Arena Football, RIP

[HLin NC]

I really tried to watch it but ended up hating it. Its a shame NFL Europe was shut down.

[JugglingReferee]

I attended many games in Grand Rapids and loved the game! Sad to see it go.

[Texas Aggie]

Frankly, it wasn't missed this past year and won't be missed by many. Sorry for you guys that liked it.

[Robert Goodman]

I liked the concept, but not so much the execution, although I followed it a lot early, went to a couple of NY Knights games.

[Texas Aggie]

I would change it with the following:

-- actual sidelines; padding several yards back and coaches on the bench
-- essentially eliminate the kicking game, as the area is too small (don't know what to do about after a score and on 4th down, however)
-- make everyone eligible
-- I wouldn't allow the offensive player to get a 5 yard running start, but I would eliminate false start and motion rules for those outside the "tackle" (actually guard) box
-- all shifting legal

[bgates1970]

If Arena football is dead... what's with the UFL? Is it supposed to be like a Developmental League for Football?

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

I would change it with the following:

-- actual sidelines; padding several yards back

That's how it was at the start. I thought they moved at least closer over time to the right idea, i.e. the opposite of yours, which is to have those walls in play, as in the indoor soccer it was modeled on.

-- essentially eliminate the kicking game, as the area is too small (don't know what to do about after a score and on 4th down, however)

That would take away most of the raison d'etre of the patented feature of the game, the rebounding screens. However, the patent had expired by the time they ceased operations.

-- make everyone eligible

Well, yeah, if they didn't play 8 a side, which was a compromise they undertook to make the game resemble outdoor football more -- and resulted in their having to restrict the defenses to give the offense a chance in that crowded a space.

IIRC, the Indoor Football League is 6 a side. So are women's "Sixxes".

Robert

[VALJ]

And yet, even with AFL dying, the Richmond VA area (which has already shown it won't support and af2 team and it won't support an AIFL team) is now getting not one, but two minor league indoor-football teams. We're getting not only an AIFA team by a team in the IFL as well. Hell, the IFL even put their headquarters here!

I just don't understand it...