| American football is not for the faint | | | | with the ground decades ago and have been |
| hearted. It is a contact sport, a physical | | | | improved over time with the innovation of new |
| game, where players can only be stopped from | | | | materials such as silicon. Tear away jerseys |
| scoring by being brought to the ground by an | | | | were introduced, making it no longer possible |
| opponent. A player who has possession of the | | | | for a defender to grab his opponent's |
| football is subjected to bumps and hits, but | | | | clothing and swing him to the ground. |
| must actually be tackled and brought to the | | | | |
| ground in order to be stopped. Another goal | | | | Better, more lightweight padding was devised |
| of the defensive player is to hit the ball | | | | that impeded the wearers movement less but |
| carrier with enough force to dislodge the | | | | helped to minimize injury to players. An |
| ball, and take it himself. Not content to | | | | unintended consequence of these equipment |
| wait for the ball carrier to get careless and | | | | improvements is increasing levels of violence |
| "fumble" or drop the ball, defensive players | | | | in the game. Players may now hurl themselves |
| work drills to strip the ball from the | | | | and collide with more force without a |
| offensive player's hands. | | | | significant risk of injury. However, when an |
| | | | injury does occur, it is apt to be severe and |
| This, as well as tackling, has to be done | | | | often season or career-ending. |
| within a certain framework of rules that are | | | | |
| set in place for fairness and to give the | | | | Although illegal, better helmets have allowed |
| game an element of safety. Tacklers are not | | | | players to use them as weapons, since the |
| allowed to use excessive force, but how this | | | | injury to the wearer is minimized. To |
| is determined in such a bone crushing game is | | | | counteract this, a complicated series of |
| hard to decipher. A tackler cannot kick, | | | | penalties has been instituted for various |
| punch or trip the ball carrier and it is also | | | | types of contact. Currently, any contact with |
| illegal to hit a player's helmet or grab his | | | | the helmet of a player constitutes a foul. |
| face mask. A player cannot use his own helmet | | | | Quarterbacks and receivers must have better |
| as a weapon and ram it into an opponent. | | | | arm mobility and wear less padding than other |
| These are dangerous actions that can cause | | | | players, especially defensive players. For |
| injury and will draw a strong penalty, even | | | | this reason, a series of rules designed to |
| eviction from the game, if detected. However, | | | | protect the quarterback are in effect. If a |
| most other forms of tackling are legal and | | | | quarter back is in the actual process of |
| many a quaterback or wide receiver is laid | | | | throwing the ball, he is extremely |
| prone by a tackler outside his field of | | | | vulnerable. It is illegal to tackle him at |
| vision. Often, these tackles, though legal, | | | | this time. This has given rise to a |
| result in injury to one or even both of the | | | | quarterback ploy where he looks like he is |
| players. | | | | going to throw, or feigns a pass to gain time |
| | | | and protection for himself. |
| In an attempt at safety, football players | | | | |
| wear special protective equipment, such as a | | | | American football is violent enough for many |
| padded plastic helmet, and shoulder, hip and | | | | parents to discourage their sons from every |
| knee pads. These pads were introduced to | | | | playing it, but it remains for many a rough |
| minimize the force of a tackle or encounter | | | | and tumble, much beloved sport. |