rule changes are now official ... forgive me if this needs translating

[FISHDAWG]

NCAA passes rule changes regarding targeting, jerseys, more

Posted by: Chris Vannini on March 7, 2013

The NCAA has announced a number of new rules to take effect in the 2013 season.

The most notable rule is regarding targeting. Players who target and hit defenseless players above the shoulders will be ejected, along with receiving a 15-yard penalty.


The rule will mirror fighting, where if a player is ejected in the first half, he must miss the entire game and if he is ejected in the second half, he must miss the first half of the next game. However, the ejection part of the penalty will be reviewable by video, and there must be conclusive evidence to overturn it. Conferences have the ability to add sanctions.

The concern with this rule is that officials might be discouraged from making the call, given the extreme punishments. The ability to review the ejection should help with that, though.

Another rule that was passed allows blocking below the waist in typical line play. The hope is to remove the confusion that recent changes to that rule have created.

One notable rule proposal that didn't pass is regarding jerseys or pants that match the color of the playing surface. Boise State is once again allowed to wear all-blue on their home turf. (Same with green teams with green fields).

Additional rules that were passed include:

- An automatic 10-second runoff if the clock must be stopped in the final minute of either half due to injury.

- Three seconds must run off in order to spike the ball. You can still run a play if less than three seconds remain.

- If a player changes numbers during the game, it must be reported to the referee. (Lane Kiffin made some headlines for doing this last season).

- Two players of the same position cannot wear the same number.

- Electronic communication between the on-field officiating crew is allowed.

- Instant replay can adjust the clock at the end of each quarter (rather than only each half).

- Jerseys must have clearly visible numbers that measure 8x10 inches and are one solid color that contrasts the jersey (not including outline). This will begin in FBS this season, but not until next season for FCS, Division II and Division III.

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Chris Vannini is the lead writer for CoachingSearch.com and has covered Michigan State sports for The State News, The Oakland Press and MLive.com. He writes a weekly column for the Detroit Free Press on behalf of SB Nation. Vannini lives in Big Ten country, so his foot speed is far from SEC caliber, but his pulse on coaches is hard to match. Be sure to follow @CoachingBuzz on twitter and send your feedback to [email protected]

 

[patdog]

- Two players of the same position cannot wear the same number.

Looks like no more 5 #40s at kicker for us any more. Same with Georgia having 2 #1s at running back a year or 2 ago. This is a long-needed rule. Doesn't go quite as far as it should, but it is a big improvement.

 

[FlabLoser]

- An automatic 10-second runoff if the clock must be stopped in the final minute of either half due to injury.

OK, I'm calling the NCAA's players safety bluff here. This rule encourages injured players to stay on the field. Ridiculous.


- Three seconds must run off in order to spike the ball. You can still run a play if less than three seconds remain.

WTF? What problem is this trying to solve? Can a QB take a snap and throw a pass out of bounds and not have a 3 second runoff?

 

[benatmsu]

- Three seconds must run off in order to spike the ball. You can still run a play if less than three seconds remain.

WTF? What problem is this trying to solve? Can a QB take a snap and throw a pass out of bounds and not have a 3 second runoff?

If I had to guess, I'd say there were instances in the past where, say after a first down was gained and the clock was stopped, the QB hurries to the line and spikes it, and only a fraction of a second runs off the clock. Opposing coach gets pissed because he feels a couple should've run off. I think it's silly. Why is that different than any other timed play? The ball is dead when it's incomplete. And I think 3 seconds is a bit long as well.

 

[starkvegasdawg]

I absolutely hated that defenseless player rule. I hate it even more now that the player is being ejected. I think there should be an avenue that the entire penalty be disavowed if replay shows the offensive player changed his position at the last minute and caused the head to head hit. Or what about a RB busting through the line and lowering his head to spear a LB. I assume that is still ok. Too many contradictions and not allowing the players to play the game. The 15 yards is bad enough. The ejection is just too much.

 

[ckDOG]

Those rules are dumb.

- An automatic 10-second runoff if the clock must be stopped in the final minute of either half due to injury.

OK, I'm calling the NCAA's players safety bluff here. This rule encourages injured players to stay on the field. Ridiculous.


- Three seconds must run off in order to spike the ball. You can still run a play if less than three seconds remain.

WTF? What problem is this trying to solve? Can a QB take a snap and throw a pass out of bounds and not have a 3 second runoff?

10 second runoff for injuries? Even if were applied only in situations to prevent a team from calling a timeout via injury, you are now providing an incentive for a player with a real injury to further hurt himself by removing himself from the field when he shouldn't. If the NCAA is as mindful of player safety as they claim to be, they wouldn't put this rule into place.

The 3 seconds for a clocking the ball seems unnecessary if they would enforce having to be set for 1 second (pretty sure that's in the "shift" rule, could be wrong though) before the snap. If you can be set for a second, snap the ball, and spike it into the ground before time runs out, then you are doing your job.

 

[patdog]

- An automatic 10-second runoff if the clock must be stopped in the final minute of either half due to injury.

OK, I'm calling the NCAA's players safety bluff here. This rule encourages injured players to stay on the field. Ridiculous.

It also encourages a player on a team with a lead to take a dive and grab his knee when the clock hits 10 seconds.

 

[EurekaDog]

I assume the "10 sec. runoff" only applies if an Offensive player....

is injured.

Otherwise, with less than two minutes to go, defensive guys would be faking injuries on every play.

 

[ckDOG]

Will be interesting to see how it plays out.

I absolutely hated that defenseless player rule. I hate it even more now that the player is being ejected. I think there should be an avenue that the entire penalty be disavowed if replay shows the offensive player changed his position at the last minute and caused the head to head hit. Or what about a RB busting through the line and lowering his head to spear a LB. I assume that is still ok. Too many contradictions and not allowing the players to play the game. The 15 yards is bad enough. The ejection is just too much.

I'm glad they made the ejection part reviewable and not automatic. That helps a little to make sure the penalty isn't too harsh. I just hope they apply the same judgment they would in any flagrant foul when determining ejection. As you stated, sometimes it's just hard to avoid above the shoulder contact with a defenseless player - ejection isn't merited in those times.

Head to head contact between RBs and LBs still will be and always has been legal. Those players don't qualify as "defenseless" when they are in the act of engaging each other. However, the head to head contact can't involve leading with the crown of the helmet. In my opinion, if the NCAA wants to improve safety, they would start flagging players who lead with the crown of their helmet in any circumstance. You don't really see that penalty called unless it involves a defenseless player. Leading with the crown is unsafe for all parties regardless if there is a defenseless player involved.

 

[patdog]

It's actually even more unsafe for the player leading with the crown. That's a real good way to wind up in a wheelchair the rest of your life.

 

[ckDOG]

I'm surprised we dont' see more spine injuries.

It's actually even more unsafe for the player leading with the crown. That's a real good way to wind up in a wheelchair the rest of your life.

Leading with the crown is a Day 1 of pee wee football lesson you are breaking. Football is inherently dangerous, but at least leading with your face mask takes some pressure off your spine. You can still play hard without turning yourself into a missile.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

Teams are going to get screwed with the targeting penalty. I can understand the 15 yards but ejecting is a little harsh.

 

[shotgunDawg]

It also encourages a player on a team with a lead to take a dive and grab his knee when the clock hits 10 seconds.

Hopefully, common sense will prevail here because this is certainly a loophole in the rule. I can see it now, MSU ball, down by 2 with 1:00 minute left to play against LSU this year and we are driving. LSU's D-Tackle goes down with an injury and 10 seconds run off. Then with 3 seconds left to play in the game, we can't spike the ball quick enough to get off a game winning field goal attempt. We would have potentially won the game if the LSU defensive player didn't fake an injury. Also, whats to keep 4 or 5 LSU players from faking injuries and running out the entire last minute of the game?

Surely common sense will prevail in the these situations and the losing team won't be penalized on offense, when the winning team fakes an injury or even has a real one. This can't happen.

 

[FlabLoser]

Teams are going to get screwed with the targeting penalty. I can understand the 15 yards but ejecting is a little harsh.

Lets remember that some teams are allowed to souplex players WWE style. Those teams will be allowed to target players too.

 

[GloryDawg]

I am sure Alabama will be exempted from these rules when they arise.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

Exactly. It will be selective enforcement.

 

[DAWG61]

Who wore same colored numbers and 17ed that up for everyone? So Boise can blend into the turf but oh hell no you don't dare wear the same color numbers as jerseys!! Wtf

 

[drt7891]

Arkansas wore these black ones this past year. You could hardly see the bottoms of the numbers on TV.

 

[DAWG61]

That's it? Shiiiat I was expecting some blue on blue or Oregon white on white.

 

[thekimmer]

Hmmm....what about the down field block?...

I'm glad they made the ejection part reviewable and not automatic. That helps a little to make sure the penalty isn't too harsh. I just hope they apply the same judgment they would in any flagrant foul when determining ejection. As you stated, sometimes it's just hard to avoid above the shoulder contact with a defenseless player - ejection isn't merited in those times.

Head to head contact between RBs and LBs still will be and always has been legal. Those players don't qualify as "defenseless" when they are in the act of engaging each other. However, the head to head contact can't involve leading with the crown of the helmet. In my opinion, if the NCAA wants to improve safety, they would start flagging players who lead with the crown of their helmet in any circumstance. You don't really see that penalty called unless it involves a defenseless player. Leading with the crown is unsafe for all parties regardless if there is a defenseless player involved.

You know the one where a ball carrier is running down field with a defender in close pursuit who gets ear-holed by a blocker angling across the field at full sprint. That one has never come up as a defenseless player but is one if there ever was one. Just saying.

 

[patdog]

There have been plenty of worse examples. Including our maroon numbers on black jerseys a couple of years ago.