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

2. Defenseless Player
: 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

3. 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
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