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Head-Down Contact and Spearing in Football. Why Are We Here Today ?. High Profile Injuries from Helmet to Helmet Hits: Drew Hixon. High Profile Injuries from Helmet to Helmet Hits: Reggie Brown. NATA/AFCA Spearing in Football Task Force January 11, 2005 Louisville, KY.
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High Profile Injuries from Helmet to Helmet Hits: Drew Hixon
High Profile Injuries from Helmet to Helmet Hits: Reggie Brown
NATA/AFCA Spearing in FootballTask ForceJanuary 11, 2005 Louisville, KY
Head-Down Contact and Spearing Development of improved helmet technology has led to increased use of the head at contact, both intentional and unintentional
Head-Down Contact and Spearing • Catastrophic cervical spine injuries are among the most devastating injuries in all of sports • Axial loading is the primary mechanism for catastrophic cervical spine injuries • as a result of head-down contact and spearing • whether intentional or unintentional
Chuckie MullinsDied from complications related to cervical quadriplegia
NCAA Football 2005 Rules and InterpretationsApproved April 2005 • Rule 2, Section 24: Spearing • Article 1. Spearing is the use of the helmet (including the face mask) in an attempt to punish an opponent. • Rule 9, Section 1: Contact and Interference Fouls • L. No player shall use his helmet (including the face mask) to butt or ram an opponent or attempt to punish him. • M. There shall be no spearing. • N. No player shall strike a runner with the crown or the top of his helmet in an attempt to punish him.
PROTECT YOUR HEAD AND NECK • head-down contact and spearing poses a risk to all position players regardless of intent
Safest Contact Technique • Always make contact with your shoulder while keeping your head up
PROTECT YOUR HEAD AND NECK • “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” Ben Franklin, 1775 • “For cervical quadriplegia there is no cure” Joe Torg, MD 1975 National FB Head & Neck Injury Registry