The Loss Of Helmet Rule

[cincibuck]

All of this comes out of a law suit filed against Seattle Public Schools and Riddel by the parents of a junior high student. He was injured and left paraplegic in a SPS game. You can imagine the result, jury seated, gurney wheeled in with respirator working, Mom and Dad sit in the gallery and cry. What jury wouldn't vote them millions? Oh, and the argument was that no one told them football was dangerous -- I am not making this part up.

The immediate impact in Ohio was that OHSAA required ALL HS coaches to attend an annual clinic - instruction centered on brain/spine injuries, heat stroke and cya activities.

One year trainers were brought in from college programs and gave a talk about proper fitting of helmets. When properly fitted the helmet is so tight that the player must use both hands to pull the ear flaps out enough to remove the helmet. A helmet this tight does not ride up and down when the player moves or is hit and thus the player doesn't get hit twice - i.e. once upon contact and a second time when the helmet rides down.

Players - especially NFL players - don't like tight fitting helmets. You can't reach up with one hand and whip the helmet off as you prance before the TV camera and college and high school boys like to look like NFL players.

Me thinks the new rule is more about getting trainers to fit helmets properly and gives them more leverage against kids who want to look NFL glamorous.

Wouldn't be surprised to find out that Riddle was behind this.

 

[exhawg]

In HS I had an XL helmet. When I got to college and they sized my head they gave me a L. I bitched that it was too small, but in 5 years that helmet never came off my head unless I unstrapped it and pulled it off with both hands. I think in the past 10 years there has been a problem with equipment guys giving in to players bitching for larger helmets, players growing long hair that forces them to need a larger helmet, and not properly strapping chin straps. I finished playing before any of the new lighter helmets came out, but I would put money the helmets aren't the issue.

 

[jlb1705]

There are few things in this world more glamorous than an oversized helmet.

 

[RB07OSU]

I don't have as big of a problem with the helmet rule. If players were wearing properly sized, properly strapped helmets they wouldn't be falling off like they do. I once had a guy jump on my back and try to rip my helmet off and it wouldn't come off so in most of these cases I'd bet they aren't doing something right. If a guy gets hit like Kurt Coleman yesterday and his helmet comes off it might be best to take him out for a play to make sure he is good to go.

The onside kick rule will kill any chance of making a comeback. Without the one hop onside kick there is pretty much 0 chance of getting an onside kick when the defense knows it's coming. Someone is going to have to come up with a new way to kick an onside kick.

Bingo. My helmet, after years and years of football, never came off. I strapped it all the way up and had a properly fitted helmet. So many players want face time anymore and let the straps just dangle there. It is a form of showboating that pisses me off. I have had my helmet ripped at and have made huge hits to the helmet/have been hit hard in the helmet...never came off.

With that said, Grad mentioned that the trainers are pumping the helmets up too much because of the concussion issues.

Overall, I do agree with everyone though...NCAA and the NFL are coming nearer and nearer to intramural flag leagues anymore. Any enjoyment that derives from football being a physical game is being taken away. While I agree with protecting players from idiotic hits like Taylor Mays tries, I am sick of all the incidental high hits being called, especially when they are trying to break the pass up.

 

[Beano Cook]

Is this really a rule? Football wouldn't even exist if guys weren't able to play without helmets!

Sis, boom, bah! Bill Roper must be rolling in his grave.

 

[Cincinnatibuck]

Bingo. My helmet, after years and years of football, never came off. I strapped it all the way up and had a properly fitted helmet. So many players want face time anymore and let the straps just dangle there. It is a form of showboating that [censored]es me off. I have had my helmet ripped at and have made huge hits to the helmet/have been hit hard in the helmet...never came off.

With that said, Grad mentioned that the trainers are pumping the helmets up too much because of the concussion issues.

Overall, I do agree with everyone though...NCAA and the NFL are coming nearer and nearer to intramural flag leagues anymore. Any enjoyment that derives from football being a physical game is being taken away. While I agree with protecting players from idiotic hits like Taylor Mays tries, I am sick of all the incidental high hits being called, especially when they are trying to break the pass up.

I don't think any players are looking for face time by getting their helmets knocked off.

 

[Muck]

I don't think any players are looking for face time by getting their helmets knocked off.

How often do you see a player rip his helmet off running to the sidelines after making a play?

A properly fitted helmet can't be yanked off easily enough to do that.

 

[Buckeyevsworld]

The one that leads to a 15 yard penalty is just stupid. How is it unsportsman like to continue to pursue a guy that might gain big yards?

 

[Taosman]

How often do you see a player rip his helmet off running to the sidelines after making a play?

A properly fitted helmet can't be yanked off easily enough to do that.

Motorcycle helmets have to deal with much greater forces and it takes an effort to remove a full coverage helmet, yet a good helmet fits tightly and is very comfortable.
Helmets are getting pulled off because it gets that player out of the game for a play. And the refs still are not calling it because it makes the situation even worse.
It's just a bad rule. And the refs know it.