Risk of Concussion After a Targeting Foul in Collegiate American Football

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Biomechanics of Injury
• Injury Prevention

Background:

• The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) implemented targeting rules in 2008 to reduce dangerous contact in American football.
• Despite emphasis on reducing concussions, empirical evidence linking targeting plays to increased concussion risk was lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantitatively compare the incidence and risk of concussions during plays involving targeting penalties versus non-targeting plays in collegiate American football.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study analyzed concussion data from 538 games (2016-2019) in the Pac-12 Conference.
• Concussions were categorized based on whether they occurred during a play with a targeting penalty (upheld or overturned) or other plays.
• Concussion incidence per 1000 plays and risk ratios were calculated.

Main Results:

• A total of 213 concussions were recorded across 68,670 plays.
• Concussion incidence was substantially higher on targeting plays (106.4/1000 plays) compared to non-targeting plays (2.9/1000 plays).
• The risk of concussion was 36.9 times greater during targeting plays, and 49.0 times greater when targeting fouls were upheld.

Conclusions:

• Concussion risk is significantly elevated during plays where targeting penalties are called, particularly when the fouls are upheld.
• Findings support reconsidering the role of targeting in American football to enhance player safety.
• Post-targeting play concussion screening is recommended for collegiate football players.