Ivy League Banning Tackling At Football Practice
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- With concerns about football-related concussions on the rise, the Ivy League is taking a major step to limit head injuries.
Once the season starts, there will be no tackling in practice. The eight Ivy League coaches approved the measure last week and is expected to be formally put into place once other school officials affirm the decision.
"It was all meant to just address player safety," Al Bagnoli, head football coach at Columbia University, told WCBS 880's Peter Haskell.
"It's a broad-base attempt to just kind of contain the amount of hits that players inevitably will take," he explained.
While some might wonder if this will change the game, Bagnoli doesn't see it.
"In our opinion, it does not compromise football," he said.
He's hoping high schools will follow suit. The decision to remove full-contact hitting from regular season practices is considered one of the most proactive measures yet to address football safety issues.
