Hands to the head

[mikesears]

Another NFL question, but I can also see benefit in talking about the legal use of hands in other rules codes.


Is it legal to contact an opponent (who is not a runner) above the shoulders and if so, when?

NFL Rule 12-2-1c: All players are prohibited from striking swinging, or clubbing to the head, neck, or face with the heel, back, or side of the hand, wrist, forearm, elbow, or clasped hands (See 12-2-3).

NFL Rule 12-2-2: A defensive player shall not contact an opponent above the shoulders with the palm of his hands except to ward him off on the line. The exception applies only if it is not a repeated act against the same opponent during any one contact.

Rule 12-2-3: A defensive player may use the palm of his hands on an opponent's head, neck, or face only to ward off or push him in an actual attempt to get at a loose ball.

I want to see if I am understanding and interpretting this correctly. If a hand contacts an opponent anywhere above the shoulders, it must not be in a striking action and the contact must be with the palm (i.e more fingers than wrist). If the hand stays there, it may not be removed and placed above the head again during the same contact without penalty.

[MJT]

Originally posted by mikesears
Another NFL question, but I can also see benefit in talking about the legal use of hands in other rules codes.

Is it legal to contact an opponent (who is not a runner) above the shoulders and if so, when?

NFL Rule 12-2-1c: All players are prohibited from striking swinging, or clubbing to the head, neck, or face with the heel, back, or side of the hand, wrist, forearm, elbow, or clasped hands (See 12-2-3).

NFL Rule 12-2-2: A defensive player shall not contact an opponent above the shoulders with the palm of his hands except to ward him off on the line. The exception applies only if it is not a repeated act against the same opponent during any one contact.

Rule 12-2-3: A defensive player may use the palm of his hands on an opponent's head, neck, or face only to ward off or push him in an actual attempt to get at a loose ball.

I want to see if I am understanding and interpretting this correctly. If a hand contacts an opponent anywhere above the shoulders, it must not be in a striking action and the contact must be with the palm (i.e more fingers than wrist). If the hand stays there, it may not be removed and placed above the head again during the same contact without penalty.

In short, NO.

Rule 3-3 covers blocking. Legal blocking in (a) and (b) state "on or inside the opponents frame", and (c) states "as the play develops, a blocker is permitted to work for and maintain position on an opponent as long as he does not push from behind or clip illegally."

Under rule 3 - illegal blocking (d) "Hands cannot be thrust forward above the frame (opponent's body below the neck that is presented to the blocker) to contact an opponent on the neck, face, or head."

That being said, I see it where they will start out in the frame and then slide up into the head region. Unless flagerant that 1st time, I usually will tell them after that play, "it is a 15 yard penalty next time your hands end up at the head." That takes care of business and at the same time they are usually saying how they just "slipped" up there. My comment, "they had better not slip again."

[mikesears]

Okay, I am understanding a litte more, but I don't think I fully understand the exception for the defense.

The offense may NEVER place there hands on an opponent above the shoulders. The foul is a personal foul for illegal hands to the face.

But, from what I am reading, a defender may place the hands (not swing) above the shoulders to ward off an offensive player at the line of scrimmage provided the hand contact is not repeated during the same contact with the blocker. They may also use hands above the shoulder to ward him off or push him in an attempt to get to loose ball.


Does this make better sense?

Under Fed, I know hand or arm contact can never be made to the kneck or head (unless a player ducks).

[MJT]

Originally posted by mikesears
Okay, I am understanding a litte more, but I don't think I fully understand the exception for the defense.

The offense may NEVER place there hands on an opponent above the shoulders. The foul is a personal foul for illegal hands to the face.

But, from what I am reading, a defender may place the hands (not swing) above the shoulders to ward off an offensive player at the line of scrimmage provided the hand contact is not repeated during the same contact with the blocker. They may also use hands above the shoulder to ward him off or push him in an attempt to get to loose ball.

Does this make better sense?

Under Fed, I know hand or arm contact can never be made to the kneck or head (unless a player ducks).

That would be my understanding. The defensive play you are talking about is the rip technique, which is used by defensive ends often and leads to one of the holding exceptions the NFL has.