What is the actual "Helmet to Helmet" rule?

[Licensed to Ill]

I was listening to a podcast episode of Kansas City's 810 WHB radio show and they had Gary Pinkel on talking about "the hit". The schmuck host said that Osborne's hit was illegal and that players who make hits like that should be ejected on the spot and then suspended. Pinkel was a bit cautious to agree with him but in the end you could tell he was nodding his head over the phone.

 

I've always wondered what the helmet to helmet rule actually is, according to NCAA law. Have our players been breaking it? What does an official look for if he is going to throw the flag?

 

Initiating Contact/Targeting an Opponent

ARTICLE 3. a. No player shall initiate contact and target an opponent with the crown (top) of his helmet. When in question, it is a foul.

b. No player shall initiate contact and target a defenseless opponent above the shoulders. When in question, it is a foul. (Refer to Points of Emphasis on FR-9 for a description of “Defenseless Player.”)

PENALTY (a-B.)—Personal foul. 15 yards from the basic spot, or 15 yards from the succeeding spot for dead-ball fouls. Also, automatic first down for fouls by Team B if not in conflict with other rules. (Exception: Penalties for offensive team personal fouls behind the neutral zone are enforced from the previous spot. Safety if the foul occurs behind Team A’s goal line) [s7, S24, S34, S38, S39, S40, S41, S45 or S46]. Flagrant offenders shall be disqualified [s47].

 

The emphasis is a "Defenseless Player". How is such a thing defined?

 

• The quarterback moving down the line of scrimmage who has handed or pitched the ball to a teammate, and then makes no attempt to participate further in the play;

• The kicker who is in the act of kicking the ball, or who has not had a reasonable length of time to regain his balance after the kick;

• The passer who is in the act of throwing the ball, or who has not had a reasonable length of time to participate in the play again after releasing the ball;

• The pass receiver whose concentration is on the ball;

• The pass receiver who has clearly relaxed when the pass is no longer catchable;

• The kick receiver whose attention is on the downward flight of the ball;

• The kick receiver who has just touched the ball;

• The player who has relaxed once the ball has become dead; and

• The player who is obviously out of the play.

 

According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association's 2005 Football Rules and Interpretations: "No player shall use his helmet (including the face mask) to butt or ram an opponent or attempt to punish him. There shall be no spearing. No player shall strike a runner with the crown or the top of his helmet...."

 

"The spearing [regulations] were revised to help prevent head and neck injuries," says Ron Courson, director of Sports Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, who headed the 32-member task force that helped bring about the rule change. The task force was composed of physicians, athletic trainers, coaches, researchers, football officials, and administrators from the NCAA, National Athletic Trainers' Association, Dallas, and other governing bodies.

 

"We want players to be aware of the dangers of head-down contact and spearing, which can cause catastrophic cervical spine and head injuries," cautions Courson, who also chairs NATA's College/University Athletic Trainers' Committee. "Each time a player initiates contact with his head down, he risks quadriplegia. Each time a player initiates contact head first, he increases the risk of concussion."

 

So it seems like half of this is to protect the person delivering the hit. In the wake of Eric LeGrand's injury, I'm all in favor of this. But Courtney Osborne did NOT lower his head. He did NOT lead with the top of the helmet. Blaine Gabbert was NOT defenseless; he was not about to initiate the throwing motion.

 

Osborne's hit was perfectly legal. ESPNU's "The Experts" unanimously agreed. I do not see why there is a discussion about this.

[corncraze]

I was listening to a podcast episode of Kansas City's 810 WHB radio show and they had Gary Pinkel on talking about "the hit". The schmuck host said that Osborne's hit was illegal and that players who make hits like that should be ejected on the spot and then suspended. Pinkel was a bit cautious to agree with him but in the end you could tell he was nodding his head over the phone.

 

I've always wondered what the helmet to helmet rule actually is, according to NCAA law. Have our players been breaking it? What does an official look for if he is going to throw the flag?

 

Initiating Contact/Targeting an Opponent

ARTICLE 3. a. No player shall initiate contact and target an opponent with the crown (top) of his helmet. When in question, it is a foul.

b. No player shall initiate contact and target a defenseless opponent above the shoulders. When in question, it is a foul. (Refer to Points of Emphasis on FR-9 for a description of “Defenseless Player.”)

PENALTY (a-B.)—Personal foul. 15 yards from the basic spot, or 15 yards from the succeeding spot for dead-ball fouls. Also, automatic first down for fouls by Team B if not in conflict with other rules. (Exception: Penalties for offensive team personal fouls behind the neutral zone are enforced from the previous spot. Safety if the foul occurs behind Team A’s goal line) [s7, S24, S34, S38, S39, S40, S41, S45 or S46]. Flagrant offenders shall be disqualified [s47].

 

The emphasis is a "Defenseless Player". How is such a thing defined?

 

• The quarterback moving down the line of scrimmage who has handed or pitched the ball to a teammate, and then makes no attempt to participate further in the play;

• The kicker who is in the act of kicking the ball, or who has not had a reasonable length of time to regain his balance after the kick;

• The passer who is in the act of throwing the ball, or who has not had a reasonable length of time to participate in the play again after releasing the ball;

• The pass receiver whose concentration is on the ball;

• The pass receiver who has clearly relaxed when the pass is no longer catchable;

• The kick receiver whose attention is on the downward flight of the ball;

• The kick receiver who has just touched the ball;

• The player who has relaxed once the ball has become dead; and

• The player who is obviously out of the play.

 

According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association's 2005 Football Rules and Interpretations: "No player shall use his helmet (including the face mask) to butt or ram an opponent or attempt to punish him. There shall be no spearing. No player shall strike a runner with the crown or the top of his helmet...."

 

"The spearing [regulations] were revised to help prevent head and neck injuries," says Ron Courson, director of Sports Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, who headed the 32-member task force that helped bring about the rule change. The task force was composed of physicians, athletic trainers, coaches, researchers, football officials, and administrators from the NCAA, National Athletic Trainers' Association, Dallas, and other governing bodies.

 

"We want players to be aware of the dangers of head-down contact and spearing, which can cause catastrophic cervical spine and head injuries," cautions Courson, who also chairs NATA's College/University Athletic Trainers' Committee. "Each time a player initiates contact with his head down, he risks quadriplegia. Each time a player initiates contact head first, he increases the risk of concussion."

 

So it seems like half of this is to protect the person delivering the hit. In the wake of Eric LeGrand's injury, I'm all in favor of this. But Courtney Osborne did NOT lower his head. He did NOT lead with the top of the helmet. Blaine Gabbert was NOT defenseless; he was not about to initiate the throwing motion.

 

Osborne's hit was perfectly legal. ESPNU's "The Experts" unanimously agreed. I do not see why there is a discussion about this.

Thank you! Finally the full definition I was looking for! So is a Quarterback only defenseless when throwing the ball?

[Licensed to Ill]

Thank you! Finally the full definition I was looking for! So is a Quarterback only defenseless when throwing the ball?

 

He's also defenseless if he has just gotten rid of the ball or has handed it off.

[gotchman]

Anyone have a link to watch this? I looked all over ESPN and found just about everything else.

[Jim Hammer]

I was listening to a podcast episode of Kansas City's 810 WHB radio show and they had Gary Pinkel on talking about "the hit". The schmuck host said that Osborne's hit was illegal and that players who make hits like that should be ejected on the spot and then suspended. Pinkel was a bit cautious to agree with him but in the end you could tell he was nodding his head over the phone.

 

 

Osborne's hit was perfectly legal. ESPNU's "The Experts" unanimously agreed. I do not see why there is a discussion about this.

Kevin Keitzman has an agenda when it comes to Nebraska. When he interviews someone he starts out going over a couple of things but then zeros in on what is bugging him. He asks leading questions and keeps hammering away until his guest agrees with him.

 

The only reason he is still on the air is he's part owner of that station.

[Jim Hammer]

Anyone have a link to watch this? I looked all over ESPN and found just about everything else.

http://www.810whb.com/podcasts

[JTrain]

http://www.stationcaster.com/player_skinned.php?s=26&c=375&f=61730

 

+1 for the OP and clarifying the rules, but if that's the interview you were referring to, the host didn't say Osborne should have been ejected, or even that the hit was illegal. He was talking about whether ejections should be implemented in the future.