CFL to push conversion attempts back 20 yards

Apr 8, 2015 - 9:38 PM Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) - Point-after attempts following touchdowns will now take place from the 32-yard line during the upcoming 2015 CFL season, part of several rules changes approved Wednesday by the league's Board of Governors.

The decision to move conversion attempts back 20 yards from its traditional spot on the 12-yard line was designed to create more unpredictability. During the 2014 season, 99.4 percent of point-after tries were successful.

Additionally, two-point conversion attempts earned by running or passing the ball into the end zone will now be tried from the 3-yard line instead of the 5-yard line. The switch was made in an effort to increase the number of such plays.

"We're looking forward to putting in place changes that have the potential to improve an already great game," said CFL president and CEO Michael Copeland.

The Board of Governors also approved the removal of coaches' requests for measurements for first downs, leaving the decisions solely in the hands of referees. The change was made in hopes of increasing the flow of the game.

Other measures approved for the 2015 season include eliminating the option of a re-kick if a kickoff lands out of bounds. Under the new rule, the receiving team can either take the ball at the spot it landed out of bounds or at a point 30 yards beyond where it was kicked off.

Also, defensive backs and receivers are no longer allowed to contact one another beyond five yards past the line of scrimmage on passing plays, and offenses are now permitted to signal to the referee that they will not be substituting in an attempt to run plays faster.