The United Football League (UFL) announced a series of rule changes Tuesday, including the elimination of the “tush push” play, a tactic that gained prominence in the National Football League. The UFL will also award four points for field goals of 60 yards or longer and has restricted punting within certain field positions.
The decision to ban the “tush push” – described by the UFL as a play where the quarterback drives forward, assisted by teammates physically pushing him into the offensive line – comes after the NFL opted not to revisit a potential ban for its own league. A proposal to eliminate the play in the NFL failed to gain approval last year, and NFL officials have indicated no further action is planned for the current offseason, according to reports.
Alongside the ban on the “tush push,” the UFL is implementing a significant scoring adjustment. Field goals successfully made from 60 yards or more will now be worth four points, a change intended to influence strategic decision-making during games. The league also announced a restriction on punting, prohibiting teams from punting the ball while inside their own 50-yard line, except within the final two minutes of either half.
Further modifications to game play include a change to the reception rule, aligning it with college football standards by requiring only one foot to be inbounds for a catch to be considered valid. The UFL is also altering the post-touchdown scoring options. Teams will now be able to attempt a one-point kick from the 33-yard line, in addition to the existing options of a two-point conversion attempt from the 2-yard line or a three-point conversion attempt from the 8-yard line. Previously, teams were limited to conversion attempts from scrimmage.
These rule changes follow the UFL’s adoption of a modified kickoff format, which has since been adopted by the NFL. The UFL, formed through the merger of the XFL and USFL, aims to serve as a testing ground for potential innovations in football, according to league officials.
The UFL season is scheduled to initiate on March 27.
