NCAA introduces rule changes for targeting, electronic devices
The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel unveiled a handful of new rules Tuesday, including one involving targeting.
Moving forward, if an instant replay official believes an on-field official erred in his or her targeting ruling, the instant replay official – who watches the game from the press box – can intervene. The replay official can assess a targeting foul or overturn one.
The panel, which met Tuesday via conference call, agreed to allow the instant replay official to stop the game and create a targeting foul in situations where an egregious action occurred and was missed by on-field officials. Instant replay officials also are required to review all aspects of targeting fouls called by an on-field official.
The NCAA Football Rules Committee believes players were incorrectly disqualified from games in a small number of cases last season. The elements of targeting that replay officials will watch for include launching and forcible contact to the head, among other factors.
Aside from targeting, the use of “electronic devices for coaching purposes” is now allowed, but only in the press box or locker room during the game. The use of electronic devices is “prohibited on the sidelines, in the team areas and on the field.”
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In conjunction with this new privilege, the home team is “responsible for ensuring identical television capacity and identical video and Internet connectivity in the coaches’ booths of both teams.”
The following rules adjustments were also approved by the Panel, all with player safety in mind:
• The rules dealing with low blocks were adjusted to prohibit a player who leaves the tackle box from blocking below the waist toward the initial position of the ball.
• The rules pertaining to a defenseless player will include a ball carrier who has clearly given himself up by sliding feet first.
• The deliberate tripping of the ball carrier (with the leg) was approved as a foul.
The rules committee also indicated it will instruct officials to “stringently enforce the 3-yard limit regarding ineligible receivers downfield.”
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
