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Rule changes for football kickoffs in 2012

  • Sorry if this was already posted...

    The Playing Rules Oversight Panel has approved moving the kickoff and touchback lines beginning with the 2012 football season.

    Teams will kick off from 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 by kicking teams.

    Touchbacks will be moved to the 25 instead of the 20 to encourage fewer returns. Touchbacks on other plays like punts that go into the end zone will remain at the 20.

    The changes are a result of NCAA data showing that injuries during kickoffs occur more often than in other phases of the game.

    Another new rule change that seems a bit odd to me. If a player loses his helmet (other than as the result of 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. Additionally, if a player loses his helmet, he must not continue to participate in the play, in order to protect him from injury.

    There will also be a new rule prohibiting players from leaping over blockers in an attempt to block a punt.

    Darrell Bird

  • Regarding the kickoff rules this may have some significant impact. First it nullifies to a large degree the advantages of having a strong kicker and a talented return man. You have to figue that most of your KO returns are going to be of the 25 touchback variety type. This will benefit Kentucky IMO as we struggled mightily with KO returns last year and IMO it was as much if not more to do with the blocking and return scheme as it was the return men. So that rule will tend to put us on more of an even footing with teams that have great return games. While the kicker strenght will seem to be marginalized there does seem to be an opportunity for teams with excellent directional kickers to try for the coffin corner more often. The penelty for missing out of bound then would only be 15 yards (spoted at the 40 instead of the 25) instead of 20 yards like it is now so you wouldn't be risking as much.

    "Ignorance is constricted awareness" - Deepak Chopra

    Deeeefense

  • I have an idea, why don't we just stop playing all together? That way no one gets hurt...

    No, the NFL is reporting that they have seen a 50% drop in concussion on KO's this past yr due to the their changes in rules. So maybe this a good thing.....I still don't like it, but it likely will mean less injuries.

    The helmet rule: I like this. Players do not wear equipment like they should and often times they get injured out of something as simple as not wearing their helmet correctly. A helmet should fit really tight. A good fitting helmet may even give you a slight headache until you get used to it. It should not be able to fly off during normal tackling or blocking like we often see happen.

    BlueRaider22

  • I don't think it will be long until kickoffs are eliminated completely. Players today are too big and too fast to be colliding after a 30 to 40-yard head-start.

    The helmets coming off every play is ridiculous. It apparently isn't "cool" to buckle your chinstrap nowadays. Jarvis Jones' (UGA linebacker) helmet comes off practically every down. After I noticed this I started watching him closely - he never buckles his chinstrap. I think (not positive) they can assess a penalty for improper equipment for players that don't buckle their straps.

    DACats86

  • Darrell Bird said...

    Touchbacks will be moved to the 25 instead of the 20 to encourage fewer returns. Touchbacks on other plays like punts that go into the end zone will remain at the 20.

    lol, all I can think about here is that kickers will now and try to "lay up" the kicks as high as possible (like a punt) to try and land the ball right around the goal line. I get what they are trying to do here, and that is to keep returnees from bringing it out, but there still is a kicking team that has a limited amount of control over the situation as well. I can't imagine coaches will be happy with this and will now and try like hell NOT to kick a sure fire touchback. Maybe I'm over thinking this a bit?

    MossCat15

  • DACats86 said...

    I don't think it will be long until kickoffs are eliminated completely. Players today are too big and too fast to be colliding after a 30 to 40-yard head-start.

    The helmets coming off every play is ridiculous. It apparently isn't "cool" to buckle your chinstrap nowadays. Jarvis Jones' (UGA linebacker) helmet comes off practically every down. After I noticed this I started watching him closely - he never buckles his chinstrap. I think (not positive) they can assess a penalty for improper equipment for players that don't buckle their straps.

    Imagine if many of the injuries we've been seeing over the recent yrs has been a result of improper implementation of equipment. And then the NCAA changes the rules (ie changes the game we love) so as to reduce injuries.......and it all could have been prevented.

    It also has to fall on the coaches, equipment staff, etc. Sometimes when a player is fitted before the season they have a mop haircut from the Summer, they get fitted, and then buzz their hair off, now you have an improper fit. The player may not know better. Some good edu-ma-cation can go a long way. The coaches need to do a better job of enforcing what they are seeing as well.

    We've been focusing on helmets, but there are more violations that occur as well.

    BlueRaider22

  • I'd imagine most coaches will instruct their kickers to try and blast it out of the end zone every time, despite the 25 start instead of the 20. Only teams that excell in special teams (COUGHnotusCOUGH) would take the risk of kicking returnable balls for their coverage team to prevent any lengthy return. Given the injuries in particular the previous season to Eric LeGrand I can understand the motivation for this move, just hate taking some excitement out of the game. The officials will screw up the touchback placement thing, 25 for kickoffs, 20 for punts, no way they keep that straight.

    But on the plus side, with kicking at the 35 teams ought to be more attracted to onside kicks than they were when it was at the 30.

    JHB4UK

  • Great for the helmet rule. Buckle your chin strap. It's not that fricking hard. As for the kickoffs, I't sucks if you have a Randal Cobb, but it benefits you if you don't. I understand the injuries, but when you start discouraging talented players to use their talent to be succesful, I don;t know what to say. Maybe we should do away with tackling alltogether and the players could just wear flags around their waists? And while we're at it, why keep score. As long as you give it your best, everyone's a winner right?

    Catmando

  • Get them off the HGH and their will be fewer injuries...wonder why nobody recommends that???

    jamccain

  • I like the helmet rule for reasons the other posters have pointed out. I really dislike moving the touchback to the 25 on kickoffs. If it really does turn out to prevent injuries, then ok, but I don't think that will happen. If injuries are reduced, I won't be critical of the change. But if not, I hope they're open to changing the rule back. Wait and see, I suppose.

    jamccain, I'm not sure how serious that comment is. No doubt there are substance abuse issues, but I get the impression the problem is taken a lot more seriously than it was 20 or even 10 years ago. Does the NCAA test for HGH? I know it's a naturally occurring hormone, which means testing for it isn't an exact science.

    BigTyrone

  • BigTyrone said...
    jamccain, I'm not sure how serious that comment is. No doubt there are substance abuse issues, but I get the impression the problem is taken a lot more seriously than it was 20 or even 10 years ago. Does the NCAA test for HGH? I know it's a naturally occurring hormone, which means testing for it isn't an exact science.

    I have zero clue about how bad the problem is in the NCAA. However, I feel it is a big problem in the NFL. Usually, if it is a problem in the professional sport it leaks into the amateur side of that sport. I know this was the case in baseball.

    I just assume every team in the SEC is on HGH. Some others can chime in, but I want to be on the record as saying I don't know before I get attacked. I don't think saying it is reason to attack someone either. It's a discussion item relevant to the discussion in the thread...player safety.

    I do wish they would get the HGH out of the sport though at whatever level it infects it. I know the action wouldn't be as good, but I don't think it is right for the players to HAVE TO do that...and let's make no mistake, if they want a NFL career, they have to do that if everyone else is doing it. Clean it up across the board and let everyone play on an even field, and push it down into the amateur ranks as well. It's sad how this is spreading into high school football so rapidly and I fear where we'll be on this in ten years if nothing is done.

    With that said, you are right...they can't test for HGH at this point. Steroids have always been a step ahead of testing.

    This post was edited by jamccain on 2/24/2012 at 10:43 PM

    jamccain

  • Not crazy about the kickoff stuff, but I understand it. Safety is important. I just hate to see such an exciting phase of the game becoming less and less a factor.

    The helmet/chinstrap rule is a good idea. Too many guys don't take that stuff serious enough.

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    E-mail: JDRUM@247SPORTS.COM Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/JDrumUK

    Jeff Drummond

  • the wussification of America continues. Injuries are part of the game. I hate this new rule.

    Regarding the chinstraps, they should make the first occurance a warning and assign a 10 yard penalty on the 2nd. Make it reviewable so that you can see if it is legitimately pulled off or improper use.

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    Stoopified!

    cobbycobb

  • cobbycobb said...

    the wussification of America continues. Injuries are part of the game. I hate this new rule.

    Regarding the chinstraps, they should make the first occurance a warning and assign a 10 yard penalty on the 2nd. Make it reviewable so that you can see if it is legitimately pulled off or improper use.

    Sitting out a play is a good compromise, IMO. A penalty is too subjective and harsh.

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    E-mail: JDRUM@247SPORTS.COM Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/JDrumUK

    Jeff Drummond

  • Jeff, that depends on if they are giving the team additional time to sub him out. If they do then what's to keep a team from using that to slow down a high powered offense? Where would the fairness be in that?

    If they want to get the point of safety and wearing their gear properly across then a penalty would be more effective.

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    Stoopified!

    cobbycobb

  • This change may or may not keep players from getting hurt football is a collision sport and the players know this they are taught this at a very young age LEAVE IT ALONE!!!!!!!! This could have a big influence on the game and it is a dumb change IMO

    Brandon40403

  • When it comes to football, they should go by the ole if ain't broke don't fix it rule of thumb. The game is great and they keep making big changes especially the NFL. Changes that have a big effect on viewing the game. They're gonna screw it up.

    tWhit ●

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