NCAA approves rule changes for 2012 college football season

#1
TrueOrange

TrueOrange

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Playing Rules Oversight Panel approves rules changes in football, other sports - NCAA.org

The Playing Rules Oversight Panel (PROP) during its conference call on Tuesday approved moving the kickoff and touchback lines beginning with the 2012 football season.

Next fall, teams will kick off at the 35-yard line instead of the 30. Also, players on the kicking team can’t line up for the play behind the 30-yard line, which is intended to limit the running start kicking teams used to have during the play.

Also, touchbacks on free kicks will be moved to the 25-yard line instead of the 20 to encourage more touchbacks. Touchbacks on other plays (for example, punts that go into the end zone, or fumbles that go out of the end zone) will remain at the 20-yard line.

The recommended changes came from the Football Rules Committee after that group examined NCAA data showing that injuries during kickoffs occur more often than in other phases of the game.

Another new rule that goes into effect next season is if a player loses his helmet (other than as the result of a foul by the opponent, such as a facemask), it will be treated like an injury. The player must leave the game and is not allowed to participate for the next play.

Current injury timeout rules guard against using this rule to gain an advantage from stopping the clock. Additionally, if a player loses his helmet, he must not continue to participate in the play, in order to protect him from injury.

Data from the 2011 season indicated that helmets came off of players more than twice per game.

The rules panel also approved new wording in the football rules book regarding blocking below the waist. Offensive players in the tackle box at the snap who are not in motion are allowed to block below the waist legally without restriction. All other players are restricted from blocking below the waist with a few exceptions (for example, straight-ahead blocks).

There will also be a new rule prohibiting players from leaping over blockers in an attempt to block a punt. Receiving-team players trying to jump over a shield-blocking scheme has become popular for teams in punt formation. Receiving-team players try to defeat this scheme by rushing into the backfield to block a punt. In some cases, these players are contacted and end up flipping in the air and landing on their head or shoulders.

The Football Rules Committee raised concern about this type of action and proposed a rule similar to the leaping rule on place kicks that does not allow the receiving team to jump over blockers, unless the player jumps straight up or between two players.
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#2
#2
shorter summary of changes:

1. Kickoffs will move from the 30-yard line to the 35. Expect more touchbacks and fewer returns.

2. Players on the kick coverage units cannot line up more than five yards off the ball. This prevents them from getting a longer, running start which should lessen the impact of some collisions.

3. Touchbacks on free kicks — ie: kickoffs — will bring the ball out to the 25-yard line rather than to the 20. Again, the goal is to encourage more touchbacks and less returns. Punts and other plays that go into the end zone — ie: fumbles through the end zone — will still be brought out to the 20.

4. If a player loses his helmet, it will be treated as an injury and the player must leave the field of play for one play. Expect to see more players buckle their chin straps in 2012. (In case you’re wondering, this rule does not apply if an opponent rips or “facemasks” a player’s helmet off.)

5. Offensive players in the tackle box at the snap of the ball who are not in motion will be allowed to block below the waist legally and without restriction. However, all other players are restricted from blocking below the waist with only a few exceptions (such as straight-ahead blocks).

6. Players will be prohibited from jumping over blockers in an attempt to block a punt.

The changes come about after NCAA studies showed that more injuries occur during kick returns than during other parts of the game… and that more than two players per game lost their helmets during 2011 contests.

We at MrSEC.com have no problems with rules designed to make the game safer. Most fans who do complain about such rules don’t have sons on kick coverage units.

The only rule that will take some getting used to from our perspective is the kickoff touchback being brought out to the 25-yard line. We likely won’t be the only ones. Get ready for a lot of, “Why’d our punt touchback just come out to the 20 when their kickoff touchback came to the 25″ calls on talk radio.
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#3
#3
The kickoff rules changes should be great for Tennessee. It seemed like we consistently lost field position all season on the exchange of kickoffs. I got tired of seemingly always starting at the 20, while our opponents started at the 35. That's not an official stat, just what it felt like to me.
 
#4
#4
I wonder what the penalty will be if your helmet comes off by accident and you make the tackle.
 
#7
#7
Don't understand how the kickoff rule encourages touchbacks. If anything, it discourages it. Maybe they meant the 15 instead of the 25? If not, wtf??
 
#8
#8
I think they're trying to get returners to down it in the endzone, instead of running it out. But really, how often does that happen? And how much is 5 more yards gonna change their mindset? Still a nonsense change.
 
#9
#9
the.one.the.only said:
Don't understand how the kickoff rule encourages touchbacks. If anything, it discourages it. Maybe they meant the 15 instead of the 25? If not, wtf??
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I believe the 25 yard spot is to discourage returners from taking it out of the endzone
 
#11
#11
The 35 yard line is no big deal. but making it the 25 yard line on a touchback is. That's almost something the manatees who make family guy would do.
 
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#12
#12
Of all the things to change in the sport, why are the football powers that be so fixated with monkeying around the kickoffs?
 
#13
#13
While I'm not a huge fan of the kickoff changes, I REALLY don't like the new helmet rule. Having to sit out a play because your helmet comes off (for reasons other than the opposition ripping it off) could really change a game....
Imagine on a 2nd down play that Bray drops back and is hit - and loses his helmet - as he makes the pass. That means, unless the pass was completed for a 1st down, the ensuing 3rd down must be run with a *new* QB, who is probably not even remotely warm... If this happens early in a game, it may not be a big deal, but imagine if this happens late in a tight ballgame in Athens or Columbia :/
Oh well, rant over, haha.
 
#15
#15
The rules committee should go ahead and save themselves alot of time over the next few years and make everyone wear red and yellow flags on their hips this year.
 
#16
#16
rockytop9808 said:
Stupid changes.

When will the big conferences do their thing and secede from the farce that is the NCAA?
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...Never

Not unless all the athletic departments were to somehow become their own separate entities from the universities first
 
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