Almost no-one knows the rule. Targeting" means that a player takes aim at an opponent for purposes of attacking with forcible contact that goes beyond making a legal tackle or a legal block or playing the ball. Some indicators of targeting include but are not limited to: a. Launch - a player leaving their feet to attack an opponent by an upward and forward thrust of the body to make forcible contact in the head or neck area. b. A crouch followed by an upward and forward thrust to attack with forcible contact at the head or neck area, even though one or both feet are still on the ground. c. Leading with helmet, shoulder, forearm, fist, hand or elbow to attack with forcible contact at the head or neck area. d. Lowering the head before attacking by initiating forcible contact with the crown of the helmet. ARTICLE 3. No player shall target and make forcible contact against an opponent with the crown of their helmet. ARTICLE 4. No player shall target and make forcible contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent with the helmet, forearm, hand, fist, elbow or shoulder. This foul requires that there be at least one indicator of targeting: In short, helmet to helmet is not automatically targeting. And targeting can be lots of things which are not done using your helmet. And targeting can be also a hit which is not aimed to opponents head or neck area.
When tackling they should keep their head up and wrap up. When I was a kid back in the sixties that's the way they taught us just in regular P.E.. I did not play organized sports it did not interest me. I did play my share of sandlot. I totally enjoyed it, but I never hit someone to hurt them. These kids think they're invincible but they are not. Some injuries last a lifetime. I blew out my knee on a motorcycle. Had surgery when I was 15. I screwed it up again about 4 years later and had my second surgery. The third time I blew out was really the worst, I stood up from a seated position on a chair. That gave me a partial tear of an MCL, two torn meniscus, so I had my third surgery. The CT scan showed a lot of scar tissue from the first two surgeries, and two bone spurs. Thank God for orthroscopic knee surgery. I had three little incision and they cleaned up everything. I walked out of recovery and got in the car. The things that people don't understand is you have surgery on a knee a couple times and the other knee is carrying the load the rest of your life. So neither knee is normal. I was told by the doctor 30 years ago to stop riding 10-speed bikes. Something I really enjoyed doing almost my entire life up to that point. The reason I shared my experience is to try and encourage people to use good technique on the field.
@@rodster811 Any coach worth their salt still teaches that today. That is what I learned in high school in like 1999...keep your head up, wrap up and bring them down. It is the most effective way to legally bring down a ball carrier. Plenty of good players use that technique all of the time in college and NFL and you will never see them ejected from a game or probably even penalized for anything at all. Any monkey can go out and hit someone as hard as they can but it takes a good player to do it with proper technique in a sport.
From a rugby perspective, it's taught extremely early that head across the body and dropping the head is a sure fire way to get knocked out by a knee or contact. Football has for a long time utilised the helmet as part of tackling and that would have to be changed from the ground up. If I had the rule book, I'd ban any blind I.e any tackle where the eye level dips below the eyebrow. I'd ban diving twisting tackles for the same reason, the second you turn off from the target and can't see it the injury risk increases massively and lastly and most controversially, any launch of any kind. Gravity is a cruel mistress and if you can't blast someone without launching then that's a skill issue.
Targeting rules have been a part of college football for almost 10 years or around 10 years. Either these kids were never taught the right way to tackle or they don't care. Football is a high velocity impact sport. It is not a case of a rule being made just to make people not enjoy playing or viewing. I've been watching football since 1969. I stopped watching football partly because of the behavior of the athletes the other reason being the deliberate attempts to hurt people on the field. The rules are there to keep them healthy and safe. If you can't play by the rules then take up knitting
You are one of the fools that made this rule so bad. You sign up to play a high speed contact sport and then punish people for making high speed contact. Go back to bowling and leave football to the real men.
Their goal is to injure the other players . I use to do down markers for JV teams . My uncle told me for years to be come an official,they needed them. This was 25 or 30 years after I played in high school. The officials today don't throw flags and kids aren't coached to not get a penalty . The amount of dangerous play I saw from the sidelines was scarry . I said something to the line judge at a game one week and he said "why don't you become an official. I told because I'd be throwing a flag every play . He said they don't throw flags so the game goes faster (so they can get to their afternoon game on time) . I told him, many penalties are there for safety to avoid injuries . He replied, ya,I know, and that was the end of the conversation. I got clipped in the back when I was 12 in freshman football practice. MY back has been messed up ever since then. Between watching JV games and varsity games years after I graduated ,I can't recall seeing a flag thrown for clipping and it happens nearly every play but,the officials have to get to their next game. When I played games didn't last any longer than they do now because we were taught not to get a penalty and there were consequences if you did.
Offensive guys shouldn't be allowed to lower their helmets either. If it's so dangerous for defenders why isn't dangerous for the ball carrier. I don't agree with these rules. These guys have been trained to hit like this since peewee. I know something has to change but I think there are smarter ways to implement and judge these types of incidents.
@@vincentowen3669 Rugby doesn't have as many injuries because they teach a different type of tackling. It's not the lack of headgear that keeps injuries away - it's the education and training.
the penn state/purdue ejection was another example of a proper application of the rule, the commentartors are fools for thinking a hit to the head can be justified in this case.
What gets me is all the "buddies" that come up and pat the guy who did the targeting telling him "Hey it's ok man" and it's NOT ok. Why are they not teaching basic tackling anymore in football, rather than "Go for the guy's head and see if you can concuss them enough to get them to drop the ball"? For almost all of these plays (except for the late hits) if the guy trying to make the tackle had simply put a shoulder pad into the other guy's midsection, they could have tackled them easily and completed the play. But no, they'd rather go out there head hunting. I'm glad college is cracking down on this but the penalties need to be more severe because the guys don't get it, and neither does their coaching staff. Second targeting penalty of the season should be an automatic disqualification from all sports participation for a calendar year - start doing that and I'll wager you'll see targeting become as rare as a penguin racing a peregrine falcon in the air. No one is going to risk being sat for an entire calendar year from all sports.
the penn state announcer was a joke, the defender is trying to get to the ball, yeah let me drive my head into the offensive player. They should consider hitting the team with a fine.
It was explained clearly in several clips. If you lead with the crown, it'll get called, the position of the ball carrier only matters if they change body position and move their head/neck into the defenders shoulder.
Coaches needed to go back to basics and get these kids to tackle properly! Wrap up at the mid-section and drive with your body! Learnt that in god damn Pop Warner twenty years ago! Christ!
Athletes themselves complain about concussions. These calls are protective and if people don’t like them, that’s their own problem. Kids are taught from a young age to hit wrong. Everyone wants some big flashy hit and if you have a skilled offensive player, you won’t stop them. Can’t run without your legs. Stop the legs, stop the player. Teach them right, keep them safe, watch longer, healthier careers from great players. Quit complaining about a rule change and FOLLOW THE RULE. It’s not rocket science.
There needs to be a Targeting 1 and Targeting 2. 1 is simply more on the lines of incidental contact if making a football play or “bracing for impact” type of plays. Like the Penn state vs Purdue call is a great example. It wasn’t targeting in my book but if you call that it would be T1. He can remain in the game and treat it like an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Two of those and you’re out. Targeting 1 could also be dropped to an unnecessary roughness call if there is sufficient evidence to do so. Targeting 2 is intentional like trying to take a player out. The OU-Nebraska hit is a great example. Setting up to hit the player. That’s an automatic ejection and possibly suspension. Now I will add a stipulation that if both players drop their crown of the helmets to brace for impact, BOTH players are assessed a Targeting 1 Foul, or a Targeting 2 (if intentional) and Targeting 1 for the offensive player (if crown is dropped). Offensive players could be assessed a targeting 1/2 foul if blocking.
Not only did the Penn State player commit targeting it was also a late hit and unnecessary roughness. How you can defend this obvious penalty boggles the mind.
How do you determine or perceive intent? Don't answer because it's your perception. When rules are based on perception of the ref. Then more complaining will come
@@Blee48 agreed. I like the idea of a "flagrant" targeting vs an incidental one but it's just too hard to prove intent in those situations. We can typically tell when watching on TV or from highlights but in the heat of the moment, some of these guys might just be amped up with no intention to really hurt the other guy with a dirty play.
I don't think you understand the meaning of "targeting" meaning you are actively trying to make contact which results in harm. Most of these shown are not that.
Guy launches helmet to helmet for a vicious late hit on the side of a defenseless players brain, mike pereira basically says "use common sense, thats a bad call." Next clip, guy barely bops a guy in the chestpad, Mike Pereira says "oh yeah thats 100% targeting." What a clown
IMO I think the targeting call should also be called on offense. When any player lower the head prior to contact targeting should be called. I also think that face mask should be called against offense when running with the ball and stiff arm the head. Make it fair if it is going to be called.
I’m glad one of the announcers said the truth and called this the worst rule in college football. Football is trans now and only titty bumping is allowed.
Never ceases to amaze how some of the idiot announcers will sit there and say “that doesn’t look like targeting to me” as replay shows it clearly is! Thank God those geniuses aren’t actually officials out on the field.
There is a reason they are not the officials to begin with and are stuck just yapping in a booth somewhere. You should hear some hockey announcers...they are really really stupid. You could show them the video of something for 20 years over and over and they still wouldn't believe it.
I think we should start playing flag football. Played most of my life. Took a lot of hits as a quarterback and receiver. Delivered a lot as a safety. If you don't want to play the game. Be a cheerleader.
I remember playing pee-wee football a LONG time ago. We were always taught to hit with our shoulders. Then somewhere along the way, the helmet was used more and more to lead the tackle. I'm not a defensive football coach, but it seems to me that the head is not what you want to start your tackle with..... considering how few college football players make it to the NFL, it's a worthy cause to avoid catastrophic injuries. Now getting to the pro level, the ridiculous increase in protection for quarterbacks.... I mean eye roll, it is a contact sport. I'm not talking about when the QB goes into the slide (or any other player), but I'm mixed. The player could slide all the way to a first down...
@@cgilleybsw reminder that when a QB goes into a slide, the distance of the slide is irrelevant, the ball is spotted where the slide begins. That is to avoid the exact thing you're suggesting. I officiate for youth and high school football, and both coaches and officials frequently tell players to "look at what you're hitting". The prevailing teaching at that level now is to keep the head up, and wrap with the arms. some hits with the head do still occur, especially certain types of plays, but it is steadily improving. I think that we will see that effect work its way up to college, and then to the NFL over the next couple of years.
1st video, you say text book targeting. That's how they teach it at Texas. When your called for targeting & you go off the field laughing you should miss at least 5 games and then maybe you will understand.
I guarantee this rule is covered over and over again in training. The coaches know the rule, the players know the rule. But they continue to do it despite all the training and warnings. Kinda makes you question their intent and integrity.
In the Tenn. v S. Carolina kerfuffle, if the South Carolina player had lifted his head would the Tenn. player have been guilty of targeting since he would have initiated contact with the crown of his helmet?
The coaches are as much to blame as the player who committed the targeting. They don't appear to be doing anything to stop the players committing these offenses. To pat them on the back or head is ridiculous. They should all be kicked in the a**.
Discipline is considered abuse now unfortunately. Don't worry we will see the result of that in the next 10-20 years and everyone will miraculously wonder what happened lol
i have seen a lot of targeting calls that should have never been called, and have seen some that should have been call that weren't called, they need to redefined the rule.
A lot of these refs are betting on games they're assigned to. There's a reason why they call and look past stuff in each game. Sports gambling has ruined sports.
Yeah....the Penn State player was trying to get to the ball BY TAKING THE HEAD OFF OF THE PURDUE PLAYER! This was an open-and-shut case of targeting. No 11 of Penn State DESERVED to be ejected.
I never understood this rule they taught me when i first started playing football was head on ball so I understand trying to break a habit that you been doing as a child is hard
These announcers for their teams are absolutely despicable calling these plays I understand your announcing for your team and try to back them but saying that the obviously atrocious and disgusting hits are good hits is insane fire these guys these are kids out here shame on you for trying to justify when your players make obviously dirty and dangerous plays
A solid number of these clips aren't even good examples of targeting or even targeting. Football is supposed to be a hard contact sport and is supposed to be tough. Whiny little bitches have ruined it. I get the safety rules, but it's gotten to a point where defensive players can't do anything without getting a penalty.
They have a targeting rule, too. I personally think most of the players are just more mature and more professional -- mutually respecting other players -- so it doesn't happen as often. The refs are probably better trained, as well, which probably helps the calls being made more accurately.
The no yards penalty is pretty safe I rarely see someone ignore it in the CFL but it has happened. The CFL is better in almost every way except for having the same amount of people to support it lol...if it did it would definitely be the football people watch the most.
I don't care what Mike says #11 in white was never going for the ball, he went straight into the helmet then stood up & flexed never trying to get the ball. Even if he was going for the ball he still went into the head with the helmet.
By rule, as explained in this exact clip too, where the contact happens doesn’t matter as long as the forcible contact was with the crown of the helmet.
first time I seen the call against KY against Iowa and yes that should have been targeting and not happy with these other announcers calling Us buckeyes instead of Hawkeyes ugh This is the reason why I only listen to our own announcers
Why can the running back lower his head and lead with the crown of the helmet? When the rules first came out both offense and defense were abide by those rules.
The Ten - S Car should have been called against offense. Defensive player wasnt even moving. Runner lowered his head and lead with crown of helmet. Some of these should have never been called or called against offense.
Football is a game celebrated for its violence and played by violent men. Then we try to pretend that the violence doesn't exist by instituting these rules.
It's missing the TXST-Southern Miss targeting call with TXST #12 Tory Spears that was nowhere even close to targeting. It's just great football being played.
I watched three videos tonight of brutal tackles in the NFL from the 1970s .they were crushing train wrecks . I watched very closely for the lowering of their helmets and not one used their helmet. They were arm and body tackles. I played high school football then . You hit hard with your shoulder and wraped them up with your arms. There were times a hit sounded like the crack of a rifle which got the attention of the whole stadium. I don't get the concept of the helmet tackle at the head other than these cooking class majors are trying to injure the ball carrier .
My family lost a definite Superbowl winner in 91 due to targeting. It was swept under the rug. Nothing was ever done about it. My auntie passed away before they ever did anything to make change. 😕
I will never understand how teammates can high five they after a Targeting foul, you just cost the team 15 yards & got kicked out of the game. What is there to Congratulate someone about.
I hate Texas A&M but that first clip was the weakest targeting call I've seen in a while. Refs also shouldn't be throwing flags after they look at the slow replay on the jumbotron. Your job is to call shit as it happens at normal speed on the field.
If you don’t want any helmet to helmet contact….then just don’t let them use helmets! I mean some of these calls are just BS! I mean it’s football for christs sake!
might as well take tackling away and make it a 2 hand touch football you can't tackle without getting flagged or a targeting call its a shame you play football you know the consequences of playing
21:30 Sorry, that call is BS The WR is the one that went lower….. they are going to call thst just stop caring and get your moneys worth and KO the other player too
The rules don’t work. Players collide at different angles and heights that rules can’t account for. I think Targeting is pretty obvious. The player makes an effort to target, when a normal tackle would otherwise be made.
Wtf we got helmets for??? Football is a rough sport, that’s part of the game. Let me play. Idk a single real fan, especially SEC, that doesn’t like watching somebody get laid tf out
I have always hated targeting bc its like what is a defender supposed to do. your not supposed to lead with ur helmet but its physically impossible to do so
@@alexandergudajtes2468 It is OK to hit with your helmet first. It is not OK to use the crown of the helmet. There is no rule which says you get a penalty with a helmet first hit.