[Football1]

To piggyback off this there is a reason the NCAA enforces an ejection for targeting, but not for helmet to helmet. Much like holding, helmet to helmet contacts are prevalent throughout the game.. just many go uncalled. Helmet to helmet happens all the time incidentally as the by product of violent collisions with a running back going full steam one way with his shoulders/head lowered and a defender going the other way looking to "get low". Where contact becomes a penalty involves exclusively with "intent".

Targeting is a no brainer because there is no denying intent versus incidental contact. There is still an aspect of judgement typically involved, but typically there is little doubt that there was either excessive roughness or unnecessary contact to base it off.

Imagine your son is a star Senior LB in the scenario HSFOOTBALL outlined and he is going up against a kid like Damien Harris who is big, strong, and runs like a freight train. Let's say it is the Regional-Finals and trailing 14-8 with 2:30 to go in the 4th Madison Southern is facing a 4th and 6. They give the ball to Harris on a stretch and he turns his shoulders and explodes up the field and your son is set to meet him at the sticks. Harris knows contact is coming so at the last second he decelerates and dips his shoulder to not only brace the impact, but hopefully catch a grazing blow he can spin off of and continue forward thanks to his speed

Your son flies into him and Harris goes straight down a yard shy of the marker. In the collision though it appeared as if Harris sustained a helmet to helmet blow. Not only is the drive extended, but now your son is ejected from the key juncture of the game and potentially the Semi's and Finals. His carer just ended on a sensational play where he did nothing wrong.

I like the idea of penalizing targeting (though HS refs are NOT the same quality as collegiate so even here there is a chance for a massive failure). I also like the idea at the HS level of extending targeting to also include excessively late hits.

The thing that is difficult in all this is the fact I would say a disproportionately high amount of HS concussions are the result of Special Teams plays. Crack back blocks on returns and players getting hurt busting a wedge have IMO by far the highest incident rate. Yet these are extremely difficult to police since they are part of the live game action.

Would I choose that outcome over the loss of football as sport? All day.

This is my point. So many of us who live insulated by the game are overlooking the enormous pressure that is already being applied to end the game in high school. Offense and defense should be held to the same standard. Do not lower your head. If you do you get ejected and suspended. When coaches start losing running backs and linebackers they will teach the game differently. But they will not until that happens.

I am not naïve enough to think a simple rule change with punishment can fix the problem. But it is a start. The culture of football will have to change if it is to survive. The goal to often becomes "win at all cost" - as that keeps the coach employed. That "cost" is $15K every time you send a player to ER and maybe lifelong health impact. The game has to evolve to a place where the safety of the player comes before winning. Imagine what would have happened to basketball sans the three second rule? Rule changes can alter incentives. And that is what is needed with football.