Targeting (American Football)

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Targeting is a violation of the rules in American football, which is played under NCAA rules . It prohibits any forced contact with the helmet, forearm, shoulder, hand, fist and elbow to the head and neck area of a defenseless player (defenseless player) as well as any forced contact with his own helmet crown. The rule violation is punished with a loss of space of 15 yards and the automatic exclusion of the foul player. If the exclusion takes place in the second half of a game, the player is also banned for the first half of the following game. If the technical possibility exists, the targeting decision is automatically and immediately checked by means of video evidence.

Targeting was added to the rules in 2008 as an independent rule violation, initially without an automatic game exclusion. This was only added for the 2013 season. Since the 2016 season, the video referee can also request a review of the video material if he is of the opinion that the field referees have not seen a targeting.

In the NCAA FBS, the pronouncement of the penalty has risen sharply since 2013. While there were 0.04 penalties for targeting per game in the 2013 season, it was 0.17 in the 2016 season. The reason for the increased use is assumed to be the increasing self-confidence of the referees when interpreting the penalty.

The rule is received controversially. In particular, the large scope for interpretation in the early days was controversial, whereupon the NCAA changed the rules to limit the scope. Some see automatic game exclusion as too harsh and suggest that targeting it could change an entire game.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Targeting doesn't just mean 'helmet-to-helmet.' Read the actual NCAA football rule. SB Nation, accessed December 17, 2017 .
  2. ↑ Busting 4 myths about college football's targeting rule. SB Nation, accessed December 17, 2017 .
  3. ^ A new process implemented for targeting fouls review. NCAA, October 4, 2013, accessed December 17, 2017 .
  4. ^ Football Rules Committee recommends ejection for targeting defenseless players. NCAA, accessed December 17, 2017 .
  5. ↑ a b Targeting: College football's most hated rule here to stay. Retrieved December 17, 2017 .
  6. ^ NCAA Targeting Rule Frustrating for Fans, Necessary for Game. Bleacher Report, accessed December 17, 2017 .