ELF Rules Under Fire: Calls for Balance Grow Louder

But the ELF sports team also has a big problem: imbalance. The difference between the top teams and those who are happy to win at least is huge. The outcomes of most games are predictable, and in most cases the results are very clear.

This has implications in two areas. First: ELF output becomes unattractive. If everyone already knows that Team A will win against Team B 40:10, no one likes to see it. Second: The play-offs will be distorted. With a bit of luck in the table, a team can have a huge advantage because in the end the point difference is disappointing.

In the third and final part of our ELF series we will address these two topics. So: How can the gap between the teams be closed? We are also looking at a rule regarding the playoffs that we would definitely like to change.

In the first two parts of the series we covered the teams, which conferences we would put them in and who should play who.

When the regular season is over, it’s time for the play-offs. We wouldn’t change anything about the basic format; Six teams enter, two get a day off in the first round. The three conference winners and the top three teams will be based on the number of winners entered.

But in our opinion, action is needed when determining the wild cards if two teams have the same number of wins. The current ELF rule states that the direct comparison counts. This is logical and should remain so.

But what if that doesn’t work because there wasn’t one or there are more than two teams involved? Finally, the difference between points scored and points allowed was considered. This ensured that the Stuttgart Surge emerged in 2024 Rhein fire on, have moved straight into the semi-final and have home advantage there. Stuttgart deserved that too, no question about it. Even so, the game plan was much easier than the game plan Rhein Fire, the point difference is better so logical.

It would make more sense to ignore the point difference and instead focus on the problem of the game plan. Therefore, as is the case in the NFL. The ELF is largely driven by its rules anyway.

After a direct comparison, there are a few breakers in the NFL that do not belong in the ELF. But then there is, for example, “Strength of Victory” and “Strength of Schedule”, ie the problem of victory and the game plan. It works like this: The number of games won by a team’s opponents is added and divided by the total number of games played by those opponents. This leads to a portion, the “Strength of Victory” (SOV). The game board problem would be similar, except that every opponent is involved, defeated or not.

The use of these tiebreakers would provide a more reliable picture of the true strength of two teams when they have not played against each other. The point difference is greater for football, where few points are scored.

The idea of ​​the ELF is to create the same conditions for all teams. The salary cap or the import regulation, according to which up to ten foreign players can be in the team, should ensure this. Here too, like the NFL. It basically doesn’t matter if one team has more money than the other because they can’t invest that money anyway.

But the calculation only works to a limited extent. Franchises with better financial resources are not allowed to pay more salaries to their players, but they are allowed to create better conditions than others. This includes coaching, training facilities, apartments and so on.

There are also location benefits. The teams from Germany and Austria in particular have much better local players than most others. Out of the four finals of ELF, two were only German teams; in the other two, a German team played against an Austrian team. That is no coincidence.

In addition, there is one crucial thing missing compared to the NFL: the draft. There is no college system, no structure where the weakest team from the previous year can choose which player they think is the best. In the NFL, equal opportunity is fundamental.

The draft system cannot be transferred to the ELF. But perhaps the basic idea behind it is: the weakest teams from the previous season get a small advantage to go up. Maybe through an additional import player? There are problems with many of the weaker teams, especially in the offensive line. Maybe it would make sense to allow one more American there? Or perhaps the limit on imports from Europe should be lifted altogether?

These are things that have been brought up over and over again by players or those in charge in the league. It might help. But at the same time it brings with it other challenges: Can the teams even finance another import from the US? Where is the line drawn between who gets one and who doesn’t? Or should all teams just be allowed an extra import for the offensive line? And if wHe talks about lifting the limit on imports e-: Won’t the best European teams just end?

To be honest: we don’t have a silver bullet either. It is extremely difficult to get the weakest teams in the league to even begin to reach the level of the best. But one thing is certain: the ELF must do something.

“Every year in the off-season, the rules are looked at, analyzed and, if necessary, changed,” Andreas Nommensen, Director of Sport at the ELF, told our editorial team a little weeks ago. It was about the replay rules mentioned above, but the statement is general enough to be placed here as well, especially in the second part: There is a “regular exchange on various topics” with “teams and committees ” the ELF “, Nimmensen explained further. It is not clear who these “committees” are and what they are about, as are the results.

Commissioner Patrick Esume explained the difference within the ELF teams ahead of this year’s final to the SID as “we are trying to American football “to achieve the transition from passive to profitable”.

This is very difficult and takes time, but Esume gets the point. Nevertheless, it would be desirable if it could be recognized that their own rules were being reconsidered and, if necessary, changed to ensure more equal opportunities. So far the teams seem to be left alone with this. So he can’t catch some.

Solutions will certainly be found in collaboration with the teams. But that doesn’t seem to be happening. And if so, it is not communicated enough. It is difficult.