Beginning this fall, Ivy League football teams will only tackle on Saturdays.
According to the New York Times, all eight coaches agreed last week to ban tackling during regular season practices moving forward. The rule will need to be rubber-stamped by Ivy League athletics directors, policy committee and university presidents before it becomes officially official, but moving forward member teams will only tackle during spring practice and fall camp -- and even that is falling more and more by the wayside every year.
And the fact that all eight coaches unanimously agreed undoubtedly helped push the rule forward, as no coach will have to worry about sacrificing a competitive advantage.
“At this stage in their careers, these guys know how to hit and take a hit,” Dartmouth head coach Buddy Teevens, an early adapter of no-tackle practicing, told the Times. “People look at it and say we’re nuts. But it’s kept my guys healthy.”
NCAA rules allow teams to hold two full-contact practices per week during the season. Ivy teams will still be permitted -- if they so choose, though most don’t -- to hold 12 full-contact practices during the pre-season.
“It hasn’t hurt our level of play,” Teevens said. “It’s actually made us a better team.”
