1. Head-Down Contact and Spearing in Football

2. Why Are We Here Today ?

4. High Profile Injuries from Helmet to Helmet Hits: Drew Hixon

5. High Profile Injuries from Helmet to Helmet Hits: Reggie Brown

6. NATA/AFCA Spearing in Football Task Force January 11, 2005Louisville, KY

7. Head-Down Contact and Spearing Development of improved helmet technology has led to increased use of the head at contact, both intentional and unintentional

8. Head-Down Contact and Spearing Catastrophic cervical spine injuries are among the most devastating injuries in all of sports Axial loading is the primary mechanism for catastrophic cervical spine injuries –as a result of head-down contact and spearing –whether intentional or unintentional

9. AXIAL LOADING Head-Down Contact and Spearing

11. Chuckie Mullins Died from complications related to cervical quadriplegia

12. Mechanism of Injury

14. NCAA Football 2005 Rules and Interpretations Approved April 2005 Rule 2, Section 24: Spearing –Article 1. Spearing is the use of the helmet (including the face mask) in an attempt to punish an opponent. Rule 9, Section 1: Contact and Interference Fouls –L. No player shall use his helmet (including the face mask) to butt or ram an opponent or attempt to punish him. –M. There shall be no spearing. –N. No player shall strike a runner with the crown or the top of his helmet in an attempt to punish him.

15. Who is at Risk?

16. PROTECT YOUR HEAD AND NECK head-down contact and spearing poses a risk to all position players regardless of intent

17. Safest Contact Technique Always make contact with your shoulder while keeping your head up

18. NFL Poster NCAA Poster Draft

19. PROTECT YOUR HEAD AND NECK “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” Ben Franklin, 1775 “For cervical quadriplegia there is no cure” Joe Torg, MD 1975 National FB Head & Neck Injury Registry

20. Head-Down Contact and Spearing in Football