ARTICLE 3. No player shall target and make forcible contact against an
opponent with the crown (top) of his helmet. This foul requires that there
be at least one indicator of targeting (See Note 1 below). When in question,
it is a foul. (Rule 9-6) (A.R. 9-1-3-I)
Targeting and Making Forcible Contact to Head
or Neck Area of a Defenseless Player
ARTICLE 4. No player shall target and make forcible contact to the head
or neck area of a defenseless opponent (See Note 2 below) with the helmet,
forearm, hand, fist, elbow or shoulder. This foul requires that there be at
least one indicator of targeting (See Note 1 below). When in question, it is
a foul (Rules 2-27-14 and 9-6). (A.R. 9-1-4-I-VI)
Note 1: “Targeting” means that a player takes aim at an opponent for
purposes of attacking with forcible contact that goes beyond making
a legal tackle or a legal block or playing the ball. Some indicators of
targeting include but are not limited to:
• Launch—a player leaving his feet to attack an opponent by an
upward and forward thrust of the body to make forcible contact in
the head or neck area
• A crouch followed by an upward and forward thrust to attack with
forcible contact at the head or neck area, even though one or both
feet are still on the ground
• Leading with helmet, shoulder, forearm, fist, hand or elbow to
attack with forcible contact at the head or neck area
• Lowering the head before attacking by initiating forcible contact
with the crown of the helmet
Note 2: Defenseless player (Rule 2-27-14):
• A player in the act of or just after throwing a pass.
• A receiver attempting to catch a forward pass or in position to
receive a backward 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 the return.
• A kick returner attempting to catch or recover a kick, or one who
has completed a catch or recovery and has not had time to protect
himself or has not clearly become a ball carrier..
• A player on the ground.
• A player obviously out of the play.
• A player who receives a blind-side block.
• A ball carrier already in the grasp of an opponent and whose
forward progress has been stopped.
• A quarterback any time after a change of possession
• A ball carrier who has obviously given himself up and is sliding feet-first.