Targeting calls - Week 1 (Video)

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Actually no. If you use your head illegally your arms are not helping avoid a foul. Players will wrap and hit a receiver or passer high anyway.

No, I don't mean a situation where you're using your own head illegally, but using your opponent's head illegally, as in this video. If #14 instead of rotating at the shoulders had extended his arms and wound up hitting the opponent's head or neck w his hand, is that a foul? Is it the same kind of foul?

[CT1]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

No, I don't mean a situation where you're using your own head illegally, but using your opponent's head illegally, as in this video. If #14 instead of rotating at the shoulders had extended his arms and wound up hitting the opponent's head or neck w his hand, is that a foul? Is it the same kind of foul?

See the FED rule I quoted above. A striking blow with the hands to an opponent’s head is a foul.

But that wasn’t my point. A defender who attempts to push a runner OOB (or to the ground) probably isn’t aiming for the head, and is much less likely to be flagged for targeting. This defender intentionally led with his shoulder.