Region One Football Officials Association Rule Topics: Defenseless Players Blindside Blocks We Are All Here to Learn

Defenseless Player 2-32-16: Player who because of physical position (see examples) & focus of concentration, is especially vulnerable to injury. Contact against defenseless player must be legal. When in doubt player is defenseless. Examples of Physical Positions: Passer Receiver attempting to catch pass who has not had time to clearly become runner Intended receiver during & immediately following interception (or potential interception) Runner already in grasp of tackler & whose forward progress stopped Kick returner attempting to catch/recover kick OR has completed catch/recovery & not had time to protect self or become runner Player on ground (includes player who gives self up & sliding feet first) Player obviously out of the play Player receives blindside block w/forceful contact not initiated w/open hands 9-4-3(i)3: helmet-to-helmet contact vs defenseless player may be flagrant

Blindside Block 2-3-10: Block vs opponent, other than runner, who does not see blocker approaching 9-4-3(n): BSB (1) outside FBZ, (2) w/forceful contact, (3) unless initiated w/open hands is illegal (15-yd penalty) - All 3 elements must be present to make BSB illegal (malicious hits may be flagrant) Runner reverses direction Open field (long run) Peel back blocks Kicks Signal 26 BSB &