CFL rules tweaked just a bit for 2017

Most small changes relate to video review of penalties

REGINA After a couple of years of making significant changes to the Canadian football game, the CFL rules committee is recommending far fewer impactful tweaks in 2017.

Over the last two years, the league has introduced the ability for coaches to challenge penalty calls — or non-calls — like pass interference, illegal contact and roughing the passer.

The effects of those changes are still being felt, as the league works to get calls right while not destroying the flow of games with too many challenge flags.

This year, the rules committee is recommending status quo, for the most part.

“The game itself is in great shape,” CFL vice-president of officiating Glen Johnson said after rules committee meetings concluded at CFL Week.

“Highest scoring ever last year, highest quarterback efficiency ratings ever last year, the highest average return-on-kick ratio.

“There was a real feeling to not try to tinker too much with that. If we can stay in one spot for a little while with a lot of the rules of the game itself, I think the product will be better. Better officiating, better coaching, better playing.”

The committee did recommend some adjustments to coach’s challenges, the way some penalties are enforced, and the role of the video official.

The most significant change is something the league already implemented in the middle of last season — coaches must put a timeout at risk every time they throw a challenge flag.

That move led to a 15 per cent decrease in the number of first challenge flags thrown by coaches and a 29 per cent decrease in the number of second challenge flags thrown.

Other changes the rules committee will recommend to the competition committee and ultimately the board of governors include:

The league is working with its broadcast partner, TSN, and plans to have every possible review of a challenge take place during a commercial. The average review took a minute and 10 seconds last year.

The league will narrow criteria related to roughing the passer calls that can be challenged.

The committee recommended changing the value of a penalty on a low block on kick plays and on changes of possession from 10 to 15 yards. It will now be an unnecessary roughness penalty.

The committee recommended increasing duties of the video official.