The Ivy League is making a dramatic change in an attempt to make football safer.
Coaches of the prestigious conference have decided they will eliminate full-contact hitting from practices during the regular season, according to The New York Times.
The decision, per the Times report, was unanimous among the eight head football coaches and is expected to be adopted after being approved by athletic directors and school presidents. The hope is that eliminating player-on-player contact will limit injuries, including concussions.
The Ivy League already has rules limiting full contact during spring and preseason practices.
The move isn’t anything new for Dartmouth, as head coach Buddy Teevens reduced in-practice contact in 2010. Dartmouth’s innovations — specifically its “mobile virtual player” (a.k.a. its robotic tackling dummy) — have been profiled in recent years.
The decision to eliminate tackling (other humans) at Dartmouth practices didn’t appear to be an issue during the 2015 season. The Big Green won the Ivy League and finished the season ranked 23rd in the FBS standings.
“At this stage in their careers, these guys know how to hit and take a hit,” Teevens told The New York Times. “People look at it and say we’re nuts. But it’s kept my guys healthy.”
Thumbnail photo via YouTube
