By now you’ve probably heard how the NFL and the NCAA cracked down on so-called horse-collar tackles. Well now the technique has also been banned in high school football.
According to an Associated Press story: “Starting this fall, tackling a player by grabbing the inside collar of the shoulder pads or jersey will be a personal foul carrying a 15-yard penalty from the spot of the infraction.”
Another football rule change announced by the National Federation of State High School Associations is a ban on grabbing an opponent’s chin strap. (It was already against the rules to grab the face mask, obviously.)
I don’t recall seeing many horse-collar tackles during games that I’ve covered for The Herald. But this rule change seems like a smart decision that will improve safety for student-athletes. And it makes everything consistent from preps to the pros.
Do you have any thoughts about horse-collar tackles? Leave a comment on this blog or e-mail me: mcane@heraldnet.com.
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