160. Targeting and Making Forcible Contact with the Crown of the Helmet
Passer A12 is looking downfield to pass the ball. Defender B52 sheds a block and lowers his head, driving the crown of his helmet with force into the chest of the quarterback. The referee: (a) throws a flag and announces a foul for targeting and contact with the crown of the helmet; (b) throws a flag and announces roughing the passer; (c) does not throw a flag. RULING: (a) The play must be reviewed because the ruling on the field is for targeting with the crown of the helmet, which carries a disqualification. The replay official will review all aspects of the targeting ruling: whether there was an indicator of targeting and whether forcible contact was made with the crown of the helmet. The replay official will confirm targeting foul and B52 is disqualified. (b) and (c) The replay official will stop the game and create a foul for targeting. B52 is disqualified.
161. Targeting and Making Forcible Contact with the Crown of the Helmet
Runner A31 is wrapped up by several Team B players and is pulled to the ground. After A31 is on the ground and the officials signal the play dead, B44 drives the crown of his helmet into A3l’s back. A flag is thrown and the referee announces (a) a foul on B44 for targeting with the crown of the helmet; (b) a foul for unnecessary roughness on B44. RULING: (a) The play is reviewed for all aspects of the targeting ruling: whether there was an indicator of targeting and whether forcible contact was made with the crown of the helmet. Confirm targeting foul and B44 is disqualified. (b) The replay official will stop the game and create a foul for targeting. B44 is disqualified.
162. Targeting and Making Forcible Contact in the Head or Neck Area of a Defenseless Player
Receiver A82 runs a pattern across the middle of the field and leaps to catch the pass. Defender B28 launches toward A82 and makes forcible contact to A82’s head/neck area with the shoulder, drawing a flag from the back judge. The referee announces a foul for targeting a defenseless player. RULING: The play is reviewed for all aspects of the targeting ruling: whether there was an indicator of targeting, whether A82 was defenseless, and whether forcible contact was made to the head/neck area. Confirm targeting foul and B28 is disqualified.
163. Targeting and Making Forcible Contact in the Head or Neck Area of a Defenseless Player
Receiver A82 runs a pattern across the middle of the field and leaps to catch the pass. Defender B28 launches toward A82 and makes forcible contact to A82’s head/neck area with the shoulder. The back judge throws a flag and the referee announces a foul for defensive pass interference. RULING: The replay official will stop the game and create a foul for targeting. B28 is disqualified.
164. Targeting and Making Forcible Contact in the Head or Neck Area of a Defenseless Player
On a pass play over the middle, defensive back B33 launches and drives the crown of his helmet into receiver A88 who is leaping for the ball. The back judge throws his flag for Defensive Pass Interference with Targeting. RULING: The play is reviewed for all aspects of the targeting ruling: whether there was an indicator of targeting and whether forcible contact was made with the crown of the helmet. Confirm targeting foul and B33 is disqualified. In the event that the replay official overturns the targeting call, the foul for defensive pass interference will stand and the penalty will be enforced.
165. Targeting and Making Forcible Contact in the Head or Neck Area of a Defenseless Player
During a kick return, the runner starts at one side of the field and runs toward the other. Kicking team player A55 is pursuing the runner. Return team player B38 leads with the shoulder and attacks with forcible contact to the blind-side of A55. B38 contacts A55 (a) in the shoulder; (b) clearly to head/neck area; (c) initially in the shoulder, but he also makes significant forcible contact to the head/neck area. In all three cases, a flag is thrown and a blind-side block with targeting is announced as the foul. RULING: The game is stopped to review all aspects of the targeting ruling. (a) Contact to the shoulder is not a foul for targeting and B38 is not disqualified. The blind-side block foul is enforced. (b) and (c) The play is reviewed as to whether there was an indicator of targeting, and whether forcible contact was made to the head/neck area. Confirm targeting foul and B38 is disqualified.
166. Targeting and Making Forcible Contact in the Head or Neck Area of a Defenseless Player
Quarterback A7 drops back to pass. Blitzing linebacker B52 is unblocked. B52, with his head up, runs through A7, wrapping him up and making forcible contact with the facemask to the head of A7. B52's actions do not include an indicator of targeting. The referee throws a flag and (a) announces a foul for targeting a defenseless player; or (b) announces a foul for roughing the passer. RULING: (a) The play is reviewed for all aspects of the targeting ruling: whether there was an indicator of targeting, whether A7 was defenseless, and whether forcible contact was made above the shoulders. Overturn the ruling of targeting and B52 is not disqualified. (b) The replay official confirms the ruling on the field of no targeting. The roughing the passer foul is enforced.
167. Targeting and Making Forcible Contact in the Head or Neck Area of a Defenseless Player
Quarterback A12 hands the ball to back A22 who sweeps to his left and crosses into the defensive secondary. Anticipating a tackle, he goes into a feet-first slide. Linebacker B55 dives and drives his forearm into the side of A22’s head as he is sliding. The line judge drops his flag and reports to the referee a foul by B55 for targeting to the head-neck area of a defenseless player. RULING: Replay will review of all aspects including looking for an indicator of targeting, whether A22 was defenseless, and whether the contact to the head was forcible. Confirm ruling on the field of targeting and B55 is disqualified.
Non-Reviewable Play Situations on Targeting
168. Targeting: Coach Requests a Challenge
On a play in which the officials have ruled defensive pass interference, the Team A head coach requests a review, as he believes that the action against his receiver should have been ruled a targeting foul. RULING: Not reviewable. Any targeting review must be initiated by the replay official. This is not subject to a coach's challenge.
