Illegal Helmet Contact
 

Since the word "intentional" has been taken out of the spearing rule this year. Have you found you're calling more Illegal Helmet Contact penalties. I've called three this year.

I've called it twice. It wasn't a popular call either time. I even had one coach as me why there wasn't a warning. I asked if I should also warn when I see a facemask or clip.

Joking aside, this is one foul that I feel we're all guilty of not calling enough.

Our crew has had one.

It is a really tough call. You could call it on the runner more than anyone, as they put their head down all the time. If it is not with the top of the helmet, it is tough one to call.

I agree, it is a tough call to make. We've all been conditioned to look at a runner lowering his head as he goes through a hole as 'hard running'.

Well, the first one I hade was pretty easy. The tackler came in, lowered his head, and hit the runner so hard he knocked his helmet off.

I think White Hats are more inclined to make that call against the QB. Otherwise, I am not seeing anything out of the ordinary regarding the call.

I have called it more this year than in the past, but this foul is a point of emphasis with me. I really try to not call the contact when the runner lowers his head. But when the tackler lowers his I watch for contact directly on the top or forehead area of the helmet. I also look for the defender coming in with the helmet, usually diving. I'm also glad to note that most coaches often react toward the player the way we would if it was our kid. One coach told me that my flag was the third IHC foul for the same player this year. I wonder why it takes at least three flags to understand.

Our crew worked a game early this season when we DQ'd a defender who speared a downed runner. Three flags lay on the ground when it happened. It was vicious, and intentional too.

A while ago David Pollack of the Bengals broke his neck making a helmet first tackle. The next day Marvin Lewis said David did it "just like we teach them". I was amazed he would say that, and more amazed they teach that. Maybe that's why the kid above had three such fouls this year.

In our pre-game with the coaches we warned them that would be an emphasis on what we watched, we as a crew averaged one a week for about the first 6 weeks, after that they seemed to have stopped.

When the coaches complain about it just remind them that one of the main reasons we are out there is for the safety of the kids playing.

I haven't seen much of that called in my area. I called it once this year during a JV game, and it was blatant: The tackler put his head down and straight into the chest of the runner while running full speed. I flagged it, and the tackler couldn't believe I'd called a foul on him. His coaches didn't like it either.

I wouldn't be inclined to throw the flag on a runner. I think that's just part of playing football. If Walter Payton did it, I'm not flagging it.