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NCAA discusses changes to targeting, fake injuries and blocking rules ahead of 2022 season
By Keith Farner
Published:
Fans clamoring for major changes to college football rules could get their wish as soon as the 2022 season.
The rules committee on Friday approved measures intended to strengthen the accuracy of the targeting rule, limit blocking below the waist and address teams that appear to fake injuries to gain an advantage All rule proposals must be approved by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel, which is scheduled to discuss football rules recommendations April 20. If approved, these changes would take effect for the upcoming season.
The Football Rules Committee approved measures intended to strengthen the accuracy of the targeting rule, limit blocking below the waist and address teams that appear to fake injuries to gain an advantage.
All rule proposals must be approved by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel.
— Inside the NCAA (@InsidetheNCAA) March 4, 2022
The committee proposed a change to the targeting rule after considering several adjustments. In games that have instant replay, when a targeting foul occurs in the second half, the carryover penalty (of sitting out the first half of that player’s next game) will be eligible for further appeal.
The process would begin with a conference submitting a request to Steve Shaw, the NCAA national coordinator of officials, who would review video of the play. If it is clearly obvious that a player was incorrectly penalized for targeting, the call would be overturned, and the player would be cleared to play in the first half of the next game.
To address teams that are awarded an injury timeout through deceptive actions, the committee proposed a reporting and investigation process. Schools and conferences could report questionable scenarios to the national coordinator of officials, who will review and provide feedback to the conference for further action. Any penalties levied would be up to the conference office or school involved.
In terms of blocking below the waist, the proposal would only allow blocking below the waist by linemen and stationary backs inside the tackle box. Outside the tackle box on scrimmage plays, blocking below the waist would be prohibited.
The Football Rules Committee approved measures intended to strengthen the accuracy of the targeting rule, limit blocking below the waist and address teams that appear to fake injuries to gain an advantage.
All rule proposals must be approved by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel.
— Inside the NCAA (@InsidetheNCAA) March 4, 2022
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
