Persuasive Essay: The Rule Of Targeting In Football

Every part of the game of football means very much to me, which is why I have a passion for the game and why I researched this topic. Helmets are one of the most important pieces of safety gear a football player can have. In October 2010, a new rule was signed off to be placed in the National Football League (NFL) rule book for the safety of NFL players. The helmet-to-helmet hit rule is as follow: using any part of the helmet to butt, spear, or ram any part of the opponent’s helmet (Azpiri). A helmet-to-helmet hit is illegal in the NFL now. The punishment for a helmet-to-helmet hit for a NFL player is being fine with a gradual increase the next times they do it and/or suspension depending on the

After the NFL commissioner came under scrutiny from Washington lawmakers on whether or not the injuries in his sport were the cause of traumatic brain disease. The commissioner enacted a policy that players had to pass a series of test by a neurologist prior to them being allowed to return to play( Grove, J) This policy change is similar to a normal employee passing a physical from their primary Doctor before they could return to work. The Commissioner enacted this policy to prevent players from returning to the game to soon. The current NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wasn’t the first recognize that his sport had a problem taking care of its players. In 1962 the rule of no “Face masking” was enacted. This rule prohibited a player from grabbing another player’s facemask (Grove, J 657). In the late 1970’s an additional rule was enacted. The NFL finally passed a rule prohibiting players from using their helmets to

“You can’t take shots above the shoulders”(New NFL). This used to be only for receivers when they got hit, but now it’s for everyone. Last year they made a rule that if a player loses a helmet, the play is whistled dead.

Additionally, this new rule will require the defensive players to be more cautious with their hits to ensure they do not get called for targeting an offensive player, which could lead to the defensive player’s ejection from the game. The player ejection is new for this fall and is in addition to a fifteen yard penalty imposed for targeting (Johnson). The NCAA committee is serious about addressing unsafe play and considers the ejection penalty a severe punishment for such behavior (Staples). Greg Bishop, from The New York Times, in his article about the targeting rule, discusses that the defensive players now have a limited contact area, and many coaches are holding training sessions to practice the limited contact area with the defensive players. Andy Bitter, from the Roanoke Times, in his article that addresses the new rule, discusses that the defensive players usually do not purposely go for the area above the shoulders, but now with such severe penalties to consider, coaches want to emphasize and practice making legal hits. Losing star players due to ejection could have serious implications to the future of a football team, especially during playoffs, so the defensive players must have an understanding of what is considered a legal hit (Bishop). This part of the rule will help make the game safer by making the defending player accountable for their actions, and will help to reduce the number of intentional targeting

Most players have learned to inflict pain to the other person they are tackling or trying to get the ball. NFL have made new rule changes because of players leading with the head and also trying to hit the players head. When a player is targeted it means that a player aimed at an opponent for purposes of attacking with an apparent intent that goes beyond making a legal tackle or a legal block or playing the ball (Redding). The player who made the tackle will be ejected from the game. These types of hits are causing the concussions and also not knowing how to properly

Targeting is the main rule that was created to prevent concussions. Targeting is defined as “No player shall target and initiate contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent with the helmet, forearm, fist, elbow or shoulder.” (“Targeting”, 2013). This rule is controversial because it is hard to tell what a defenseless player is as well as where the hit occurred. This rule changed the game by requiring the players to make smarter and safer hits.

In the 2017 season, 5.7% of NFL players suffered a concussion. 19% of concussions were caused when a player hit the ground. So instead of changing the helmets, the NFL has changed their rules. The first rule they changed was the kickoff rule. Before kickoffs caused 33% of the total injury numbers (Jones 2018). The NFL has changed kickoff, so the players don’t get a head start to run. In two years, kickoffs racked up over 70 concussions (Mills 2016).The next rule they made is no chop blocks. Chop blocks are when an offensive player puts their shoulder into a players' thigh or

Concussions while playing football are becoming more common as the ages progress. Coaches teach their players proper form tackling and not to drop your head while hitting a defender. However, many players use the top of their heads in a spear like form to tackle their opponent, causing a large blow directly to the tacklers head. Helmets cannot protect against all of the impact force from the blow, although it takes away most. The remaining force of the blow is concentrated right toward the individual’s head, which can cause a slight concussion. But as the game goes on, the individual continues to drop their head and take repetitive blows, leaving the player concussed. Sometimes it only takes one hit to become concussed depending on the impact of the

Hits inside the tackle box, however, will not fall under the new guidelines (Breslow).” This rule change will help prevent as many hits with the head as previously because players won’t want to get penalized and hurt there chances of winning a game. It will hopefully lower the number of concussions per game from running backs because they currently get 1 in every 9 concussions in the NFL (Breslow). This new rule was created to lower that number and prevent as many every season.

Football head injuries are a big concern in the NFL and youth football, due to the contact in football there's damage that is done to the brain that can cause health issues to individuals players as they get older, it leads to long term mental problems caused by concussions which is when your brain crashes into your your skull. There isn't a technology that can prevent a head injury one hundred percent. Football head injuries are more commonly found in high school than in college and NFL. The effects to the brain of a football player with a head injury are long term in the end.

The NFL has put in new rules in place that keep the ball handler safe from hits to the head. The NFL has put a new rule in that if you hit a player in the crown of the head you will be penalized 15 yards. This rule is supposed to decrease the amount of hits to head players receive. Another rule put in is you can not hit a defenseless player because they have no idea they are about to receive a big hit. Even with these new rules concussion rates are still going up. In 2009 the NFL put in a new rule that would have players checked on the sidelines to tell whether they could go back

The National Football League on Dec. 3, 2009, announced that it would impose its most stringent rules to date on managing concussions, requiring players who exhibit any significant sign of concussion to be removed from a game or practice and be barred from returning the same day.

The NFL has made many rule changes regarding hits to the head and many other levels like college and high school leagues have made changes as well . The reason for concussion testing is because of a player known as Junior Seau . The former Charger , Dolphin and Patriot linebacker played for nineteen years in the NFL and the

Playing football is not like playing other sports. Athletes in all kinds of sports risk injuring themselves, but in football, a lot of the risk comes from other athletes. While there are many ways to be injured playing football, one of the worst is head-to-head targeting. This has been a problem in football since the beginning of the game, especially, when equipment was not very protective. Over the past eight years, the National College Athletic Association (NCAA) has implemented rules and penalties specifically designed to protect players and to hopefully reduce the number of bad head injuries (Marshall). The NCAA is doing the right thing by protecting players from severe injury by calling and enforcing targeting penalties.

Football is often labeled as a dangerous, unsafe sport, but there are many good things that come along with playing football. In the past two weeks I have learned about the risks that accompany football. Many kids suffer with concussions and face injuries from the sport, which scares many people away. But, despite the risks and the unsafe label, I would allow my child to play football because it promotes health, builds friendships, and helps gain toughness.