Targeting Rule Review
Study the rule language, judgment keys, enforcement notes, and common officiating mistakes.
What to know
Rule 9-1-3: Forcible Contact With the Crown of the Helmet & 9-1-4: Forcible Contact to Head or Neck Area of a Defenseless PlayerTraining Takeaway
Slow the play down: status of the opponent, type of contact, point of contact, and targeting indicators. New for 2026 - for a player’s first targeting foul in a season, disqualification for the remainder of the game with no carryover disqualification (See Rule 2-27-12). If a player receives a second Targeting foul within the same season, disqualification for the remainder of the game and the first half of the team’s next scheduled game within that season including postseason games. If a player receives a third or subsequent Targeting foul within the same season, disqualification for the remainder of the game and that player will receive an automatic one game suspension in their team’s next scheduled game.
Look for these first
- Identify whether the player is defenseless.
- Determine whether the contact is forcible.
- Look for targeting indicators such as launch, upward thrust, or leading with the crown.
- Confirm whether the contact is to the head or neck area, or made with the crown of the helmet.
What officials miss
- Calling targeting only because the hit looks violent.
- Ignoring whether the opponent was defenseless.
- Missing the difference between crown-of-helmet contact and head/neck-area contact.
After the flag
When targeting is confirmed, enforce the penalty according to rule. The player that commits targeting is disqualified for the remainder of the game.