1. Free Blocking Zone

2. Free Blocking Zone
Blocking below the waist, clipping or blocking in the back is permitted in the free blocking zone when the following conditions are met.
By offensive linemen who are on the line of scrimmage and in the zone at the snap.
Against defensive players who are in the zone at the snap.
The contact is in the zone.
The free-blocking zone disintegrates and the exception for a player to block below the waist and/or the exception for an offensive lineman to clip and/or block in the back is not to continue after the ball has left the zone.

3. A1
Free blocking zone extends 3 yards on either side of the line of scrimmage and 4 yards laterally either side of the spot. A player is in the free blocking zone when any part of his body is in the zone at the snap.
The free blocking zone extends 3 yards on either side of the line of scrimmage and 4 yards laterally either side of the spot. A player is in the free blocking zone when any part of his body is in the zone at the snap.

4. Legal Blocking
Blocks below the waist or in the back legal in the free blocking zone

5. Illegal Blocking
Butt Blocking, Face Tackling, and Spearing. All these carry a 15 yard penalty

6. Chop Block
A chop block is a delayed block at the knees or below of an opponent while
he is in contact with a teammate.

7. A1 is in motion at the snap within the free blocking zone.
A1 blocks B1 below the waist within the free blocking zone. B1 A1
This is blocking below the waist. 15 yard penalty from the previous spot and replay down if accepted. The offensive player must be on the line of scrimmage at the snap to legally block below the waist A
A-1 is in motion at the snap, within the free blocking zone.

8. Illegal block by A1 because the block was below
During a running play to the left, lineman A1, who was in the free-blocking zone, crosses through the zone and blocks B1 from the side below the waist, and away from the spot of the snap. A1 B1
A-1 blocks B1 below the waist within the free blocking zone.
Illegal block by A1 because the block was below
the waist outside the free-blocking zone. 15 yard penalty from the previous spot and replay down if accepted. C A. R

9. Illegal chop block by A2. 15 yard penalty from the
A1 and A2 combine in blocking B2 in the free blocking zone with A1's block above the waist and A2's block at the knees or below A1 A2 A2 A1 B2
A-1 blocks B1 below the waist within the free blocking zone.
Illegal chop block by A2. 15 yard penalty from the
spot of the foul and replay down if accepted B

10. A1 blocks B2 above the waist and at the same time or
thereafter, A2 blocks B2 below the waist and above the knees A2 A1 B2
A-1 blocks B1 below the waist within the free blocking zone.
The block by A2 is legal if the block and both blockers were on the line of scrimmage and in the free blocking zone at the snap B

11. Illegal block by A1 because the block was below
During a running play to the left, lineman A1, who was in the free-blocking zone, crosses through the zone and blocks B1 from the side below the waist, and away from the spot of the snap, as the lead blocker for a reverse. B1 A1
A-1 blocks B1 below the waist within the free blocking zone.
Illegal block by A1 because the block was below
the waist outside the free-blocking zone A

12. A1 has his arms in a legal position with his elbows outside the body
A1 has his arms in a legal position with his elbows outside the body. As B1 attempts to penetrate his block in an upright position, A1 contacts B1 above the shoulders with his forearm.
As B1 ducks or submarines , A1 contacts him above the shoulders in the back
B1 pulls A1’s shoulders to one side
To allow B2 to charge through.
B1 puts one hand on the shoulder pad and the
other on the helmet to fight off the block.
B1 Slaps A1 to the side of his helmet with
An open hand forcing him away.
B1 grasps guard A1 by the jersey and controls
Him until he sees where the ball is going. A1 B1
This is legal
The responsibility for the contact was
That of B1. It is assumed contact by A1
Does not violate the striking or contacting
Above the shoulders rule.
This is an illegal blocking technique because contact was made above the defensive mans shoulders when he was in an upright position B
Illegal personal contact. Personal
Foul of 15 yards C
This is defensive holding and a 10 yard
penalty if accepted B

13. Runner A1 breaks free beyond the neutral zone at midfield.
A2 is running between A1 and safety B1 A2 B1 A1
As B1 nears A1 he pushes A2 from behind above the waist in an effort to try and get to A1.
B1’s contact on the blocker is legal
When he is attempting to get to a
Runner or a loose ball B
A-1 is in motion at the snap, outside the free blocking zone.

14. A1 an offensive lineman is in the free blocking zone at the snap.
A1 blocks B1 then disengages and blocks B2 below the waist before the ball has left the zone
This is a legal block. Both B1 and B2 were on the line at the snap, the contact took place in the zone and the ball had not left the zone at the time of the second block.
A1 an offensive lineman is in the free blocking zone at the snap.

15. Back A9 is lined up beside the QB A8 in the free blocking zone B7
As A8 drops back to pass A9 blocks B7 in the free blocking zone below the waist.
Penalty is 15 yards from basic spot if accepted. B7 was not on the line
Of scrimmage at the snap.
Back A9 is lined up beside the QB A8 in the free blocking zone.

16. Of scrimmage at the snap. 2-17-4
B7 a linebacker is in the free blocking zone at the snap but off the line of scrimmage. At the snapB7 blocks A2 below the waist. A2 B7
Penalty is 15 yards from basic spot if accepted. B7 was not on the line
Of scrimmage at the snap
B7 blocks A8 below the waist.

17. Linebacker B7 is lined up three yards from the line of
scrimmage and in the free-blocking zone. A2, who is on the line of scrimmage and in the free-blocking zone, when the ball is snapped, blocks B7 below the waist, from behind.
Contact is in the zone and the ball is in the zone when the contact occurs. A2 B7
B7 blocks A8 below the waist.
It is clipping and a 15-yard penalty would
be assessed from the basic spot C

18. A1 sets in a formation outside the linebacker B1 who is 2 yards off the line of scrimmage. Following the snap, A1 blocks B1 below the waist from the front. A1 B1
A1 may block this player, but the block must be above the waist and on the front or side of the opponent C
B7 blocks A8 below the waist.

19. A3 is the lead blocker on a sweep play and is outside the
free-blocking zone when he blocks B3. As A3 moves in to block,
initial contact is with B3's hands that are below the waist and,
thereafter, contact is at B's knees A3 B3
B7 blocks A8 below the waist.
Illegal block below the waist. If the initial contact is with the opponent's body, hands or arms, at the waist or above, and in
continuation the contact is below the waist, it is a legal block.
9.3.2 D

20. Runner A1 is hit behind the line. The ball pops free and is
in the air when B3 pushes A3 in the back above the waist
to get to the loose ball. A1 A3 B3
This is legal A
B7 blocks A8 below the waist.

21. A3 contacts B3 with a legal block above the Waist. The contact
causes both players to stop or to bounce backward slightly and A3
immediately continues his charge and blocks B3 below the waist. A3 B3
B7 blocks A8 below the waist.
Legal block . It is permissible for A3's block to be below the
waist if it is part of a continuous block or continuous charge
after first contact was above the waist F

22. Offensive Players who are on the line of scrimmage inside the free blocking zone at the snap are the only players who may legally block from behind, clip or block in the back while in the zone
They may clip defensive players who are on the line of scrimmage at the snap. They may block in the back defensive players who are in the zone at the snap.
Free blocking zone extends 3 yards on either side of the line of scrimmage and 4 yards laterally either side of the spot. A player is in the free blocking zone when any part of his body is in the zone at the snap.

23. Additional Notes
Any player of either team may legally push an opponent in the back above the waist when attempting to reach the runner or ward off a blocker, or catch or recover a loose ball.
Blocking below the waist is allowed anytime against the runner.
On a free kick it is illegal to block the kicker until he has advanced 5 yards beyond his restraining line or the ball has touched the ground or a player. This foul carries a 15 yard penalty.