Possible rules changes for 2009

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

1. The purpose of the numbering requirements was to eliminate confusion.

OK as far as it goes, but the confusion it was supposed to eliminate was the defense's confusion as to which players to cover as potential pass receivers. It's like a number of other changes that've been made over the years that took away specific ways the offense could deceive the defense, even ways that'd been in common use for long periods of time. Some of those methods were considered unfair -- hiding the ball under clothes comes to mind as an example of that -- but others were just matters of taste.

Alternatives to this particular one have been given a little try. The WFL at least experimented with the use of a contrasting color of helmet to identify eligible receivers. The expense of helmets precludes their use in such a manner by players who wish to participate at both eligible & ineligible positions. And I wish someone would impress on kids that sitting on helmets can damage them -- that they're made to take impacts, not sustained force.

Robert