NCAA Football Rules Committee Approves Proposals to Improve Player Safety

The NCAA Football Rules Committee approved multiple proposals related to player safety Thursday that, if approved by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel in March, will be implemented for the 2016 season.

A release posted on NCAA.com noted that some of the rules approved include an expansion of the rules related to low blocks, an increase in the players considered defenseless and the addition of a penalty for the deliberate tripping of a ball-carrier.  

Committee chairman Bob Nielson, the head coach at South Dakota, stated in the announcement that there would be an increased use of replay on targeting calls. Replay officials would be able to stop the game if the action occurred or to ensure a player should be dismissed if it's called on the field:

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The targeting rule is serving the game well, and has enhanced player safety. Because this is such a severe penalty, we are instructing replay officials to review plays to ensure that the required elements of targeting exist. We are also adding the ability for the replay official to stop the game when a potential targeting foul is not detected on the field.

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Other proposals sent for final approval include allowing coaches to use electronic devices during games in the locker room or press box and increased enforcement of the three-yard limit for ineligible receivers downfield, according to the NCAA release.

Nielson added: "These rules changes reflect the continuing effort by the committee to simplify rules and better protect student-athletes."

Although the NFL typically receives more attention in terms of safety standards, it's an issue at every level of football, including the college game. That's particularly true when it comes to head injuries, including concussions, which the targeting rule was created to help prevent.

Timothy Bella of Al Jazeera America reported in December that there have been more than 500 concussions in major college football over the past three seasons. The 2015 total (166) represented a 15 percent increase over 2014, despite more than 60 programs publicly reporting no concussions.

The NCAA will hope to see decreases in that number, if the rule changes are approved.

Increasing the level of safety for players at all levels is the biggest issue for football right now, and it will likely remain that way for the foreseeable future.