After being blamed for a series of major injuries in the 2004 season
, the horse-collar tackle was banned from the NFL during the 2005 off-season. The rule forbidding it is often referred to in the press as “The Roy Williams Rule”.
Why is a horse-collar tackle a penalty?
The horse collar penalty is called when the would-be tackler stops the ball carrier by grabbing above or around their nameplate. This type of tackle is
deemed illegal due to the risk of injury
.
When was the horse-collar tackle made illegal?
The horse-collar rule first went into effect in college in 2008. The NFL made the horse-collar tackle a 15-yard personal foul in
2005
, and it was known at first as the “Roy Williams Rule” after the former Cowboys safety.
What is an illegal tackle in football?
Illegal tackles are
fouls and are punished with a direct free kick (or penalty if committed within the penalty area) for the opponent’s team
. Such incidents are common, with dozens of occurrences in a typical match.
Can you still tackle by the hair in the NFL?
A player’s hair is just as much in play as the rest of his body, and
it is even legal to tackle a runner by the hair
or a handful can be called a holding penalty. … The casebook already has a distinction that a player can be down by contact if a defender only touches the hair of a ball carrier on the ground.
Is it legal to tackle around the neck?
Rule Summary View Official Rule
No player
shall grab the inside collar of the back or the side of the shoulder pads or jersey, or grab the jersey at the name plate or above, and pull the runner toward the ground. This does not apply to a runner who is in the tackle box or to a quarterback who is in the pocket.
Can you tackle around the neck?
“A player must not tackle (or try to tackle) an opponent above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders. A tackle around the opponent’s neck or head
is dangerous play
.” … Under the new rule, any tackle above the waist would now be considered a high tackle.
Why is it called horse collar?
Horse Collar Tackle
This is because an actual horse collar is
the part of a horse harness device used to distribute load around the horse’s neck and shoulders when pulling a wagon or plow
—similar to the way a player’s neck and shoulders are grabbed on the tackle.
Can you challenge a horse collar call?
The horse collar tackle was
legal
through the 2007–2008 season in college football but was banned by the NCAA after criticism from pundits and coaches for the 2008–2009 season as part of a package that adopted several NFL rules into the college game.
Can you tackle by hair?
In case you’re wondering, pulling players by the hair in
NFL is a legal move
— any hair that flows out of the helmet is considered a part of a player’s uniform. Ironically, Clowney himself has long enough hair to be tackled by himself, if he played offense.
Can you hit someone from behind in football?
illegally launching into
a defenseless opponent. It is an illegal launch if a player (i) leaves both feet prior to contact to spring forward and upward into his opponent, and (ii) uses any part of his helmet to initiate forcible contact against any part of his opponent’s body.
Can you punch in football?
Rule Summary View Official Rule
There shall be no unsportsmanlike conduct
. This applies to any act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship. Such acts specifically include, among others: Throwing a punch, or a forearm, or kicking at an opponent, even though no contact is made.
Can you push in football?
Football is a contact sport, so it’s inevitable that hits,
pushes and charges are permitted during the game
. Players are allowed to be aggressive to other team members in order to keep them away from the ball or prevent them from making a run down the field.
What happens if you pull someone’s hair?
Constant hair pulling can
cause scarring and other damage
, including infections, to the skin on your scalp or the specific area where hair is pulled and can permanently affect hair growth.
Who has the longest hair in the NFL?
The long curly hair that sticks out of NFL football player
Troy Polamalu’s
helmet has been insured by a shampoo company for $1m (£650,000). Polamalu, a defender for the Pittsburgh Steelers, has been tackled at least once by his distinctive 3ft-long (1m) hair which hangs down his back.
Can you tackle someone by their helmet?
Football: Rules for Player Safety. … Spearing with the helmet (15 yards) –
Players are not allowed to hit another with the top of their helmet
. This especially applies to a quarterback throwing a pass, a receiver while catching a ball, a player on the ground, or a player already being tackled.
