Helmet-to-helmet collision explained

Helmet-to-helmet collisions are occurrences in gridiron football when two players' football helmets make head-to-head contact with a high degree of force. Intentionally causing a helmet-to-helmet collision is a penalty in most football leagues, including many high school leagues.[1]

Despite its long association with American football, this type of contact is now considered to be dangerous play by league authorities due to the potential of causing serious injury. Major football leagues, such as the National Football League (NFL), Canadian Football League (CFL), and NCAA, have taken a tougher stance on helmet-to-helmet collisions after the US Congress launched an investigation into the effects repeated concussions have on football players and the new discoveries of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).[2] Other possible injuries include head traumas, spinal cord injuries, and even death. Helmet manufacturers are constantly improving their designs in order to best protect their users against injuries from such collisions.[3]

The crackdown on helmet-to-helmet collisions has resulted in reappraisals of the sport. An image of two helmets smashing together—which had been a staple for 20 years—was dropped in 2006 from Monday Night Football on ESPN. The NFL also ordered Toyota Motor Company to stop using a similar helmet collision in its advertisements.[4]

Rules by league

Opposition to helmet-to-helmet collision bans

Despite the safety concerns, in 2010, some professional football players criticized bans on helmet-to-helmet collisions on the basis that gridiron football is a game that is supposed to be composed of the world's biggest and best athletes, and placing such restrictions "waters down" the game.[13]

The NHL is also fighting the narrative that concussions cause CTE.[14]

Effects

Helmet-to-helmet collisions can cause major problems on and off the field. The main effect of helmet to helmet collisions is concussions. There are about 3.8 million sports related concussions in the United States every year, but up to half of them are not reported.[15] Experiencing a concussion increases one's likelihood of getting another.[16] Head-to-head collisions and resulting concussions may occur in a variety of sports, including football, hockey and lacrosse.[17]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: High School Football Rules Changes Continue Focus on Risk Minimization. www.nfhs.org. 2018-10-11.
  2. News: Helmet-to-helmet hypocrisy: NFL, NCAA blame football players - when the problem is football programs. Gill. Sam. October 27, 2010. New York Daily News. 13 December 2011.
  3. Book: Garrett, Melanie. Under His Helmet: A Football Devotional. 23. 9781617391743. December 2010. Tate .
  4. News: N.F.L.'s Policy on Helmet-to-Helmet Hits Makes Highlights Distasteful. Thomas. Katie. October 21, 2010. New York Times. 9 December 2011.
  5. News: Concussions: the CFL's rules and the impact on defensive players. Bucholtz. Andrew. Yahoo Sports. 27 December 2011.
  6. Book: Nowinski, Christopher. Head games: football's concussion crisis from the NFL to youth leagues. 104–05. 9781597630139. September 2006. Chris Nowinski .
  7. Web site: Replay officials given greater input on targeting penalty calls next season. 8 March 2016.
  8. Web site: College football's rules committee to consider middle ground on targeting calls . Usatoday.com . 2021-11-19.
  9. Web site: NFL Rules & Regulations for Helmet to Helmet. 2021-12-02. SportsRec. en.
  10. News: NFL officials just OK'd a rule that brings the NCAA's 'targeting' calls to the big leagues. D'Andrea. Christian. March 28, 2017. SBNation.com. 5 August 2017.
  11. News: Steelers LB James Harrison suspended one game. Klemko. Robert. December 13, 2011. USA Today. 13 December 2011.
  12. Web site: Austro. Ben. June 16, 2021. Official Playing Rules of the National Football League. NFL.
  13. News: Can Football Finally Tackle Its Injury Problem?. https://web.archive.org/web/20101024001309/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2027053,00.html. dead. October 24, 2010. Gregory. Sean. Oct 22, 2010. Time Magazine. December 13, 2011.
  14. News: The Tragic Post-Hockey Life of an NHL 'Enforcer' . 25 April 2019 .
  15. Harmon . Kimberly G. . Drezner . Jonathan . Gammons . Matthew . Guskiewicz . Kevin . Halstead . Mark . Herring . Stan . Kutcher . Jeff . Pana . Andrea . Putukian . Margot . Roberts . William . American Medical Society for Sports Medicine Position Statement . Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine . January 2013 . 23 . 1 . 1–18 . 10.1097/jsm.0b013e31827f5f93. 23269325 . 52717 . free .
  16. Web site: HEADS UP Concussion in Youth Sports: Online Training Transcript . . 31 October 2019.
  17. Gruson . Damien . Football, concussions and biomarkers: Ready for more touchdowns? . Clinical Biochemistry . September 2014 . 47 . 13–14 . 1345–1346 . 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2014.04.085. 24915633 .