Fun With An Elbow To The Throat ...

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I did not that there was absolutely no contact with the opponent. I am saying that this should have been a foul long before this action at the end. And just because you make contact with the head and neck area, does not constitution under the rules an intentional foul automatically.

Never said that you believed that there was no contact, just that you believed (possibly correct) that the was no contact between a moving elbow and her throat.

Originally Posted by JRutledge

This is not a blow to the head or neck.

Sure, lots of chances to call a foul here, but none were called. I'm just referring to the contact that caused her head to snap back (no whistle in the video).

Yes, the current NFHS rulebbok (and casebook) doesn't specifically (excessive contact above the shoulder situations) call for an intentional foul here (unless one deems it excessive contact), but there was a Point of Emphasis in 2012-13 that told us specifically what to do with moving elbows causing contact above the shoulders.

Did the NFHS only want these "guidelines" enforced for that one year? I doubt it.

How long did they expect these "guidelines" to be enforced? Two years? Five years? More? Probably until there's a new relevant or pertinent rule, or a new relevant or pertinent interpretation, or a new relevant or pertinent Point of Emphasis. Or relevant or pertinent rules (or interpretations) changed to make these "guidelines" null and void.

Does the NFHS still want high school officials to enforce these "guidelines"? Not sure, but leaning yes.

How are officials with less than eight years of experience supposed to know about these "guidelines"? Experienced trainers (but that's a weak answer, the NFHS dropped the ball on this one).

Have any relevant or pertinent rules (or interpretations) changed over the years to make these "guidelines" null and void? I don't believe so.

Has the NFHS decided that it no longer wants (or needs) to reduce concussions and decrease excessive contact above the shoulder situations? I doubt it.

Does the NCAA do a better job adjudicating excessive contact above the shoulder situations? I've heard yes, but I don't "work" for the NCAA and I like to wait until NCAA interpretations "officially" trickle down to the high school level (as they often do) and want to avoid jumping the gun.

Stupid NFHS.