Are we both referencing AMERICAN Football? An excellent history of "The Game" it's rules and their enforcement can be found in the 2009-2010 NFHS Handbook, which suggests in "History of the Game, Rules Part II"; "Football is a contact sport which demands discipline. Vigorous contact is encouraged, but rough tactics and unfair play are prohibited. this has been so since the reformation (of the rules) of 1906"
This NFHS Handbook includes a chronology of rule changes from 1860 through 2009. Changes made after 1932 reflect action of the NFHS Football Rules Committee only.
A small sampling of major rule revisions regarding different examples of "Illegal" (excessive) contact and safety measures include;
1960: Face Masks required
1962: Tooth & Mouth protectors required.
1967: Additional 15-yd penalty when USC foul follows a previous foul by the same team.
1981: Chop Block Illegal, Eliminated blocking below the waist outside the FBZ, Spearing definition revised
use of helmet to punish opponent.
1984: 1st Down added to Roughing the Passer.
1991: Contacting an official is disqualification, Kicking/Swinging at opponent is disqualification.
1996: Snapper given special protection, Auto 1st down for roughing snapper.
2001: Incidental Facemask foul established.
2002: BIB separated from Clipping.
These are just a few of the almost constant adjustments to the NFHS rules that have been made EACH YEAR regarding issues dealing with various types of contacts that have been considered to be Illegal and "Excessive".
The manual goes on to discuss in some detail the individual histories, reasons and expectations of rule adjustments relating to specific fouls for different types of "excessive/ Illegal" contacts, and indicates, "The NFHS Rules Committee has pledged to continue its unending effort to make the game of football as safe for participants as possible by rule implementation.", with heavy emphasis to the dangers of various types of helmet contacts as a special point of concern.
In fact, "Excessive Contact" and game official's focus to guard against it" has been a primary concern of the NFHS Rules Committee since 1932, and of the game of American Football dating back 110 years, and will very likely continue being so for the foreseeable future.
ALF -
Facts are Facts and even YOU can not argue with facts!!!
Since, based on your long diatribe, you are interested in facts think about this:
FACT 1: Your 2009-2010 Handbook was revised, reprinted and replaced with the
2011-2012 Handbook, which was revised, reprinted and replaced by the
2013-2014 Handbook, which was revised, reprinted and replaced by the most current version, the
2015-2016 Handbook, of which I will forgo republishing highlights of 2010 thru 2014 and go directly to:
FACT 2: 2015 -
Excessive Contact added to the unnecessary roughness provisionsConsider this play:
During a punt return by R1, R2 lines up and commits a vicious slobber-knocker, (Aka a Stadium Hit) block on K5. The block was from the side and was within five yards of runner R1, clearing the way for R1 to score.
The fans of R shout "hooray" while the fans of K boo loudly, shout cheap shot, that's "#$%^&" football and other non-congratulatory comments.
For many years this type of hit was considered legal was referred to as a "right of passage" or perhaps
"that's just football!", or one of my all time favorites, "it just goes to show you need to have your head on a swivel!"
Sure the game was stopped for the ambulance to come on the field and cart K5 off to the hospital.
It looks bad for K5. His mom is on the field, his dad is asking why no penalty?
Sure K5 never may never play organized football again but
that's just football.The officials gather by the ambulance and discuss the play.
The H thinks it should be called "Unnecessary Roughness!"
The B adds "How can you say it was Unnecessary? Of course it was Necessary, as without it, K5 would have made the tackle and saved the touchdown".
The L says well sure it was necessary, but R2 could have set a basketball screen and accomplished the same result.
The coach of K tells the officials
"That just can't be legal".The R responds with
"it is legal until they change the rule".In 2015 The rules committee got the message and added the words Excessive Contact.
So, should the above play happens in today's game, based on the new words "Excessive Contact" many believe the officials would be obliged to call the hit "excessive contact", and the touchdown would be nullified.
Yes, ALF, while many, (yourself included) felt this was a foul prior to 2015, many more did not.
And, while the words are now in the Rules Book, many more than before agree it is a foul today,
but alas, still many do not and continue to feel,
"That's just football!"Sorry for the long post, but "
occasionally" long posts are necessary!"