Difference Between A Legal & Illegal Football Tackle

Tackling remains one of the fundamental skills in football, as it occurs on nearly every play. Rules exist to ensure the legality of all tackles performed during a game. Football players have the responsibility to tackle opponents in a legal manner, and the league's officials have the responsibly to enforce these rules at all times.

Tackles

In football, defensive players must stop the offensive team by tackling the ball carrier. They can do so in almost any manner, although some exceptions do exist. When making a tackle, the defensive player can grab his opponent's jersey or body in an attempt to stop his forward process. This includes grabbing the player's legs to trip him or hitting him with your shoulder. The play stops once the defensive player has the offensive player on the ground or has stopped the offensive player from moving forward.

Offense

Offensive players cannot tackle players on the defense, unless the defensive player first gains possession of the ball. An offensive lineman, for example, can use his hands to keep the defensive player in front of him, but he cannot drag that player to the ground. This penalty usually occurs as a defensive player approaches the quarterback, as the offensive lineman must do everything in his power to protect his quarterback. This penalty will result in the offense moving back 10 yards before its next snap.

Dangerous Tackles

In some cases, players tackle opponents dangerously, which leads to a penalty. These penalties include plays in which the tackler uses the crown of his helmet, grabs an opponent's face mask or throws an opponent to the ground once he has left the playing field. The officials pay special attention to plays in which the defensive player makes contact to the head of a quarterback or a defenseless receiver, since these players end up in vulnerable positions.

Controversy

The NFL has implemented new tackling rules to protect its players, which led to the league handing out a number of fines. Linebacker Jerome Harrison threatened to retire because of these rules, since he did not know if he could still play the game effectively. The league fined Harrison for tackles that did not receive a penalty during the game, which blurs the line between legal and illegal tackles. These tackles involved Harrison striking opposing players in the head with his helmet, causing injuries to two different players in one game.