Legal/Illegal Blocking Presented by Mike Sears

Definitions The key to any rule

What is blocking?  Rule 2, Section 3, Art Blocking is obstructing an opponent by contacting him with any part of the blocker’s body.

Closed hand Technique  Closed or cupped hand technique:  Closed or cupped hand technique:  1.The elbows may be inside or outside the shoulders.  1.The elbows may be inside or outside the shoulders.  2.The hands must be closed or cupped with the palms not facing the opponent.  2.The hands must be closed or cupped with the palms not facing the opponent.  3.The forearms are extended no more than 45 degrees from the body.  3.The forearms are extended no more than 45 degrees from the body.

Open Hand Technique  Open hand technique. The hand(s) shall be:  Open hand technique. The hand(s) shall be:  1.In advance of the elbow.  1.In advance of the elbow.  2.Inside the frame of the blocker’s body; the frame of the blocker’s body is the front of the body at or below the shoulders.  2.Inside the frame of the blocker’s body; the frame of the blocker’s body is the front of the body at or below the shoulders.  3.Inside the frame of the opponent’s body, except when the opponent turns his back to the blocker during the block or after the blocker is committed to his charge. The frame of the opponent’s body is at the shoulders or below other than the back.  3.Inside the frame of the opponent’s body, except when the opponent turns his back to the blocker during the block or after the blocker is committed to his charge. The frame of the opponent’s body is at the shoulders or below other than the back.  4.At or below the shoulders of the blocker and the opponent, except when the opponent squats, ducks or submarines during the block or after the blocker is committed to his charge.  4.At or below the shoulders of the blocker and the opponent, except when the opponent squats, ducks or submarines during the block or after the blocker is committed to his charge.  5.Open, when the palm(s) are facing the frame of the opponent or when the forearms are extended beyond the 45 degree angle from the body.

Holding Understanding and Detecting The Foul

Rule  An offensive player (except the runner) shall not:  Use a blocking technique which is not permissible by rule. (See 2-3-2, 3)  Grasp or encircle any teammate to form interlocked blocking.  Use his hands, arms or legs to hook, lock, clamp, grasp, encircle or hold in an effort to restrain an opponent.

Widely Held Philosophy  We only call holding when a player is truly impeded from making a play at the point of attack.  Make a judgment. Was the player truly restricted from making a play?  If a player runs right through a blocker who was trying to hold him, there should be no foul.

Holding Classifications  Bear Hug  Arms are wrapped around an opponent outside the frame and player’s movement is restricted by this.  Wrap/Grab & Turn  Hands on outside of shoulders and opponent is actually turned or bent to the side or pulled to the ground.  Shoulder Dip  Player’s shoulder dip because blocker has pulled his chest down to prevent him from making a play on the ball carrier.  Shirt Stretch  As a player tries to disengage, his shirt is pulled outward by the blocker who is illegally holding him.  Grab of the Leg or arm  A player who has fallen grabs an opponent by the leg.

The Dance with No Foul  Opponents facing off.  Offensive lineman’s technique isn’t quite legal but the defensive makes absolutely no attempt at getting to the ball carrier.  This doesn’t deserve a flag because the defender was not restricted by the illegal actions of his opponent.

Examples of Defensive Holding Fouls  “Pull and Shoot”.  Defense tackles a pulling blocker.  Defense tackles the pitchman before he has the ball.  Holding an eligible receiver from going into his pass pattern.  Others?

The Free Blocking Zone When certain types of blocks are legal

The Free Blocking Zone  4 yards on each side of the ball. 3 yards to the front and back of the ball.  Players are in the zone when any part of their body is in the zone (at the snap).  Free blocking zone disintegrates and previously legal blocks are now illegal once the ball leaves the zone.

Blocking Below the Waist

Players on their Line  Offensive Players  On the line when any part of their body breaks an imaginary plane through the waist of the snapper.  Defensive Players  When any part of their body is within one yard of the line of scrimmage.

Definition  Making initial contact from the front or side against an opponent other than the runner.  Only applies if opponent has one or both feet on the ground.

When BBW is Legal  By player on the line of scrimmage and in the free blocking zone at the snap.  Against opponents who are on the line and in the free blocking zone at the snap.  Contact occurs in the free blocking zone  Football has not left the free blocking zone.

Key – Initial Contact  If the initial contact is above the waist and the blocker slides down below the waist while maintaining contact, the block is legal.  If initial contact is on the hands and the player blocks below the waist, this is also legal.  See the whole action

Common BBW Fouls  Backs who block defenders low on a sweep play or in pass protection.  Wide outs who block defenders low.  Kicking team members who try to break up the wedge by blocking low.  Tackles/TE’s who go out of the zone to block linemen, linebackers below the waist.  Linemen/Running Backs who block linebackers who aren’t on the line below the waist.  A delayed BBW when a team is in shotgun formation.

Block in the Back

Definition of Block in the Back  Making initial contact from behind and above the waist against an opponent who is not the runner.

When BIB is legal  By offensive lineman who are on the line and in the zone at the snap.  Against ANY defensive player who is in the zone at the snap.  Block occurs in the free blocking zone.  Ball has never left free blocking zone.

Common Times BIB Fouls Occur  Long run plays with aggressive downfield blockers who are behind an opponent.  During any play involving a kick.  When a quarterback begins to scramble around.  Wide sweep plays.

Definition of Clipping  Making initial contact from behind and below the waist against an opponent who is not the runner.

When Clipping is legal  Can only be done by offensive linemen who are in the zone at the snap.  Can only be done against defensive linemen who are on the line and in the zone at the snap.  Block occurs in the free blocking zone.  Ball has never left free blocking zone.

Common Times Clipping Fouls Occur  “Statement Blocks”. Blocker is trying to make a statement to an opponent.  A poorly timed clip after the FBZ has disintegrated.

When Legal Blocks or 10 yard illegal blocking fouls Become Personal Fouls  Blocking players who are obviously out of a play and not moving with an intention to participate is illegal and this is a personal foul.  Players who are “head hunting” need to be penalized for this act.  Blasting a player in the back away from the play is more appropriately called a personal foul, not a block in the back.