The Differences Between the AFL & NFL

The AFL (Arena Football League) and NFL (National Football League) are both professional football organizations built to entertain the fans of the game. Both organizations pay their players to play football, but that is where the similarities end. The NFL is based on the fundamentals of the game, where as the AFL is full of high-flying acrobatics and high-scoring games.

  1. Number of Players

    • The offensive line protects the quarterback.

      The AFL and NFL have a different number of players on the field for each team. An AFL team has eight players on the field at once. Of these eight players, three are lineman on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. NFL teams field 11 players at a time. Of these 11 players, when on offense, there are typically five lineman on the field. On defense, the number of lineman changes with the defensive scheme run by the team. For example, a team that runs a "3-4" scheme has three lineman, while a team that runs a "4-3" scheme has four lineman. In the NFL, the offensive will have of one quarterback, one to three running backs, one to three tight ends, and as many as five wide receivers, depending upon the offensive set. In the AFL, the typical offensive set is one quarterback, one running back and three wide receivers.

    Field Dimensions

    • The field size is different in both leagues. In the NFL, the field is 100 yards long between the goal lines. The end zone is 10 yards long on each side. This means the total field length is 120 yards while the width is 53 1/3 yards. The AFL field is the same size as an NHL hockey rink, making the field 50 yards long with eight-yard end zones, and 28 1/3 yards wide. The goal posts at the end of the fields are also different. In the AFL, the goal post is 9 feet wide and 15 feet above the field. The goal posts in the NFL are 18 feet, 6 inches wide and 10 feet above the ground.

    Rules

    • Linemen usually start off in a three-point stance

      The AFL and NFL have many similar rules but also some different rules. One of the rules that a fan will notice is different deals with players moving before the ball is snapped, which signifies the play has started. In the NFL, a man can only move sideways before the ball is snapped. Any motion forward will result in a false start, costing the team five yards in field position. In the AFL, one receiver may move forward without crossing the line before the snap of the football. This allows a player to reach his top speed at the beginning of the play. Another rule that is different in the AFL is that only the "Mac" linebacker may blitz, and the blitz must be to either side of the center; blitzing outside of this zone will result in a penalty. The defensive lineman are also not allowed to "twist" or "stunt," meaning they must rush against the offensive lineman directly across from them at the beginning of the play. The NFL does not have any rules against blitzing other areas or limiting the players who can blitz. Many defensive schemes in the NFL are built around people going to different areas to create an opening in the offensive line.

    Years in Existence

    • The AFL has existed for 22 seasons, as of 2011. It was shut down for the 2009 season due to financial problems. The NFL traces its origins to 1920. The league started in small towns, and later expanded to bigger cities.