DEFENSELESS PLAYERS CATEGORIES

DEFENSELSS PLAYER DEFINITION

A PLAYER IN THE ACT OF OR JUST AFTER THROWING A PASS

A RECEIVER ATTEMPTING TO CATCH A PASS, OR ONE WHO HAS COMPLETED A CATCH

AND HAS NOT HAD TIME TO PROTECT HIMSELF OR HAS NOT CLEARLY BECOME A

BALL CARRIER.

A KICKER IN THE ACT OF OR JUST AFTER KICKING A BALL OR DURING THE

KICK OR RETURN

A KICK RETURNER ATTEMPTING TO CATCH OR RECOVER A KICK

A QUARTERBACK ANY TIME AFTER A CHANGE OF POSSESSION

A PLAYER WHO RECEIVES A BLIND-SIDE BLOCK

A PLAYER ON THE GROUND

A PLAYER OBVIOUSLY OUT OF THE PLAY

A BALL CARRIER ALREADY IN THE GRASP OF AN OPPONENT AND WHOSE FORWARD PROGRESS HAS

BEEN STOPPED.

TARGETING

“Targeting” means that a player takes aim at an opponent for purposes of

attacking with an apparent intent that goes beyond making a legal tackle or a

legal block or playing the ball. Crown of the helmet- top portion of the

helmet.

The following are indicators of targeting and include but are not limited to:

LaunchA player leaving his feet to attack an

opponent by an upward or forward thrust of the body to make contact in the head or

neck area

A CROUCH FOLLOWED BY AN UPWARD THRUST TO ATTACK WITH CONTACT IN THE HEAD OR

NECK AREA—EVEN THOUGH ONE OR BOTH FEET ARE STILL ON THE GROUND

Leading with the helmet, forearm, fist, hand or elbow to attack with contact at

the head or neck area

Lowering the head before attacking by initiating contact with the crown of the

helmet

REPLAY PROCESS

1. ON THE FIELD-be sure of the call on the field. If it is not for targeting there is nothing to review and replay will NOT be involved.

2. DON’T STOP THE GAME-IR should not buzz the field to stop the game unless IR is going to overturn the ejection. Take a quick look to see if contact was with the crown of the helmet or the contact was initiated in the head or neck area. It will be rare to stop the game for more time. If this is the case then you very likely know the answer: the ejection stands.

3. IR is only determining the facts stated earlier of the helmet or the point of contact.

4. ASSUMPTION DURING REVIEW-The assumption must be that the initial call on the field is correct. The ejection will be overturned if INDISPUTABLE VIDEIO EVIDENCE shows that the player should not be ejected.

5. EJECTION STANDS—IR will do nothing. The referee should only be called to the headset if the ejection is overturned

EJECTION OVERTURNED-Buzz the field. Explain briefly to the referee that the player did not lead with the crown of his helmet or that he did not make contact with the head or neck area.

Only certain elements of the foul must be considered:

If the call on the field is “targeting with the crown of the helmet” the IRO views the video to see whether the contact was with the crown of the helmet

If the call on the field is “targeting to the head or neck area” the IRO views the video to see whether the contact was to the head or neck area.

CONCLUSION

The direction to the IRO is simple: Unless you are absolutely certain (indisputable, video evidence) that the contact was clearly not above the shoulders nor with the crown of the helmet then the ejection stands.You must abide by the philosophy that only the video may convince you to overturn the ejection.