NCAA College Football Rules Changes for 2012

The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel(PROP) manages and implements changes to the rules in college sports.  PROP has implemented several new rules in college football this season.  The rules are aimed at improving player safety.  The two most substantial rules changes involve the kicking game and player headgear.

Starting in the Fall of 2012 all kickoff’s will occur at the 35-yard line instead of the 30-yard line.  Players on the kickoff coverage team must be lined-up somewhere between the 30 and 35-yard line when the kick is made.

Moving the kickoff spot to the 35-yard line will increase the number of touchbacks which will lead to a decrease in the number of kickoff returns.  According to Greg Johnson of NCAA.com, “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 any other phases of the game.”  The NCAA rationale is that fewer kickoff returns should lead to fewer injuries.

Forcing the kickoff team to start the play between the 30 and 35-yard line minimizes the running start that coverage teams use to cover the kickoff.  The momentum generated by the running start is mitigated by this rule and the rule should result in less forceful impact for players on both the coverage and return units.

In terms of headgear, beginning this season players who have their helmet knocked off during the course of play will be treated as if they were injured.  If a player loses his helmet for a reason other than a penalty he will be removed from the game for the next play.  According to Greg Johnson, “Data from the 2011 season indicated that helmets came off of players more than twice per game.”  After this situation occurs the player will most likely be led off the field by the team physician who can monitor the player for head or any other type of injury.  Indirectly, the rule should help monitor and prevent players with concussion symptoms from continuing play.

These are good rules for player safety.  They focus on the areas of most concern which are the most dangerous phases of the game and head injuries.  The NCAA is doing the “right thing” by implementing these rules to protect the student athlete from injury.  It also helps the game offensively because it takes the advantage on kick coverage away from the kicking team which could open up the field for longer kick returns.

The National Football League should implement the headgear rule as well given the “bounty-gate” situation inNew Orleansand the potential lawsuit by former NFL players against the league.