Rule Changes for the upcoming season

[nooram]

New Rules for the coming season

The Playing Rules Oversight Panel (PROP) during its conference call on Tuesday approved moving the kickoff and touchback lines beginning with the 2012 football season.
Next fall, teams will kick off at the 35-yard line instead of the 30. Also, players on the kicking team can’t line up for the play behind the 30-yard line, which is intended to limit the running start kicking teams used to have during the play.
Also, touchbacks on free kicks will be moved to the 25-yard line instead of the 20 to encourage more touchbacks. Touchbacks on other plays (for example, punts that go into the end zone, or fumbles that go out of the end zone) will remain at the 20-yard line.
The recommended changes came from the Football Rules Committee after that group examined NCAA data showing that injuries during kickoffs occur more often than in other phases of the game.
Another new rule that goes into effect next season is if a player loses his helmet (other than as the result of a foul by the opponent, such as a facemask), it will be treated like an injury. The player must leave the game and is not allowed to participate for the next play.
Current injury timeout rules guard against using this rule to gain an advantage from stopping the clock. Additionally, if a player loses his helmet, he must not continue to participate in the play, in order to protect him from injury.
Data from the 2011 season indicated that helmets came off of players more than twice per game.
The rules panel also approved new wording in the football rules book regarding blocking below the waist. Offensive players in the tackle box at the snap who are not in motion are allowed to block below the waist legally without restriction. All other players are restricted from blocking below the waist with a few exceptions (for example, straight-ahead blocks).
There will also be a new rule prohibiting players from leaping over blockers in an attempt to block a punt. Receiving-team players trying to jump over a shield-blocking scheme has become popular for teams in punt formation. Receiving-team players try to defeat this scheme by rushing into the backfield to block a punt. In some cases, these players are contacted and end up flipping in the air and landing on their head or shoulders.
The Football Rules Committee raised concern about this type of action and proposed a rule similar to the leaping rule on place kicks that does not allow the receiving team to jump over blockers, unless the player jumps straight up or between two players.

 

[Lakeville Goldy]

I honestly wonder how many years it will take until the kickoff is eliminated and the ball is placed at the 20 or 25 or whatever yard line with some kind of scenario for an onside kick. I don't think it's in the next couple years, but maybe if in 5-10 years the injuries are still significant?

Otherwise I wonder if punting the ball rather than place kicking it would be an option they would consider. The advantage there is the number of fair catches would increase, thus in theory less injuries. It'd be interesting to see what the injury rate is on kickoffs after safeties (almost always punted) vs. regular kickoffs. Granted, smaller sample size for after safeties, but thoughout all levels of NCAA there should be enough data to form a conclusion.

Or another option would be to allow the kicking team to kick the ball out of bounds and the receiving team gets the ball where it crosses out (just like a punt).

 

[TLHGO4]

Looks like we're beginning a transition towards Flag Football.

 

[RodentRampage]

I wonder if the helmet rule will get players to make sure their helmets are properly strapped on at all times. Too often you see players where not all the snaps are fastened on their chin straps.

 

[MNVCGUY]

The helmet issue is a tough one because some of these guys love to have their hair super long which makes it next to impossible to get the helmet to fit properly. I wonder how they will handle a player who does continue with the play after their helmet comes off, assume it would have to mean some kind of penalty.

I honestly don't know how football can possibly deal with the concussion issue because it is not going away. Players now are so big and so strong, and the impacts are so violent that I don't know how you stop head injuries from happening. I have 3 boys and so far they have showed no interest in playing football, as much as I would love to watch them play there is a part of me that is glad they would rather play sports like baseball and basketball because the risk of serious injury is significantly lower.

 

[GophersInIowa]

I don't know how helmets fly off like they do now days. When I played, even without a chin strap, my helmet probably still wouldn't have come off.

 

[RodentRampage]

To really deal with head injuries, they have to be consistent with how they enforce the rules. There are too many helmet to helmet hits that aren't called.

Sometimes I see players with where only two of four chinstraps are fastened. It seems that helmets are flying off in nearly every game. Maybe they need stronger fasteners on chinstraps.

 

[highwayman]

To really deal with head injuries, they have to be consistent with how they enforce the rules. There are too many helmet to helmet hits that aren't called.

Sometimes I see players with where only two of four chinstraps are fastened. It seems that helmets are flying off in nearly every game. Maybe they need stronger fasteners on chinstraps.

Unfortunately, to really deal with head injuries is to screen players physiologically and then deny them playing. That isn't going to happen.

Concussions are now thought by some to be "genetic," to simplify the argument. It seems that factors--such as if you have a thin layer of fluid around your brain-- make you will be more prone to concussions. Conversely, a thicker layer of fluid around the brain will make you less prone. Also, you may be genetically pre-disposed for faster or slower brain healing.

This could end up being quite controversial.

 

[MinnMarchDTF]

Please tell me there's a new rule that will stop a team getting a first down by fumbling

 

[Killjoy]

Please tell me there's a new rule that will stop a team getting a first down by fumbling

I will next year when it will be on the docket. Rule changes that can be made this year are limited to a few areas.

 

[Lakeville Goldy]

I will next year when it will be on the docket. Rule changes that can be made this year are limited to a few areas.

I thought they already "changed" it by clarifying a different rule. I thought they said it should be treated the same as a fumble where a fumble behind the line of scrimmage can't advance past the line of scrimmage or something like that. So maybe no formal change just a different enforcement.

 

[Killjoy]

I thought they already "changed" it by clarifying a different rule. I thought they said it should be treated the same as a fumble where a fumble behind the line of scrimmage can't advance past the line of scrimmage or something like that. So maybe no formal change just a different enforcement.

My comment was based on a comment from another poster who stated that these type of rule changes are scheduled to be done next year and can't be addressed this year. Therefore it would be reviewed and addressed at that time. Maybe somebody else has some additional information that would clear this up. Any comments from anybody?

 

[Parski1]

So this K/O rule will hurt Troy - Isn't he close to the NCAA record for K/O return yards?