Arena Football, RIP

[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