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| IFAF Rules Committee |
IFAF Rules Committee
International American Football Officials Association
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IFAF Rules CommitteeInternational American Football Officials Association |
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27th January 2026
2026 has seen the publication of new editions of both the IFAF rulebook and the Manual of Football Officiating (MOFO). A new rulebook comes out every year and the MOFO has typically been updated every 3 years or so.
This year introduces a few notable developments that reflect IFAF’s commitment to clarity, consistency and shared growth across the officiating community.
A key change is the inclusion of the MOFO’s "Rules Application" section within the rulebook itself. This section guides officials in interpreting the rules, helping to reduce unnecessary flags and promote greater consistency. Although officials have had access to this material since 1993, placing it directly in the rulebook makes it accessible to players, coaches and others with an interest in the sport. This increased transparency supports a shared understanding of how decisions are made and encourages continued improvement in officiating standards.
IFAF has also introduced a rule change (11‑2‑2‑c) stating:
"From 2028, only officials who regularly use the latest approved mechanics will be considered for international tournaments. "Latest mechanics" will be the newest edition of the Manual of Football Officiating, or the previous edition for up to 12 months after its replacement."
There are exceptions for historic reasons for four countries: USA, Canada, Mexico and Japan.
This change is designed to strengthen the quality and consistency of officiating at IFAF tournaments. In recent years, some officials have arrived at events less prepared than expected, often because their home organisations use mechanics that differ from the international standard. Aligning mechanics globally helps ensure that all officials are working from the same foundation, supporting fairness, professionalism and the continued development of the sport.
A small number of countries currently play under rules that differ from IFAF’s. While local adaptations are sometimes necessary, especially where facilities or resources vary, the core rules of the sport benefit from being shared. Other major sports operate under a single global rule set - American football is increasingly positioned to do the same.
There are also occasional arguments that we should be "more like NCAA" or "more like the NFL". The message from IFAF is that we are servicing a different market to those organisations, so we don't need to follow everything they do.
IFAF rules already allow national federations to make adaptations that address local circumstances, provided safety is not compromised. We also welcome feedback on challenges that are not currently addressed in the rules. By sharing experiences and working together, we can find solutions that benefit everyone, rather than each nation developing its own separate and sometimes conflicting approaches. This collaborative model helps reduce duplicated effort and supports faster, more sustainable growth of the sport worldwide.
Neither the IFAF rules nor the MOFO mechanics are perfect or final. We fully expect that this year’s push toward greater standardisation will throw up issues that we have not anticipated . Some countries may already have innovations or adjustments that could be valuable for others. That is precisely why we have established processes for updating both rules and mechanics.
Looking ahead, we anticipate publishing a new edition of the MOFO each year, broadly in step with the annual rulebook. This will allow us to respond more quickly to emerging needs and ensure that officiating mechanics evolve in a thoughtful, coordinated way.
Professor Jim Briggs, Chair, IFAF Rules Committee and Editor, Manual of Football Officiating
David Parsons, Chair, IFAF Officiating Committee, Europe
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