- First, I would take out the game clock. It's unnecessary. The play clock would stay, but I'd set it to about 25 seconds. This would force teams to simplify their playbook, use no-huddle schemes, and think on their toes.
- Kicking and punting will be abolished. The game starts with a scrum-type lose-ball recovery at the 50-yard line. Each team will have to have their players backed up to their own 35 before the ref (or alternatively, a player) tosses the ball into play. For safety, it may be best to limit the number of players going for the ball, or just do like basketball and have a chosen individual from each team field the "tip-off". The ball cannot be advanced once recovered. It would merely be a means of establishing possession. No punts means a team must go for it on forth down.
- The game clock would be replaced by a baseball-style setup. Not getting 10 yards in 4 downs (down and distance subject to change) would force a side change and advance the game, similar to 3 outs in baseball. If a team scores, they get to keep the ball and start their next drive at their own 20.
- Safeties can happen, but when a team scores a safety, they get x amount of points, and gain possession of the ball, starting their half of the "inning" or whatever I decide to call these game periods.
- If a defender recovers a fumble or intercepts a pass, and they run it back for a score, they get the points for an offensive TD, and start their half of the game period at their 20.
- Without field goals, I'd probably re-adjust the score for a touchdown, but it's not really important, as a safety is about the only other way to score. Maybe 3 for a TD, 1 for a safety.
- The field would have essentially the same layout, but without the goalposts.
- Number of "innings" could be figured by the typical number of drives a team has per 60-minute game. Without checking, I'd go with about 10-12. Ideally, it should take the same amount of TV time that football and baseball do.
- "Overtime" will be "extra innings", like baseball.
- Since the only reason for timeouts would be to keep from getting a delay of game penalty, the
- Since I'd be taking the "foot" out of "football", I'd rename the sport "gridiron", much like it is called in Australia. That way I don't have to listen to non-Americans about their "real football" (soccer).
To sum things up, i'd like a faster-paced, comeback-friendly sport with no kicking. Kickers and punters seem out of place in this sport called football. There's something to be said about players running down the field to make a tackle on kickoffs, but I think a shorter play clock could make up for some of the lost excitement.
