Is face tackling legal?

[bigjohn]

We have found that eyes on the chest is the most likely way to get kids to keep their heads up and eyes open. When the eyes close the head goes down and the danger of neck injury increases. Even sliding the head to the side causes the head to drop. Shoulder tackling is not a good alternative because it also tends to cause the head to drop. The safest legal tackle is head up, eyes on chest butt low and make contact with chest, shoot the hands and grab cloth on the back.

I have been coaching through all of the tackling rule changes and have seen many form tackling techniques come and go. Any technique that doesn't have the kid's head up is dangerous.

[rockyroad]

Originally Posted by bigjohn

We have found that eyes on the chest is the most likely way to get kids to keep their heads up and eyes open. When the eyes close the head goes down and the danger of neck injury increases. Even sliding the head to the side causes the head to drop. Shoulder tackling is not a good alternative because it also tends to cause the head to drop. The safest legal tackle is head up, eyes on chest butt low and make contact with chest, shoot the hands and grab cloth on the back.

I have been coaching through all of the tackling rule changes and have seen many form tackling techniques come and go. Any technique that doesn't have the kid's head up is dangerous.

Very well said! We teach "eyes on the numbers" when closing, and "eyes to the sky" on contact. We want contact chest to chest and wrap and grab cloth.

The thing that frustrates me as a coach is when the ball carrier is allowed to lower his head and lead with his helmet into the defender. That's every bit as dangerous and is hardly ever flagged in my experience.

[KWH]

Originally Posted by rockyroad

The thing that frustrates me as a coach is when the ball carrier is allowed to lower his head and lead with his helmet into the defender. That's every bit as dangerous and is hardly ever flagged in my experience.

Perhap this Casebook play will assist in clearing the waters...

2009 CASEBOOK 9.4.3 SITUATION D (b)
Runner A1 breaks free beyond the neutral zone. (a) As B1 and B2 are closing to tackle him, A1 veers into B1 and deliberatly drives his helmet into B1's chest; or (b), as B1 and B2 attempt to bring him down, A1 lowers his head and drives forward for yardage and he contacts B1 and/or B2 with his helmet. RULING: Spearing by A1 in (a) as he uses his helmet to punish B1. It is a 15-yard penalty. If the spearing is flagarant, A1 must be disqualified. In (b), the lowering of the head to pick up additional yardage is not illegal unless it is done to punish an opponent or if he uses the helmet to butt or ram. The runner's normal reaction is to attempt to gain yardage when being tackled. The reason for including the runner in the spearing, butting, and ramming prohibition is to prevent him from using the helmet to abuse an opponent as well as protection of the player. The illegal helmet contact rules apply equally to all players