Pop Warner bans ‘head to head’ contact to prevent concussions

The nation’s largest youth-football organization today introduced rule changes that limit head-on contact and are designed to prevent concussions.

Pop Warner football players won’t be allowed to block or tackle another player head-on at full speed if they are more than 3 yards apart, the organization announced. Intentional head-to-head contact also won’t be allowed.

In addition, practice time that involves contact among players can’t exceed 40 minutes. The changes will take effect at the beginning of the 2012 season.

Pop Warner Little Scholars is a nonprofit organization that provides football, cheerleading and dance programs to youths in 42 states.

Consumers Digest reported on sports-related concussions in “Collision Course: The Truth About Concussion Prevention,” in the May/June 2012 issue.