Seriously, couldn't we make football more of a "non-contact sport" and still enjoy it?

[SissyBoyFloyd]

Let's start here by brainstorming what the game could be like if it were made a into more of a non-contact sport. In other words, leave in the intelligence, the athleticism, and the fun, but remove 90% of the brutality. The two things, of the top of my head, that we would have to redefine, eliminate, or change would be Tackling and Blocking. In what ways might they be changed to reduce most injuries?

Tackling could be reduced to something more in line with rugby where you tackle from the side and back, and your head is not positioned in front of the runner. And no tackling from the waste down, which would include eliminating body block type tackles. No unnecessary piling on. And of course no neck or head strikes or tackles around or grabbing of area above shoulders.

Blocking must be from waste up and cannot include hands, but only include main torso up to shoulders. No grabbing, throwing down, or body blocks. No going for the legs. No tripping.

In return, runners may never lower head or intentionally raise knees, using either to lead into or strike a would be tackler.

No player shall leave his feet, outside the natural running style, to inflict a blow to another. No projectile type plays by offense or defensive players.

Refs must be quicker with their whistles to avoid plays where a ball carrier is held up for the purpose of being attacked in any way by additional players.

Offensive players may no longer push a ball carrier or the pile a ball carrier is a part of forward once ball carrier is in the grasp of would be tacklers. Refs would stop action immediately once ball carrier runs into and is in grasp of a pile of tacklers.

QBs may no longer scramble past the line of scrimmage. If they cross line of scrimmage while running with the ball, the play is blown dead at that spot. Exceptions being when QB becomes a WR or recovers a fumble.

QBs will not be thrown to the ground by opposing players. Refs will be quicker with the whistle and tackles of the QB will be considered at the moment any part of the QB's body is in the grasp of any opposing player.


These are just a few random thoughts which might be considered in preventing football from one day being banned for health reasons, keeping the game fun and exciting, and keeping more of our NFL stars off the IR lists.

What other ideas can you add that could reshape our game while still keeping it fundamentally intact?

 

[DVontel]

Unless someone literally dies on the field, I don’t think football is ever going to be banned. Even with all the repercussions, there’s always going to be more in line because they don’t have the height to do well in basketball, have the patience for baseball, or just came from a rough life & have nothing else but football. I’ll legitimately be surprised if football isn’t here or even just changed a little in 20 years.

A little off-topic, & for that I apologize.

 

[GoldGloveschmidt]

All you would need to do is take away the huge shoulder pads and helmets. Those items are what allow defenders to make huge hits without fearing injury for themselves.

But the product wouldn't be as exciting and many people would stop watching.

 

[Cheesewater]

Eliminate pads and helmets.

 

[NJCardFan]

We have a sport out there where the object is to literally knock your opponent unconscious and you want to make football a non-contact sport because it's too dangerous?

 

[Adrian]

Football is legal violence.
I don't think you are going to hear cheers for playing two hand touch or flag football.

 

[ARZCardinals]

Why do you think people pay so much money for tickets and the experience....it's not because they want a safer sport to watch.

It will never change

and to you guys who want to make it 'safer' the problem with your logic is once they solve the concussion issue there is always a 'next' issue....ACL's...hard tackling...etc...the list goes on and on...but there is ALWAYS another issue when there's a contact sport. Take away all concussions and there's still ACL tears....try taking that away and there's another issue...take that away and theres another issue...

see my point....till you have them giving back rubs to one another.

Whatever sport it is you made up top.....I'll pass on watching....and go hang out at the beach instead (as I live in CA)

 

[unseenaz]

it might just become safer organically. have you guys seen college football lately? these kids can't tackle, and high schoolers don't even learn to tackle at full speed anymore. it will slowly work its way into the league too.

 

[oaken1]

we played non contact football as kids...called it tag

pretty sure nobody is going to pay to see adults play it

 

[Austin Zonie]

Sounds like 11 v 11 with no equipment.

 

[oaken1]

you know...when they wanted to do this with the gladitorium back in rome,...they ended up just feeding christians to lions...

crowd still got into it but it was nowhere near as competitive as the gladiator fights....ultimately the whole thing failed

I'm thinking we just need to leave football alone.

 

[NJCardFan]

we played non contact football as kids...called it tag

pretty sure nobody is going to pay to see adults play it

Tag is outlawed now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[GuernseyCard]

No helmets, no pads...

The game already exists.

It's called rugby and quite popular outside the US.

Twickenham stadium, where the Cards played, is a rugby pitch.

 

[Stout]

If you don't want to watch football, don't watch it. If you want it to be a different sport altogether, as it would be unrecognizable with your 'rule changes', then either invent a different sport or become a rugby fan. This would just be

 

[JeffGollin]

Two options:

1. No helmuts or pads.

2. More helmets and pads (& braces)

Option 2 would slow up the game, but would slow it up equally for everyone. I believe the slower tempo would be barely noticeable.

Boils down to: Do we want football to be a speed game or a collision game? Can't have it both ways. (I think safety will eventually trump "the big bang").

 

[SissyBoyFloyd]

Okay then. How about this. We call it Foot-ball so let's make it about that. Make the FG worth more based on distance. Make the game about getting close enough to kick a fg. Teams march down the field till they get within the range they want to kick a FG. Give more points for longer FGs.

TD = 2 pts
Kick off following TD or FG that goes through goal posts = 1 pt. (a new version of the extra point try)

1-10 yd FG = 2
10-20 yd FG = 3
21-30 = 4
31-40 = 5
and so on.

This would eliminate possibly 50% of the plays and hard hitting necessary to move the ball all the way to the end zone. Receivers and RBs would be giving themselves up when they reach the necessary FG range rather than trying to fight for more yardage.

The game would still be played as normal on the offensive team's side of the field until they reach a point where they feel confident in their FG kickers range. There would be an added dimension in that teams would need to strategize how many points they need, especially as time winds down and based on how many points they are behind or ahead.

One added rule that would make most endings exciting is that whoever has the ball when time runs out at end of game may attempt a FG from wherever the ball has been advanced to. So, as long as a team has the ball and is within 7 points they might have a final chance to tie or win the game.

This would be true Football, with still all the excitement and strategy of the game we like, but with more emphasis on kicking with the 'Foot'. A FG kicker would be worth almost as much as the QB.

So, are you in or out?

 

[WisconsinCard]

OUT!!

 

[Stout]

You win the 'type the dumbest possible post' award. Yay!

 

[Milgod]

It's called rugby and quite popular outside the US.

Let's not get carried away.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Totally out, but if they were to make the changes you suggest...they should give you full credit and call it "Sissy-ball."

 

[oaken1]

Okay then. How about this. We call it Foot-ball so let's make it about that. Make the FG worth more based on distance. Make the game about getting close enough to kick a fg. Teams march down the field till they get within the range they want to kick a FG. Give more points for longer FGs.

TD = 2 pts
Kick off following TD or FG that goes through goal posts = 1 pt. (a new version of the extra point try)

1-10 yd FG = 2
10-20 yd FG = 3
21-30 = 4
31-40 = 5
and so on.

This would eliminate possibly 50% of the plays and hard hitting necessary to move the ball all the way to the end zone. Receivers and RBs would be giving themselves up when they reach the necessary FG range rather than trying to fight for more yardage.

The game would still be played as normal on the offensive team's side of the field until they reach a point where they feel confident in their FG kickers range. There would be an added dimension in that teams would need to strategize how many points they need, especially as time winds down and based on how many points they are behind or ahead.

One added rule that would make most endings exciting is that whoever has the ball when time runs out at end of game may attempt a FG from wherever the ball has been advanced to. So, as long as a team has the ball and is within 7 points they might have a final chance to tie or win the game.

This would be true Football, with still all the excitement and strategy of the game we like, but with more emphasis on kicking with the 'Foot'. A FG kicker would be worth almost as much as the QB.

So, are you in or out?

dont they already call that, "Punt, Pass, and Kick"?

 

[Cards_Campos]

Lol. How can we make boxing exciting but let's take away the punching

 

[Jasper]

Take away the helmets and pads. There'll be more broken noses and teeth but the game will be safer. The players will have to be in fit condition though.

 

[AZCrazy]

Good effort on the OP, but they're not going to change the game fundamentally as long as people are paying more and more for it. What they can do though, is really get a lot smarter with the helmets. The outer shell should be soft, not hard. Cushion on the inside and outside, with a hard shell between. Better shock absorption by far.