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Table of Comparison
| Aspect | Targeting | Horse Collar |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Intentional forceful contact aimed at a player's head or neck. | Tackling technique involving pulling the inside collar of a player's shoulder pads. |
| Sport | American Football | American Football |
| Rule Violation | Illegal and penalized due to safety concerns. | Illegal tackle style with strict penalties. |
| Penalty | 15-yard penalty, possible player ejection. | 15-yard penalty, potential disqualification. |
| Purpose | Prevent dangerous head and neck hits. | Reduce risk of injuries from dangerous tackles. |
| Common Injury Risk | Concussions, cervical spine injuries. | Shoulder, neck, and leg injuries. |
Understanding Targeting in Football
Targeting in football is a penalty called when a player makes forcible contact with the crown of their helmet or hits a defenseless opponent above the shoulders, prioritizing player safety by reducing helmet-to-helmet collisions. This rule is enforced to minimize concussions and serious head injuries, often resulting in ejection and automatic review of the play. Understanding targeting emphasizes the importance of proper tackling techniques and awareness of rules to maintain game integrity and athlete health.
Defining the Horse Collar Tackle
The horse collar tackle is a football maneuver where a defender grabs the inside back or side of the ball carrier's shoulder pads or jersey from behind to make a tackle. This technique often results in sudden stops that increase the risk of injury, leading to its prohibited status in many leagues. In contrast, targeting emphasizes head or neck contact, while the horse collar tackle centers on the grip location and the method of pulling the opponent down.
Key Differences Between Targeting and Horse Collar
Targeting involves a player using a tackler to drive or slam an opponent violently to the ground, often resulting in severe penalties and ejections in football. Horse collar fouls occur when a player grabs the inside collar of an opponent's shoulder pads or jersey and pulls them down from behind, primarily penalized for player safety. The key difference lies in the aggressive nature and intent of targeting to cause injury versus the specific grabbing technique that defines the horse collar foul.
The Evolution of Safety Rules in Football
The evolution of safety rules in football has prominently addressed targeting and horse collar tackles to reduce injury risks. Targeting rules now penalize forcible contact to the head or neck area of defenseless players, emphasizing player protection and enforcing ejections for dangerous hits. Horse collar tackles, which involve grabbing the inside collar of the shoulder pads or jersey and pulling a player down, have been banned due to their high likelihood of causing severe lower extremity injuries, underscoring the sport's commitment to safer tackling techniques.
NCAA vs NFL: How Targeting and Horse Collar Are Penalized
In the NCAA, targeting penalties result in a 15-yard penalty and automatic ejection with mandatory review to protect player safety, emphasizing strict enforcement against hits to the head or neck area. The NFL enforces horse collar tackle penalties with a 15-yard penalty without ejection but promotes player safety by penalizing tackles that involve grabbing inside the opponent's shoulder pads or jersey from behind. While both leagues prioritize reducing dangerous tackles, the NCAA's targeting rule carries harsher disciplinary consequences to deter concussions, whereas the NFL's horse collar rule focuses on preventing injury through positional penalties without automatic player removal.
Identifying Signs of Targeting and Horse Collar Infractions
Targeting infractions are identified by a player making forcible contact to the head or neck of an opponent, with clear signs including helmet-to-helmet hits or launching at a defenseless player. Horse collar penalties occur when a defender grabs the inside collar of the back or side of an opponent's shoulder pads or jersey and pulls the player downward; visible indicators include a tackle initiated by pulling vertically on the collar area. Video review and officials' keen observation help distinguish these violations, ensuring player safety by enforcing rules designed to reduce severe injuries.
Player Safety: The Rationale Behind Each Rule
Targeting penalizes forcible contact to the head or neck area of defenseless players to reduce concussions and catastrophic head injuries, emphasizing player safety in college football. The horse collar rule bans grabbing the inside collar of the opponent's shoulder pads or jersey to prevent severe lower-body injuries like ACL tears and broken bones caused by unnatural tackles. Both rules reflect a commitment to minimizing high-risk plays that have historically led to serious, long-term harm for athletes.
Common Misconceptions About Targeting and Horse Collar
Common misconceptions about targeting and horse collar penalties often confuse the two, but targeting involves using the crown of the helmet to make forcible contact with an opponent's head or neck, while a horse collar penalty results from grabbing the inside collar of the opponent's shoulder pads or jersey and pulling them down. Targeting is penalized due to its higher risk of causing severe head or neck injuries, whereas the horse collar penalty addresses the dangerous act of pulling a player backward, increasing the risk of leg injuries. Understanding these differences is crucial for correctly identifying fouls and promoting player safety in football.
Famous Incidents: Notable Targeting and Horse Collar Calls
The NFL has seen several famous incidents involving targeting and horse collar tackles, with targeting calls gaining notoriety in college football before adaptation at the professional level, notably in the 2019 season when multiple games featured controversial targeting penalties affecting key plays. The horse collar tackle, banned since 2005 due to its high injury risk, was infamously called on Dallas Cowboys linebacker Dexter Coakley, highlighting the rule's strict enforcement against defensive players grabbing the inside collar of the shoulder pads. High-profile refereeing decisions in playoff games, such as the 2010 NFC Championship, emphasized the impact of these penalties on game outcomes and player safety awareness.
Reducing Illegal Tackles: Coaching and Athlete Education
Targeting and horse collar tackles pose significant risks of injury in football, making reducing illegal tackles a critical priority for coaches and athletes. Emphasizing proper tackling techniques through comprehensive coaching programs and athlete education fosters adherence to safety rules and enhances on-field discipline. Implementing targeted drills and reinforcing rule comprehension directly lowers instances of dangerous tackles, promoting player safety and game integrity.
Targeting Infographic
