Football Panel Wants To Ban Wedge Blocking on Kickoffs

[JimSwinkLives!]

[SIZE=12pt]Football panel wants to stop wedge-blocking on kickoffs[/SIZE]



Apr 9, 2010 8:33:20 AM


The NCAA News
The NCAA Football Rules Committee is proposing to eliminate wedge-blocking formations of three or more players by the receiving team on kickoffs.

The Football Rules Committee is in its off year for making rules changes, but the group met recently via conference call because it believed an immediate change was necessary to better protect the student-athletes playing the game.

The proposal must be approved by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel, which will meet on a conference call Wednesday. PROP evaluates new rules in terms of effect on the image and integrity of the game, safety concerns, or financial impact on institutions.

A wedge is defined in the NCAA Football Rules Book as two or more players aligned shoulder to shoulder within two yards of each other.

In the proposal, a 15-yard penalty would be called for a team forming an illegal wedge. It will be considered a live-ball foul, regardless of whether there is contact between opponents.

The penalty would be marked from the spot of the foul or from the spot of where the kick returner was tackled if it is behind the spot where the illegal wedge was formed.

The formation of a wedge would not be illegal when the kick is from an obvious onside kick formation.

Members of the Football Rules Committee are:

Barry Alvarez - Wisconsin
Mike Bellotti - Oregon
Randy Edsall - Connecticut
Ky Snyder - University of San Diego
Kevin Higgins - The Citadel
Tony Samuel - Southest Missouri State
Pat Riepma - Northwood University
F. Todd Knight - Ouachita Baptist University
Rocky Rees - Shippensburg University
Frank Carl - Earlham College
Scott Dapp - Moravian College
Anthony Ierulli - Marryville College

 

[PurplePutt]

Why don't we eliminate blocking and tackling on KOs. I propose that the returner has to be touched by two opposing players. In this case players can link arms and form a circle around the return man. Opposing players would be allowed to break through the linked arms, ala red rover, but could not knock down another player. This would be much safer.

 

[satis1103]

QUOTE(PurplePutt @ Apr 9 2010, 10:04 AM) [snapback]542446[/snapback]
Why don't we eliminate blocking and tackling on KOs. I propose that the returner has to be touched by two opposing players. In this case players can link arms and form a circle around the return man. Opposing players would be allowed to break through the linked arms, ala red rover, but could not knock down another player. This would be much safer.

How 'bout we attach little pink flags to their belt and if the opposition can grab the flag the play is over.

 

[PurpleBlood87]

The NFL brought this rule in last season.

 

[desmith03]

QUOTE(PurplePutt @ Apr 9 2010, 10:04 AM) [snapback]542446[/snapback]
Why don't we eliminate blocking and tackling on KOs. I propose that the returner has to be touched by two opposing players. In this case players can link arms and form a circle around the return man. Opposing players would be allowed to break through the linked arms, ala red rover, but could not knock down another player. This would be much safer.


Even better idea! Let's make the players wear belts with two lightly-tethered pieces of fabric from them. Whenever one of the tethers is removed, the player is "down". Imagine how much money could be saved on pads!

 

[y2kFrog]

QUOTE(PurpleBlood87 @ Apr 9 2010, 07:10 AM) [snapback]542456[/snapback]
The NFL brought this rule in last season.

and did anybody notice anything different? On a related note, brings back memories of Logo.

 

[neo926]

QUOTE(PurpleBlood87 @ Apr 9 2010, 10:10 AM) [snapback]542456[/snapback]
The NFL brought this rule in last season.

Exactly. Didn't notice anything particularly different on kick returns. Don't see why there's all this complaining about it.

 

[oldscribe]

QUOTE(satis1103 @ Apr 9 2010, 09:06 AM) [snapback]542449[/snapback]
How 'bout we attach little pink flags to their belt and if the opposition can grab the flag the play is over.


I think that's already done at Marryville, Earlham and some of those other schools whose coaches are on the committee.

 

[BABYFACE]

So, that means a group of two players can still block down together, thus impact is not as substantial as some think. BUt also agree with other side that we are forgetting that FB is a full contact sport that is not for wussies.