Quote:
Originally Posted by bigjohn
the NCAA changed the
spearing rule effective for the
2005 football season. The
word “intent” was removed
from the rule. In reviewing
statistics from the season
following the rule change,
there was essentially no
change in enforcement in
collegiate football. According
to the 2005 NCAA Football
Consolidated Foul Reports,
21 total spearing calls were
made and 21 calls for
butting, ramming with the
helmet.
So this article is incorrect?
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The article was written by a trainer. He is not expected to know the rule or how we are taught to enforce it. He knows how HE would like to see it handled and maybe how his trainer's association would like to see it handled, but that is NOT necessarily the way it is handled. There was all kinds of hoopla when the NCAA rule was changed but the change was not that much of a change. Even though the word intentional was taken out, it was rewritten to say it was a foul if the contact was done to punish an opponent. To most of us, that still implies there must be intent. "Spearing" was removed completly from the rulebook this year. Now the rule simply says it is a foul to "initiate contact and target an opponent with the crown (top) of the helmet." Maybe I read this with a law enforcement officer bias but if I see a criminal statute that says it is illegal to "initiate" an act and to "target" someone, that ABSOLUTELY implies there must be intent.