In an effort to improve the standards of player safety, the NCAA Football Rules Committee approved several proposals in Orlando, Florida, this week highlighted by major changes to targeting penalties and how they are properly ruled.
The instant replay official, in addition to on-field officials, would now have the power to “stop the game and create a targeting foul in situations where an egregious action has occurred.”
If the proposals are approved by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel on March 8, rule changes will take effect at the start of the 2016 season.
Since a targeting infraction is considered the stiffest penalty (automatic ejection for the guilty party) in football, more needed to be done to ensure the accuracy of such calls, according to Bob Nielson, chair of the rules committee.
“Because this is such a severe penalty, we are instructing replay officials to review plays to ensure that the required elements of targeting exist,” Nielson said, according to an NCAA press release on this week’s meetings. “We are also adding the ability for the replay official to stop the game when a potential targeting foul is not detected on the field.”
In addition, the rules committee also approved a proposal to allow for electronic devices — iPads, mobile-electronics — to be used in the lockerroom or press box in-game. They remain prohibited from the sideline.
Sports Illustrated's Stewart Mandel also reported that leagues will be allowed to have their own instant replay headquarters more or less used in examining calls during games.
Directly from the NCAA's press release on this week's proposals, here are changes relating to player safety:
• First, the rules dealing with low blocks were adjusted to prohibit a player who leaves the tackle box from blocking below the waist toward the initial position of the ball.
• Second, the rules pertaining to a defenseless player will include a ball carrier who has clearly given himself up by sliding feet first.
• Finally, the deliberate tripping of the ball carrier (with the leg) was approved as a foul.
http://247sports.com/Bolt/NCAA-approves-proposals-to-alter-targeting-rules-43638974
The instant replay official, in addition to on-field officials, would now have the power to “stop the game and create a targeting foul in situations where an egregious action has occurred.”
If the proposals are approved by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel on March 8, rule changes will take effect at the start of the 2016 season.
Since a targeting infraction is considered the stiffest penalty (automatic ejection for the guilty party) in football, more needed to be done to ensure the accuracy of such calls, according to Bob Nielson, chair of the rules committee.
“Because this is such a severe penalty, we are instructing replay officials to review plays to ensure that the required elements of targeting exist,” Nielson said, according to an NCAA press release on this week’s meetings. “We are also adding the ability for the replay official to stop the game when a potential targeting foul is not detected on the field.”
In addition, the rules committee also approved a proposal to allow for electronic devices — iPads, mobile-electronics — to be used in the lockerroom or press box in-game. They remain prohibited from the sideline.
Sports Illustrated's Stewart Mandel also reported that leagues will be allowed to have their own instant replay headquarters more or less used in examining calls during games.
Directly from the NCAA's press release on this week's proposals, here are changes relating to player safety:
• First, the rules dealing with low blocks were adjusted to prohibit a player who leaves the tackle box from blocking below the waist toward the initial position of the ball.
• Second, the rules pertaining to a defenseless player will include a ball carrier who has clearly given himself up by sliding feet first.
• Finally, the deliberate tripping of the ball carrier (with the leg) was approved as a foul.
http://247sports.com/Bolt/NCAA-approves-proposals-to-alter-targeting-rules-43638974
