SEC Coordinator of Officials announces 3 new rule changes for 2017
By Kevin Duffey
Published:
Rule changes in college football is mainly driven by player safety, and one obvious change in recent years has been the targeting penalty. The targeting penalty will have no changes this year.
On Tuesday, SEC Coordinator of Officials, Steve Shaw, announced three new main rule changes for the 2017 season at SEC Media Days.
The first involves knee pads and pants. No longer can players have knee pads that ride up to the thighs; they must actually cover the players’ knees, and if a player is found not to be wearing the mandatory equipment, he must leave the game and fix the equipment. The rule breaks down as follows:
- Knee pads must be covered by pants.
- Furthermore, the pants and knee pads must cover the knees.
- No pads or protective equipment may be worn outside the pants.
- Coaches’ certification
- If an official discovers illegal equipment, or if a player is not wearing mandatory equipment, the player must leave the game for at least one down and is not allowed to return until the equipment is made legal.
The second change involves leaping and hurdling. Players can no longer leap and hurdle to block a field goal or an extra point try. This will be known as the Zach Cunningham rule. The rule breaks down as follows:
- No defensive player who runs forward from beyond the neutral zone may leap or hurdle in an obvious attempt to block a field goal or try.
- It is not a foul if the player was aligned in a stationary position within one yard of the line of scrimmage when the ball was snapped.
The third change involves a horse collar tackle. Players are prohibited from grabbing the inside back collar of the shoulder pads or the nameplate area. The rule breaks down as follows:
- All players are prohibited from grabbing the inside back collar of the shoulder pads or jersey, the nameplate area, or the inside collar of the side of the shoulder pads or jersey, and immediately pulling the ball carrier down.
- This does not apply to a ball carrier, including a potential passer, who is inside the tackle box.
A graduate of the University of Florida and founder of Saturday Down South, Kevin is a college football enthusiast.
