DEFENSELSS PLAYER DEFINITION

 A RECEIVER ATTEMPTING TO CATCH A PASS, OR ONE WHO HAS COMPLETED A CATCH AND HAS NOT HAD TIME TO PROTECT HIMSELF OR HAS NOT CLEARLY BECOME A BALL CARRIER.

 “Targeting” means that a player takes aim at an opponent for purposes of attacking with an apparent intent that goes beyond making a legal tackle or a legal block or playing the ball.  Crown of the helmet- top portion of the helmet. The following are indicators of targeting and include but are not limited to:

Launch A player leaving his feet to attack an opponent by an upward or forward thrust of the body to make contact in the head or neck area

 A CROUCH FOLLOWED BY AN UPWARD THRUST TO ATTACK WITH CONTACT IN THE HEAD OR NECK AREA—EVEN THOUGH ONE OR BOTH FEET ARE STILL ON THE GROUND

 Leading with the helmet, forearm, fist, hand or elbow to attack with contact at the head or neck area

 Lowering the head before attacking by initiating contact with the crown of the helmet

 1. ON THE FIELD-be sure of the call on the field. If it is not for targeting there is nothing to review and replay will NOT be involved.  2. DON’T STOP THE GAME-IR should not buzz the field to stop the game unless IR is going to overturn the ejection. Take a quick look to see if contact was with the crown of the helmet or the contact was initiated in the head or neck area. It will be rare to stop the game for more time. If this is the case then you very likely know the answer: the ejection stands.

 3. IR is only determining the facts stated earlier of the helmet or the point of contact.  4. ASSUMPTION DURING REVIEW-The assumption must be that the initial call on the field is correct. The ejection will be overturned if INDISPUTABLE VIDEIO EVIDENCE shows that the player should not be ejected.  5. EJECTION STANDS—IR will do nothing. The referee should only be called to the headset if the ejection is overturned

 EJECTION OVERTURNED-Buzz the field. Explain briefly to the referee that the player did not lead with the crown of his helmet or that he did not make contact with the head or neck area.  Only certain elements of the foul must be considered:  If the call on the field is “targeting with the crown of the helmet” the IRO views the video to see whether the contact was with the crown of the helmet  If the call on the field is “targeting to the head or neck area” the IRO views the video to see whether the contact was to the head or neck area.

The direction to the IRO is simple: Unless you are absolutely certain (indisputable, video evidence) that the contact was clearly not above the shoulders nor with the crown of the helmet then the ejection stands. You must abide by the philosophy that only the video may convince you to overturn the ejection.