With each passing day we move closer and closer to kicking off the 2015 football. The season unofficially got under way when the SEC held its annual Media Days earlier this month. Once the Pac-12 and Big Ten wrap things up this week, all of the major conferences will have held their yearly meetings. Each of the sessions thus far have been filled the usual “coach speak”, preseason all-conference teams and the predicted order of finish. But the meetings have also seen substantial new rules regarding player safety announced.
The SEC confirmed that it, along with Pac-12 will have spotters in the press box during all contest. The spotters, who will be made up of independent medical personnel, will be in the box watching for considerable injuries that may be missed on the field. As SEC coordinator of officials told reporters when asked about the spotters’ role, “If they never stop a game, you haven’t lost anything, but if they stop and protect one player, [it’s useful].” If the medical spotters are needed, they will have access to video replay to aid them as they monitor the players on the field. While the SEC and Pac-12 were the first conferences to announce the addition of a full time spotter, all NCAA conferences will have a spotter on hand. The NCAA approved an experimental rule allowing spotters to stop play if they deem it necessary.
In somewhat of a surprising move, the Big XII announced it will become the first conference to limit its football teams to just two days of live physical contact. Game days are included. With game day’s being counted, that means that Big XII teams will only have one practice day where they can hit. Commissioner Bob Bowlsby announced the new policy at last weeks Big XII Media Days in Dallas. The commissioner did clarify that drills that focus on proper tackling and wrapping up will not count as live contact.
The NCAA has also announced one additional new safety rule that will be added to rule book in 2015. There will now be a 15 yard, unsportsmanlike penalty for any player who pushes or pulls any opponent off of a pile. The new rule has been put in place to try and eliminate dust-ups that often occur after a major pile up. “You’ve seen it where we have a fumble, we have a big pileup and then people start going in and pulling people out,” Steve Shaw told reporters at SEC Media Days. “And now all of a sudden, we’re having to officiate to keep from having fights all over the field.” A slight tweak has also been made to a rule regarding a defensive player losing his helmet in the final minute of a half. The team will not only have to replace the player, for one play, but will also see ten seconds run off the clock. You read the rest of the new rules that will be in place for the 2015 season here.
These safety precautions and rules fit right in line with what NCAA Chief Medical Officer Brian Hainline is trying to achieve, a change in safety culture. The rules follow guidelines that Hainline and NCAA put in place in the summer of 2014. Other rules put in place in 2014 included a reduction in preseason live contact practices and the requirement that universities provide a medical liaison between student-athletes and medical providers. As we learn more and more about the dangers of concussions, expect the NCAA to continue to add new safety rules and alter existing rules in an effort to limit major potential harm to student-athletes.
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