Ivy League Colleges Ban Football Players From Tackling During Practices

The NFL has made several attempts in recent years to institute rules intended to making football a safer sport for players. Commissioner Roger Goodell and the NFL Players Association have worked tirelessly to prevent serious head injuries and concussions over the past few years, despite criticism from both fans and players.

Ivy League Colleges Ban Football Players From Tackling During Practices

On Monday, however, the Ivy League became the one to institute a game-changing rule by banning what is perhaps the most dangerous and essential part of the sport: tackling.

According to the New York Times, football coaches from all eight Ivy League schools unanimously agreed to completely ban tackling from regular-season practices. Although the rule hasn’t been made official yet, it’s expected to be approved by the athletic directors, policy committee and university president.

The move was purely motivated by safety concerns. The Ivy League also limited the number of full-contact practices outside of the regular season — spring practices and the pre-season — in 2011.

“At this stage in their careers, these guys know how to hit and take a hit,” Dartmouth coach Buddy Teevens told the Times. “People look at it and say we’re nuts. But it’s kept my guys healthy.”

Teevens eliminated full-contact practices for Dartmouth back in 2010, so he’s been ahead of the curve.

Parents have become increasingly reluctant to let their kids play football due to the violence of the sport. However, they may now perhaps change their minds given the elimination of tackling.

“It hasn’t hurt our level of play,” Teevens later added. “It’s actually made us a better team.”

Whether this new ban stays in the Ivy League or becomes instituted across the board for football remains a mystery. In any case, it’s a big step toward making football safer for players, particularly with respect to head injuries.

Caption: NEW HAVEN, CT – NOVEMBER 21: Seitu Smith II #2 of the Harvard Crimson runs by Hayden Carlson #26 of the Yale Bulldogs in the first half on November 21, 2015 in New Haven, Connecticut. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images