Quote:
Originally Posted by rockyroad
The thing that frustrates me as a coach is when the ball carrier is allowed to lower his head and lead with his helmet into the defender. That's every bit as dangerous and is hardly ever flagged in my experience.
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Perhap this Casebook play will assist in clearing the waters...
2009 CASEBOOK 9.4.3 SITUATION D (b)
Runner A1 breaks free beyond the neutral zone. (a) As B1 and B2 are closing to tackle him, A1 veers into B1 and deliberatly drives his helmet into B1's chest; or (b), as B1 and B2 attempt to bring him down, A1 lowers his head and drives forward for yardage and he contacts B1 and/or B2 with his helmet.
RULING: Spearing by A1 in (a) as he uses his helmet to punish B1. It is a 15-yard penalty. If the spearing is flagarant, A1 must be disqualified. In (b), the lowering of the head to pick up additional yardage is not illegal unless it is done to punish an opponent or if he uses the helmet to butt or ram. The runner's normal reaction is to attempt to gain yardage when being tackled. The reason for including the runner in the spearing, butting, and ramming prohibition is to prevent him from using the helmet to abuse an opponent as well as protection of the player. The illegal helmet contact rules apply equally to all players