New league has some unique rules

Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2001 | 10:56 a.m.

There will be no fair catch on punts and no point after touchdown kicks in the XFL, the new football league that includes the Las Vegas Outlaws which was developed by NBC and the World Wrestling Federation.

Under league rules, any punt traveling 25 yards or more will also be considered a live ball, recoverable by either team.

Instead of a fair catch rule, punt returners will have a 5-yard, no-tackle "halo" until the ball is caught, and members of the kicking team will not be able to leave the line of scrimmage until the ball is in the air.

In lieu of the point-after kick, scoring teams will have one down to run or pass the ball into the end zone from the opponent's 2-yard line. The clock will run during the play, and intercepted or fumbled balls can be run back by the defender for a one-point score of their own.

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