SR53

A Senate Resolution urging the National Collegiate Athletic Association to strictly enforce college football rules prohibiting contact by or to a player’s head or helmet.

Whereas, By its very nature, football is a rough contact sport that includes bodily impact and collisions between opposing players during the course of a game; and

Whereas, On the whole, players today are bigger, stronger, and faster than ever before, and the sheer force with which many of the tackles, blocks, and hits, especially helmet-to-helmet hits, are delivered can cause serious damage to a player; and

Whereas, To safeguard against many serious and life-threatening injuries, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), which governs college football, has instituted rules concerning the conduct of players when initiating contact and targeting an opponent; and

Whereas, According to Rule 9, Section 1, Article 3 (9-1-3) in the NCAA’s 2017 Football Rules and Interpretations, “no player shall target and make forcible contact against an opponent with the crown (top) of his helmet”; and

Whereas, Rule 9, Section 1, Article 4 (9-1-4) prohibits a player from targeting and making forcible contact to the head or neck of a defenseless opponent; and

Whereas, Violations of these rules are usually considered personal fouls and the team of the player who commits the foul is penalized 15 yards, and if the foul is determined to be a flagrant foul, the offender is disqualified for the remainder of the game; and

Whereas, According to Rule 9-6-2, if the subsequent review of a game by a conference reveals plays involving flagrant personal fouls that game officials did not call, including Rules 9-1-3 and 9-1-4, the conference may impose sanctions prior to the next scheduled game; and

Whereas, In addition to rules prohibiting a player from striking another with his helmet, NCAA rules also prohibit a player from striking an opponent’s helmet (including the facemask), neck and face with his knee, extended forearm, elbow, locked hands, palm, fist, or the heel, back or side of his open hand; and

Whereas, With the exception of certain instances by or against the ball carrier, all but the most incidental and unavoidable acts of contact by or to a player’s head or helmet are prohibited in college football; and

Whereas, Contact to a player’s head or helmet can result in serious injuries, especially when the contact is made by an opposing player’s helmet. In order to reduce the amount of serious injuries and to promote the safety of the players, it is imperative that the NCAA strictly enforce its rules prohibiting contact to a player’s head or helmet by ensuring that fouls are called during games, that flagrant offenders are disqualified from games, and that additional sanctions are imposed if needed to create a college football culture that has zero tolerance for such infractions; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:

1. This House urges the National Collegiate Athletic Association to strictly enforce its college football rules prohibiting contact by or to a player’s head or helmet to promote the safety of the players and to help safeguard against serious and life-threatening injuries.

2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to each member of the governing body of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

STATEMENT

This Senate resolution urges the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to strictly enforce its college football rules prohibiting contact by or to a player’s head or helmet to help ensure player safety.

Rule 9, Section 1, Article 3 (9-1-3) in the NCAA’s 2017 Football Rules and Interpretations, states that “no player shall target and make forcible contact against an opponent with the crown (top) of his helmet.” Also, Rule 9-1-4 prohibits a player from targeting and making forcible contact against a defenseless opponent above the shoulders. In addition to rules prohibiting a player from striking another with his helmet, NCAA rules also prohibit a player from striking an opponent’s helmet (including the facemask), neck and face with his knee, extended forearm, elbow, locked hands, palm, fist, or the heel, back or side of his open hand. Players who violate these rules are penalized and in some circumstances may be disqualified for the remainder of the game or receive sanctions prior to their next scheduled game.

Contact to a player’s head or helmet can result in serious injuries, especially when the contact is made by an opposing player’s helmet. In order to reduce the amount of serious injuries and to promote the safety of the players, it is imperative that the NCAA strictly enforce its rules prohibiting contact to a player’s head or helmet.