4 ms·

Another factor is the lack of a helmet and padding. Because of this, players are much more careful when tackling. Eg: * NEVER leading with the head, which is q

Another factor is the lack of a helmet and padding. Because of this, players are much more careful when tackling. Eg: * NEVER leading with the head, which is quite common in American Football * There must be an attempt to wrap your arms around the player. Not doing so is a shoulder charge, and illegal. * High tackles (above the shoulders) are illegal and can result in yellow or red card depending on severity. * Spear tackles (picking the player up and driving him into the ground head-first) are grounds for a red card.

girvo 12y ago
I'm an ex referee, used to ref first grade club and schoolboy rugby in SEQ. I've seen first hand why those rules are in place. I will disagree with having the ball being the only collision points however: rucks, mauls and scrums (the latter of which are neutered now) involved any number of players but still don't quite compare to the one on one that NFL involves. Fascinating sports IMO :)
- markdown 12y ago
  > the latter of which are neutered now Only if you're talking about Rugby League.
  - girvo 12y ago
    *shrugs. The current laws have definitely changed the feel and reduced the danger when it comes to scrums. I watch a kid taken off the field a paraplegic due to someones foot slipping on "engage", so I don't necessarily disagree with the laws, but you can't argue that they're not in place to slow it down and make it safer.
bps4484 12y ago
See my sibling comment to you, markdown. I think the helmet and padding came because of the rules, not the other way around. Also, just an FYI that high tackles (at the head) are also illegal in football. The "head tackle" was made illegal after being popularized by Dick "Night Train" Lane. See this, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPm-6ZlTM5o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPm-6ZlTM5o, for the savagery of yesteryear.
tvon 12y ago
Being a big fan of football I have sometimes wondered what the sport would be like if they slowly phased out the protection. You are taught early on to put your head down and drive your shoulder through the target, but I imagine this would be different if your head and shoulders weren't the most padded parts of your body.
marknutter 12y ago
Quick clarification point because other Americans like myself might initially be confused - in the NFL "spearing" is different than "spear tackling" in Rugby, and is actually what you describe in your first bullet point; a tackle where you lead with the head.

girvo 12y ago

I'm an ex referee, used to ref first grade club and schoolboy rugby in SEQ. I've seen first hand why those rules are in place. I will disagree with having the ball being the only collision points however: rucks, mauls and scrums (the latter of which are neutered now) involved any number of players but still don't quite compare to the one on one that NFL involves. Fascinating sports IMO :)

markdown 12y ago
> the latter of which are neutered now Only if you're talking about Rugby League.
- girvo 12y ago
  *shrugs. The current laws have definitely changed the feel and reduced the danger when it comes to scrums. I watch a kid taken off the field a paraplegic due to someones foot slipping on "engage", so I don't necessarily disagree with the laws, but you can't argue that they're not in place to slow it down and make it safer.

bps4484 12y ago

See my sibling comment to you, markdown. I think the helmet and padding came because of the rules, not the other way around. Also, just an FYI that high tackles (at the head) are also illegal in football. The "head tackle" was made illegal after being popularized by Dick "Night Train" Lane. See this, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPm-6ZlTM5o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPm-6ZlTM5o, for the savagery of yesteryear.

tvon 12y ago

Being a big fan of football I have sometimes wondered what the sport would be like if they slowly phased out the protection. You are taught early on to put your head down and drive your shoulder through the target, but I imagine this would be different if your head and shoulders weren't the most padded parts of your body.

marknutter 12y ago

Quick clarification point because other Americans like myself might initially be confused - in the NFL "spearing" is different than "spear tackling" in Rugby, and is actually what you describe in your first bullet point; a tackle where you lead with the head.