Helmet to helmet contact

[OMHDC]

Can an offensive ball carrier initiate helmet to helmet contact? If so are they subject to the same penalty as a defensive player?
GO SALEM
GO MULES

 

[White hat]

Yes and yes. The rules apply to all players and there is no difference in the penalty between offense or defense.

That said, the ball-carrier can certainly be called for spearing, and that probably happens more often than it's called. But helmet-to-helmet is usually a high hit. The NCAA uses the term "targeting" although that's not in the NFHS Rules Book, but that's how it's interpreted. I'm trying to visualize a time when a ball-carrier would target a defender like that but I can't think of a way.

 

[GoMBKMonarchs]

I've never seen it called, though

Running backs have been taught for decades to drop their heads and get low at contact. Watch today- many will drop and lead with the helmet at contact. I'm not debating whether it's a penalty. I've just never seen it called. When we are now teaching our kids to tackle properly and keep their heads up, it's dangerous when the running back comes in low, helmet first.

 

[White hat]

Re: I've never seen it called, though


I would like to see running techniques improved, as well.

I am happy to say I've seen a lot of improvement. I haven't flagged illegal helmet contact in a varsity game in two or three years, and I'm not afraid to pull the trigger on that foul, trust me. I've called spearing only to hear coaches act like I just shot their dog. I tell them and the players that I do NOT want them to leave the field in an ambulance strapped to a board. That's all I really care about, and I'm sure they feel the same way.

as far as targeting -- in football, helmets hit each other a lot. And if both players have complete control over where their helmets are going, I'm going to encourage them to play heads up, but that's really a coaching thing. It's when one player doesn't have control because he's being slowed by an opponent, he's looking in another direction, he's making a play on the ball, or other instances, and someone hits him high, that's going to bring a flag. My commissioner said he wants high hits like that flagged if we THINK it MIGHT have been targeting the head, and if video proves otherwise, the state will still support the official every time.

But that's got to go back to the coaches, too. I had a play in a JV game last year where a ball carrer was grabbed by the arm and was dragging a would-be tackler. He was going mighty slow, but he could have broken away frmo that so there was no need to blow the play dead. However, as he's struggling along a linebacker came in and drilled him in the earhole with the top of his helmet. Easiest call of the year, but the varsity coach was there at the game and went balistic. He made a butt of himself the rest of the game, asking every tackle to be flagged or demanding to know why it wasn't. Never once tried to coach the kid in safety or respect for the game.