Yes I can put my finger nearly on the date in my town’s LL Football when they changed how they taught blocking & tackling. The previous season it was tackle and block with the shoulder, any helmet contact was incidental. The next season lead with the helmet. All get neck rolls and now the Helmut is your weapon of choice for blocking and tackling. Shoulder contact was now incidental. I remember my father muttering to himself, that’s crazy kids will get hurt. I don’t remember any one who actually did get hurt but not only were the kids small but so were the numbers. By the time I got to high school it clearly was the coached technique. You did hear of the odd head & neck injury but it was uncommon.
Yes. When I played in the late 50s, you tackled by putting your shoulder into the runner, ideally around the hips/thighs. Head in front of the runner.
We couldn’t use our hands blocking either.
It’s all about making the hit to get on SportsCenter.