FB rule changes for 2014
- Thread starter spartan2005
- Start date
1-1-7 State associations can require game officials to assume authority earlier prior to a game.
2-20-2 (NEW) Definition of targeting added.
2-24-9 Status of the ball following illegal kick clarified.
9-4-3i(3) Definition of defenseless player added.
3-3-3, 4 End-of-period procedure changed.
6-1-3b (NEW) Free-kick formation provisions added.
6-1-3c (NEW) Free-kick run-up provisions added.
8-5-1b (NEW) Provision to clarify force added.
9-4-3m (NEW) Targeting an opponent is clarified as a separate personal foul.
9-4-4 Roughing-the-passer fouls revised.
2-20-2 (NEW) Definition of targeting added.
2-24-9 Status of the ball following illegal kick clarified.
9-4-3i(3) Definition of defenseless player added.
3-3-3, 4 End-of-period procedure changed.
6-1-3b (NEW) Free-kick formation provisions added.
6-1-3c (NEW) Free-kick run-up provisions added.
8-5-1b (NEW) Provision to clarify force added.
9-4-3m (NEW) Targeting an opponent is clarified as a separate personal foul.
9-4-4 Roughing-the-passer fouls revised.
That list lacks context, so I'll try to offer some.
This year the Rules Book added definitions for targeting and defenseless player.
A defenseless player is "a player who, because of his physical position and
focus of concentration, is especially vulnerable to injury." Targeting is
"an act of taking aim and initiating contact to an opponent above the
shoulders with the helmet, hand, fist, forearm or elbow."
The book doesn't give a specific list of players who are defenseless, but there is a working list provided by the NCAA, and it's a pretty common sense list. Most would have been flagged under the old rules, but a couple new ones are now in effect specifically because of this rule.
Among those:
A receiver immediately after touching/catching the ball on a pass or kick.
A runner who is restricted in movement by an opponent is defenseless with regard to second hits. (He's not immune from extra tacklers being in on the play -- hit, wrap and tackle, for instance, are fine -- but the second defenders in there better not use the opportunity to try to kill him. I've had this call -- a guy was being held by the arm and jersey but wasn't down. The second guy in drilled him right in the ear hole. Illegal before this year, but now falls under defenseless player definition.)
A passer, right after he has thrown the ball is a defenseless player. For those that think roughing the passer is only due to a late hit on the QB, that's no longer the case. Honestly, though, as a referee who makes that call, if a hit is clean, I'm not flagging it. Defenseless player fouls only really apply to hits that are high or intend to "send a message."
As for targeting, this is going to be a bone of contention in lots of places. This is one of the few times where the rules writers ask officials to judge intent. If a player is intending to go after the head of an opponent, or if he uses his head to punish an opponent (rules exist to cover this previously, such as spearing) then it's targeting. There are going to be inconsistencies as to what is and what isn't targeting. The big concern seems to be if a runner lowers his head and shoulders and the tackler then hits the helmet, is it targeting? In my opinion, no, because the defensive player didn't choose to go for the helmet, the runner put his helmet there.
The other change a fan might notice is the rule that on kickoffs there have to be at least 4 players on each side of the ball. Also, no player other than the kicker can start more than 5 yards behind the ball on their run-up.
This post was edited on 8/18 5:25 PM by White hat
This year the Rules Book added definitions for targeting and defenseless player.
A defenseless player is "a player who, because of his physical position and
focus of concentration, is especially vulnerable to injury." Targeting is
"an act of taking aim and initiating contact to an opponent above the
shoulders with the helmet, hand, fist, forearm or elbow."
The book doesn't give a specific list of players who are defenseless, but there is a working list provided by the NCAA, and it's a pretty common sense list. Most would have been flagged under the old rules, but a couple new ones are now in effect specifically because of this rule.
Among those:
A receiver immediately after touching/catching the ball on a pass or kick.
A runner who is restricted in movement by an opponent is defenseless with regard to second hits. (He's not immune from extra tacklers being in on the play -- hit, wrap and tackle, for instance, are fine -- but the second defenders in there better not use the opportunity to try to kill him. I've had this call -- a guy was being held by the arm and jersey but wasn't down. The second guy in drilled him right in the ear hole. Illegal before this year, but now falls under defenseless player definition.)
A passer, right after he has thrown the ball is a defenseless player. For those that think roughing the passer is only due to a late hit on the QB, that's no longer the case. Honestly, though, as a referee who makes that call, if a hit is clean, I'm not flagging it. Defenseless player fouls only really apply to hits that are high or intend to "send a message."
As for targeting, this is going to be a bone of contention in lots of places. This is one of the few times where the rules writers ask officials to judge intent. If a player is intending to go after the head of an opponent, or if he uses his head to punish an opponent (rules exist to cover this previously, such as spearing) then it's targeting. There are going to be inconsistencies as to what is and what isn't targeting. The big concern seems to be if a runner lowers his head and shoulders and the tackler then hits the helmet, is it targeting? In my opinion, no, because the defensive player didn't choose to go for the helmet, the runner put his helmet there.
The other change a fan might notice is the rule that on kickoffs there have to be at least 4 players on each side of the ball. Also, no player other than the kicker can start more than 5 yards behind the ball on their run-up.
This post was edited on 8/18 5:25 PM by White hat
