The official rules regarding tackling in football are critical to all players and fans of the game. This is not only the case because of the confusing game situations that can arise in the course of any regular or unusual tackle, but also because the rules for tackling are designed to protect both ball carriers and defenders involved in the tackle.
Tackle
According to the NFL rulebook, a player is down and the play is over when any part of the player’s body except his hands or feet touches the ground. This includes his knees, elbows, hips, back, and even his head. For the next play, the ball is placed at the location it was in when the player was officially down, that is, when the body part other than the hand or foot touched the ground.
Defender’s Body
A defender’s body is not considered the ground, so if a defender wraps up a ball carrier and pulls him down on top of his own body in a way that none of the ball carrier’s body touches the ground, the ball carrier is not tackled and the play may continue.
Out of Bounds and Forward Motion
Other ways to end the play by getting a ball carrier down is to push or force the ball carrier out of bounds. Out of bounds rules are different at different levels of the game, especially in the number of the ball carrier’s body parts that have to be inbounds while he has full control and possession of the ball. For example, the ball carrier must have two feet inbounds in the NFL to have official possession of the ball. In college football, a ball carrier only needs one foot inbounds. Another way to get a ball carrier down is to stop his forward motion. If the ball carrier, for example, is wrapped up and pushed backwards in a way that totally arrests his forward motion but does not result in the ball carrier touching the ground, referees blow the whistle to signal the end of the play. The ball in this situation is then placed at the location at which the ball carrier’s forward motion was stopped. The forward motion rule is meant to both protect a vulnerable ball carrier who is pushed backwards as well as prevent a defensive player from lifting a ball carrier and carrying him all the way back across the field.
Illegal Tackles
There are a number of illegal tackles in football meant to protect the players. For example, tackling is illegal when carried out by a defender with his head. He must not lead into a tackle head first, either. Horse tackling, when a defender grabs the back pads of a player by his neck and throws or drags him to the ground, is also illegal because of the injuries it can cause.
