A University of Hawaii medical school study found high school football injuries have dropped since a 2014 safety rule, which is good news for players and parents.

• Researchers reviewed more than 14,000 football-related emergency room cases from across the country.
• The 2014 "targeting" rule banned forceful hits above the shoulders to cut head and upper body injuries.
• The surprise: leg and knee injuries fell too, with tens of thousands fewer lower body ER visits after the rule took effect.
• Coaches in Hawaii report the same trend, with far fewer serious injuries in recent years.
• The rule is not the only reason — better trainers at schools, conditioning, and nutrition all played a part.

Outlook: Football will never be fully safe, but the numbers point to more rule and training changes aimed at cutting injuries further.