, but does not affect the DI's.  Just because you have a NAT QB you don't get an additional INT elsewhere...