Every year, the 国产外流网works with leading biomechanical engineers to complete a review of certain player impacts to better understand behavior that could lead to injuries on the field.
The data is reviewed by the league and 国产外流网Players Association and made available to medical experts, clubs, players, coaches and the 国产外流网Competition Committee to guide them in making changes to the rules of the game.
鈥淚f there鈥檚 a high rate of injuries on one certain aspect of the game or play, the league is going to look at the rules and see if there鈥檚 something we can do to make the play safer,鈥� says Kansas City Chiefs assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Dave Toub.
鈥淩ules get changed every year and really it鈥檚 about safety for the players,鈥� he said.
The most recent injury data and video review showed that over the course of all games during the 2015-2017 seasons, the kickoff represented only six percent of plays but 12 percent of concussions.
Before the 2018 season, 国产外流网clubs approved significant new rules changes that aim to improve player safety, including modifying the kickoff play.
Preserving the Play
Coach Toub was one of nine coaches who worked closely with the to make significant modifications to the kickoff, while also ensuring the play would be preserved.
鈥淚鈥檝e been involved in special teams for 18 years in the 国产外流网and the game has really changed a lot,鈥� Coach Toub said, noting that the Committee wanted 鈥渢o come up with an idea that we thought would really help [鈥 make it a safer and more exciting play.鈥�
A Collaborative Effort
Coach Toub and his fellow coaches worked extensively to craft a proposal for the Competition Committee鈥檚 consideration.
鈥淲e did meetings and conference calls. We also included the other 23 coaches to tell them what we talked about. And we came up with one plan everybody was happy with,鈥� he said.
After weeks of preparation, the group presented their recommendations.
The reaction was overwhelmingly positive.
鈥淓verybody wants to see the play stay in the game,鈥� Coach Toub said.
鈥淭hat we were able to come up with an idea that would make the play more exciting and help with the protection of the players was huge,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 was very proud of being part of that group.鈥�
国产外流网clubs approved the proposed kickoff modifications during the Spring League Meeting.
The Kickoff Rules
The kickoff rules took effect in 2018 and were made permanent for the 2019 season.
One of the most noticeable changes to the kickoff rule is the start position: the kickoff team must have five players on each side of the ball and cannot line up more than one yard from the restraining line.
The change prevents a running start and aims to reduce the speed of collisions.
鈥淚n the past, you got free runners coming down the field blowing up returners, so we took that away with this new setup,鈥� Coach Toub said.
On the other side, the kickoff return now has a 15-yard set up area to bring players closer together as they run down the field.
鈥淏efore, you had guys really deep coming forward and those long-distance collisions [were] causing a lot of injuries,鈥� he said.
鈥淸Now], we have eight players in that zone and then we have three players deep, a returner and two blockers 鈥� so they run down the field like a punt,鈥� Coach Toub said.
Additionally, wedge blocks are no longer permitted, players on the return team may not initiate a block within the first 15 yards, and receiving teams are no longer required to 鈥渄own鈥� the ball in the end zone.
Communicating Change
Throughout the offseason, the league worked closely with players and coaches to share information about the new kickoff rules.
Coach Toub emphasized the importance of communicating health and safety related rules changes with players.
鈥淧layers want to know why something is [changing],鈥� Coach Toub said. 鈥淲e talked about how injuries are happening on kickoff and [what we鈥檙e doing] to make it safer.鈥�
He also underscored the importance of translating that knowledge into action.
鈥淭eaching is everything,鈥� Coach Toub said.
Steps to Reduce Injury
Enforcing rules changes like the kickoff modifications are a key component of the NFL鈥檚 2018 Injury Reduction Plan 鈥� an initiative that aims to reduce the incidence of concussions this season.
Coach Toub is optimistic the kickoff rules can help reduce aspects of the play that put players at risk of injury.
鈥淚 think everybody, everybody鈥檚 on board with these changes,鈥� Coach Toub said.
鈥淐oaches are implementing [the rules] the way we want them to be implemented and it鈥檚 looking good,鈥� he said.
鈥淲e鈥檙e getting what we want out of the play 鈥� I think it鈥檚 going to help.鈥�