In American soccer, this motion refers to a particular foul dedicated by a participant in opposition to an opponent. It entails contacting a defenseless opponent above the shoulders with the crown of the helmet, or initiating contact with the pinnacle, shoulder, forearm, fist, elbow, or hand to strike, or thrust upward into, an opponent’s head or neck space. For instance, a defensive participant launching himself headfirst right into a receiver who has simply caught a go might be flagged for this penalty. The particular standards for this foul can range barely between totally different ranges of play (NFL, faculty, highschool).
This rule exists primarily to guard gamers from harmful and probably catastrophic head and neck accidents. Its enforcement emphasizes participant security and goals to scale back the incidence of concussions and different critical trauma. The rule has advanced over time, reflecting growing consciousness and concern surrounding head accidents within the sport. Penalties for this infraction can vary from important yardage penalties to participant ejections, relying on the severity and context of the foul.
