NFHS Survey up

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by OverAndBack

Does anybody really teach this tackle,

I was thinking the same thing -- that the previous poster was under some kind of misconception that collaring was a coached technique. It's such a difficult take-down, and so rarely useful, that nobody would waste time coaching it.

or is it more of an instinctive, oh-my-god-i-can-only-get-one-hand-on-the-runner-and-when-i-do-i'm-pulling kind of a deal? if guys were in better position or could tackle normally, maybe they wouldn't be in bad positions where their last resort is to reach out and pull.

A horse collar can only be done from behind the runner, and from there it's almost the only kind of tackle that can be done, unless you're faster than the runner and can overtake him. If you're not, about the only other way is to launch yourself at the runner's legs, which not only risks a kick in the face, but also can produce an ACL injury to the ballcarrier if you manage to get your shoulder on a leg. So it seems to me that allowing the horse collar would be safer than banning it.

Robert

[Mike L]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

What's to explain is whether the concussion was just coincidental, or whether there's something about collaring someone that makes a concussion more likely than by other forms of tackling. Seems to me it'd be less likely to cause a head hit than other types of tackling.

Robert

I guess that would depend on whether the back of the head bounces off the turf after the runner is pulled over backwards.

Originally Posted by OverAndBack

Does anybody really teach this tackle, or is it more of an instinctive, oh-my-god-i-can-only-get-one-hand-on-the-runner-and-when-i-do-i'm-pulling kind of a deal? if guys were in better position or could tackle normally, maybe they wouldn't be in bad positions where their last resort is to reach out and pull.

Maybe not directly taught, but indirectly implied when teaching tackling. In other words, coach says "if you miss a shot at wrapping his legs up, and you're behind him, do whatever you gotta do!"

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

A horse collar can only be done from behind the runner, and from there it's almost the only kind of tackle that can be done, unless you're faster than the runner and can overtake him. If you're not, about the only other way is to launch yourself at the runner's legs, which not only risks a kick in the face, but also can produce an ACL injury to the ballcarrier if you manage to get your shoulder on a leg. So it seems to me that allowing the horse collar would be safer than banning it.

And a horse collar can't cause an ACL injury? I believe the NFL banned it because some players were suffering serious knee injuries because of it.

[Theisey]

O&B has a good comment.. no coach I have ever known has taught this kind of tackle.
Making "legislation" to penalize it will not stop it. Maybe making it an auto-eject offense might, but even then I have doubts

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Theisey

O&B has a good comment.. no coach I have ever know as taught this kind of tackle.
Making "legislation" to penalize it will not stop it. Maybe making it an auto-eject offense might, but even then I have doubts

15 yards or touchdown, 15 yards or touchdown.......hmmmmm......they will still horse collar, regardless of the rules.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by Ref Ump Welsch

And a horse collar can't cause an ACL injury?

Not that it can't, only that it's much less likely to do so than a hit on the leg.