| The Arena Football League (AFL) is in full swing, | | | | One thing that's missing from the AFL that you'll find in |
| attractingfans with fast, hard-hitting action, a lot of | | | | the |
| scoring, anddazzling plays made in tight quarters. The | | | | NFL is the punt. That means, with the shortened |
| AFL, which has justentered its twentieth season, | | | | playing fieldand the no punt rule, every play off the |
| features 19 teams in twoconferences - the National | | | | offensive line has thepotential to put points on the |
| and American. Each conference isdivided into two | | | | board. The offense has fourdowns to move the ball 10 |
| divisions, with the Eastern and Southerndivisions in the | | | | yards for a first down or to score. |
| National Conference and the Central and | | | | Scoring is also a bit different from the other league |
| Western in the American. | | | | with adrop kick after a TD being given 2 points and a |
| If you've ever watched an AFL game, you certainly | | | | drop kickfield goal being awarded 4 points. All other |
| recognizeit as being similar to the NFL version. Scoring | | | | scoring is thesame. |
| is basically thesame, although there are variations, and | | | | Passing follows NCAA rules, which state that a |
| rules are alsosimilar but, again, with some wrinkles that | | | | receiver musthave one foot inbounds when catching a |
| give the indoorversion of American style football an | | | | pass. The nets arethe other variation from the NFL |
| added edge. The sportis a whole lot of professional | | | | game. The receiving teammay also use the nets during |
| football with some racket ball,basketball, and shrinkage | | | | a kickoff or a missed field goalto field balls. Thus, as |
| thrown in. It's the Mini-Me of NFLfootball. | | | | long as the kick doesn't stray off intothe sideline area, |
| The Teams | | | | there is always the chance for a runback,since the ball |
| The National Conference contains ten teams with the | | | | cannot be kicked beyond the end zone. |
| Dallas | | | | Overtime rules also vary a bit from those in the |
| Desperados, New York Dragons, Philadelphia Soul, and | | | | National |
| Columbus Destroyers in the Eastern Division and the | | | | Football League. NFL football plays one sudden |
| Orlando Predators, Austin Wranglers, Georgia Force, | | | | deathovertime period during the regular season. AFL |
| Tampa | | | | overtimeruns the same number of minutes, but it is not |
| Bay Storm, and Kansas City Brigade in the Southern | | | | a sudden deathsituation. Each team gets one |
| Division. Last season the Dragons and Force were | | | | possession in the overtimeand if a team is ahead after |
| tops intheir divisions. | | | | that, they win. If the game is stilltied after both have |
| In the Central Division of the American Conference the | | | | had one possession, then the next teamthat scores |
| fourteams are the Colorado Crush, Chicago Rush, | | | | wins. A regular season game can end in a tie. |
| Nashville | | | | Wagering |
| Kats, and Grand Rapids Rampage. The Western | | | | With so many scoring opportunities and such a small |
| Divisionincludes the Los Angeles Avengers, San Jose | | | | playingfield, it's obvious that one of the hallmarks of |
| Sabercats, | | | | AFL football ishigh scores. Scores such as 62-63 are |
| Las Vegas Gladiators, Arizona Rattlers, and Utah | | | | not unusual in thearena league. Depending on the |
| Blaze. | | | | weekly match-ups,over/unders can easily top 100 |
| There are a total of nine teams in the American | | | | points, whereas NFLover/unders tend to range |
| Conferenceof which the Crush and Avengers were | | | | between 33 and 46 points. Overallpoint spreads are |
| the best in theirrespective geographical divisions. | | | | the same as typical NFL differentiations,ranging from + |
| The Field | | | | - 3 to the rare 10 ½ or 14 ½ variance. |
| The dimensions of the AFL field are what help make | | | | However, the spreads are determined differently. |
| this aunique brand of football. The indoor surface, | | | | Scores in the games tend to be relatively close, |
| which ispadded, is 50 yards long and 85 feet wide. | | | | althoughthere are your 65-25 blowouts. One of the |
| The goal posts,like the field, are also smaller than those | | | | great things aboutarena ball for bettors is the league is |
| in the NFL - nine feethigh with a crossbar height of 15 | | | | much more open aboutteam information, willingly |
| feet as opposed to those inthe NFL, which are 18 | | | | reporting injuries to odds makers. |
| ½ feet wide with the crossbar at 10feet. | | | | Why is this the case? The AFL knows that one of the |
| There are 48 inch high sideline barriers made of high | | | | thingsthat has made the NFL so popular is betting, and |
| densityrubber, which help to ease the impact of | | | | they'd likesome of the recognition and mass appeal |
| receivers, runningbacks, and defensive players | | | | that comes with |
| smacking into the stands asthey go out of bounds. | | | | Vegas and sportsbook "action." |
| Each end zone, which is eight feet deep, has a | | | | This is a less defensive minded league, which |
| rebound netthat is 30 feet wide and 32 feet high. The | | | | makeshandicapping an AFL game different from |
| rebound net keepsthe ball alive after a missed pass. If | | | | analyzing an NFLcontest. Remember, there's much |
| a ball is caught off thenet, it is live and in play until it | | | | less specialization in arenaball, which means players |
| touches the playing surface. | | | | must have skills on both sides ofthe ball. This also |
| This feature, which allows play to continue, | | | | magnifies the importance of an injury, whichcan have a |
| providesadditional action. The nets and the short field | | | | bigger affect in the AFL than it does in the NFL. |
| help to increasescoring opportunities and are partly | | | | Squads are also smaller in the 50-yard league, with 20 |
| responsible for thetypically high scores. It's not unusual | | | | menper team and four reserves. Again, that translates |
| in an arena game forteams to put up a combined total | | | | into eachplayer carrying more weight in the game. |
| of over 100 points! In factthe field, along with the | | | | The typical home field advantage in the NFL results in |
| rulebook, is geared towards creatinga plethora of | | | | a 3-point spread, whereas that advantage in the AFL |
| scoring opportunities, giving the AFL game anongoing | | | | is 5-points. |
| give-and-take unpredictability you often don't find inthe | | | | Two things influence the higher spread - the high |
| NFL. | | | | scoring andthe intensity of AFL fans. In arena football, |
| The Rules | | | | spectators areextremely close to the game, making |
| The petite field demands fewer players; you'll find 8 | | | | the experience morelike a NBA game than a NFL |
| ratherthan the standard NFL 11 on either side of the | | | | contest. The physical closenessof fans to tough, |
| ball. There arealso fewer specialists in the arena game | | | | unrelenting play can exacerbate emotions. |
| - quarterback, oneoffensive specialist, a kicker and two | | | | Arena football venues rock! Thus, the home field |
| defensive specialists. | | | | advantagehas more power over the outcome of the |
| The offensive line must have four players and the | | | | game. |
| defensiveline three. | | | | When wagering, you should carefully consider the |
| A few ways in which the rules are focused on | | | | kickinggame. Remember, it's a fifty-yard field, which |
| keeping playcontinuous and action ongoing include | | | | means anaccurate kicker with a good leg can score |
| theoffensive/defensive rosters, the substitution rule and | | | | from anywhere. |
| the playclock. Players, except for the specialists, play | | | | Additionally, there are no weather conditions to |
| both offenseand defense, which means there is less | | | | influencekickers or any other players. Finally, there's a |
| change over whenthe ball is turned over. Additionally, all | | | | lot morepassing in the AFL and when researching QB, |
| non-specialists maysubstitute only once during a | | | | offensive anddefensive ratings you want to keep this |
| quarter. Finally, unlike the verylong 45 second clock | | | | in mind. Player powerratings are also determined |
| found in the NFL, the arena league hasa more | | | | differently because playersperform on both sides of |
| basketball-like 25 second clock, which over thecourse | | | | the ball. |
| of a 60 minute game just about doubles the number | | | | Arena football, with its emphasis on offensive action, |
| ofplays run. | | | | creatingmore scoring opportunities, and desire to have |
| There are four 15 minute quarters; however, unlike the | | | | morecontinuous play than the NFL, offers fans and |
| NFL,the clock does not stop for out of bounds plays or | | | | bettors a venueunlike any other. Rambunctious, |
| incompletepasses unless the game is in the last minute | | | | fast-paced, and frenetic,arena football has created its |
| of play in the halfor the referee stops it for a penalty | | | | own niche in the world ofprofessional sports. Fans love |
| or injury. Once again, playoccurs at a very quick rate, | | | | it - take a look if you haven'talready. If you love the |
| making the game action-packed. | | | | sport of football, you'll probably gethooked. |
| Each team gets three timeouts per half. | | | | |