Music: {allcanada} CFL RULES COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS REVIEW OF ALL SCORES

Thursday, March 1, 2012

{allcanada} CFL RULES COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS REVIEW OF ALL SCORES

The CFL wants to increase its use of video review for all scoring plays but has shelved a proposal that would have allowed coaches to challenge pass interference calls.

The league's rules committee has recommended that all scoring plays -- touchdowns, field goals, coverts and safeties be reviewed. Previously, teams had to spend a challenge to review a touchdown while scoring plays on kicks were not reviewable.

"Scoring plays have a great impact on the outcome of a game and putting in additional measures to ensure those calls are correct is prudent," said CFL director of officiating Tom Higgins. "When considering these types of changes, we also must consider the flow of the game and the duration of any challenge. For the vast majority of scoring plays, we believe that the replay official will confirm the scoring plays before the next play without a delay."

But a proposal to have pass interference calls be potentially overturned by a coach's challenge and video review was put off until next off-season, after the league has more time to study the matter and collect data on pass interference calls.

Another proposal would have changed defensive pass interference to a 15- or 25-yard penalty, instead of awarding the ball with a first down at the point of the infraction. It too will be discussed again next off-season.

Pass interference calls have been the most contentious in the CFL over recent seasons, resulting in the dismissal of an official following a blown call in a game at Winnipeg last season.

The league also addressed its recent epidemic of helmets coming off the heads of players by recommending two new rules. Play will now be blown dead when a ball carrier loses his helmet. And players who are not carrying the ball who lose their helmets will now be penalized if they attempt to continue participating in the play.

"Every year we task our rules committee to discuss ways to improve our already great game," said CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon. "The safety of our players is paramount and we continue to challenge ourselves to find new ways within our rule book to make the game safer for our athletes."

All proposals must be approved by the board of governors prior to the start of the season.