Re: Overheard at lunch today

Call me crazy, but I like seeing our former players come back at games. I think it’d be nice if they could you know, walk without assistance, remember their kids names, or #### even remember they played in the stadium. And if we have to miss a one or two guys getting “lit up” per game as a result I’m pretty sure that’s a small price for us to pay as fans

I don’t like all the player safety rules, some take it a bit too far, especially with the QB. But anything concerning head and neck has serious implications for their health and quality of life later on. I don’t know why some of you are hellbent on wanting to see a kids future get ruined just so you can cheer for a big hit, pretty f*****g selfish if you ask me

mpercy®

Paw Warrior [4844]

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Posts: 3472

Joined: 2001

Re: you are coached to Takle at the hips.. you go down

Sep 20, 2024, 3:59 PM

If called, that situation *should* get overturned on review, unless there are indicators that you were attempting to spear (use the crown of the helmet) all along. (See Note 1: “Targeting” means that a player takes aim at an opponent for purposes of attacking with forcible contact that goes beyond making a legal tackle or a legal block or playing the ball).

Reminder: the TV announcers usually have zero clue as to the actual rule.

There's two flavors that can be summarized pretty easily.

1. Any forcible contact initiated with the crown of the helmet.
2. Any forcible contact to the head or neck of a defenseless player.

Under the "crown of the helmet" part (which we used to call 'spearing'), the contact does NOT have to be to the player's helmet, head, or neck--you can be called for targeting by spearing someone in the chest, or the shoulder, or the ankle, or the big toe.

The second type of targeting will depend on more factors, such as accurately determining the moment a player becomes 'defenseless' and what is 'forcible', but by the rule, is focused strictly on the head and neck.

Helmet-to-helmet spearing ticks both boxes!

Both types will also include the notion of 'intent' indicators.

NCAA 2024 Rulebook

Targeting and Making Forcible Contact
With the Crown of the Helmet
ARTICLE 3 No player shall target and make forcible contact against an
opponent with the crown of their helmet The crown of the helmet is the top
segment of the helmet; namely, the circular area defined by a 6-inch radius
from the apex (top) of the helmet This foul requires that there be at least one
indicator of targeting (See Note 1 below) When in question, it is a foul (Rule
9-6) (A R 9-1-3-I)

Targeting and Making Forcible Contact to Head
or Neck Area of a Defenseless Player
ARTICLE 4 No player shall target and make forcible contact to the head
or neck area of a defenseless opponent (See Note 2 below) with the helmet,
forearm, hand, fist, elbow or shoulder This foul requires that there be at least
one indicator of targeting (See Note 1 below) When in question, it is a foul
(Rules 2-27-14 and 9-6) (A R 9-1-4-I-VI)

Note 1: “Targeting” means that a player takes aim at an opponent for purposes
of attacking with forcible contact that goes beyond making a legal tackle or a
legal block or playing the ball Some indicators of targeting include but are not
limited to:
• Launch A player leaving their feet to attack an opponent by an upward
and forward thrust of the body to make forcible contact in the head or
neck area
• A crouch followed by an upward and forward thrust to attack with
forcible contact at the head or neck area, even though one or both feet
are still on the ground
• Leading with helmet, shoulder, forearm, fist, hand or elbow to attack
with forcible contact at the head or neck area
• Lowering the head before attacking by initiating forcible contact with
the crown of the helmet

Note 2: Defenseless player (Rule 2-27-14) When in question, a player is
defenseless Examples of defenseless players include but are not limited to:
• A player in the act of or just after throwing a pass This includes an
offensive player in a passing posture with focus downfield
• A receiver attempting to catch a forward pass or in position to receive a
backward pass, or one who has completed a catch and has not had time
to protect themselves or has not clearly become a ball carrier
• A kicker in the act of or just after kicking a ball, or during the kick or
the return
• A kick returner attempting to catch or recover a kick, or one who
has completed a catch or recovery and has not had time to protect
themselves or has not clearly become a ball carrier
RUlE 9 / CondUCt oF PlayERs and othERs
• A player on the ground
• A player obviously out of the play
• A player who receives a blind-side block
• A ball carrier already in the grasp of an opponent and whose forward
progress has been stopped
• A quarterback any time after a change of possession
• A ball carrier who has obviously given themselves up and is sliding feet
first