Offside, I know that it will mean you have to do a lot of typing, but can you explain post #27?

 

My power is still out and I'm typing on a hijacked computer. I will explain the definition of blocking below the waist and the Free Blocking Zone as soon as Duke Energy gets me plugged back into the grid.

 

Maybe HeyRef can take over?

The interesting part about this comment is that the term "QB" is used while questioning a rule that covers kicking situations.

 

It is perfectly legal for a team to exploit this rule to its advantage. But it seems a bit greedy to complain when it's not perfectly clear to the officials that the team is following the rules exception exactly as it's written.

 

Good point. May be a result of an official that has something against the A-11 offense.

The field is legal when the officials allow play to begin.

 

I guess. Tons of schools can save the money to paint the hash marks, too.

Offside, I know that it will mean you have to do a lot of typing, but can you explain post #27?

 

First, some definitions:

 

Rule 2-5-1...Clipping is a block against an opponent when the initial contact is from behind, at or below the waist, and not against a player who is a runner or pretending to be a runner.

 

Rule 2-5-2...Blocking in the back is a block against an opponent when the initial contact is in the opponent's back, inside the shoulders and below the helmet and above the waist.

 

Rule 2-5-3...Such cases shall not be ruled clipping and/or blocking in the back unless the official sees the initial contact. When in doubt, the contact is legal...

 

Rule 2-25-3...A defensive player is on his line of scrimmage when he is within 1 yard of his scrimmage line at the snap.

 

Next, here's Rule 2-17, Free-blocking Zone--Legal Blocking Below the Waist, Legal Clipping, Legal Block in the Back:

 

1. The free-blocking zone is a rectangular area extending laterally 4 yards either side of the spot of the snap and 3 yards behind each line of scrimmage. A player is in the free-blocking zone when any part of his body is in the zone at the snap.

 

2. Blocking below the waist is permitted in the free-blocking zone when the following conditions are met:

a. All players involved in the blocking are on the line of scrimmage and in the zone at the snap.

b. The contact is in the zone.

 

[The term "cut block", usually refers to a block below the waist, whether legal or illegal. The term does not appear in the Rules book, and is frequently misused.]

 

3. Clipping is permitted in the free-blocking zone when the following conditions are met:

a. By offensive linemen who are on the line of scrimmage and in the zone at the snap.

b. Against defensive players who are on the line of scrimmage and in the zone at the snap.

c. The contact is in the zone.

 

4. Blocking in the back is permitted in the free-blocking zone when the following conditions are met:

a. By offensive linemen who are on the line of scrimmage and in the zone at the snap.

b. Against defensive players who are in the zone at the snap.

c. The contact is in the zone.

 

5. The free-blocking zone disintegrates and the exception for a player to block below the waist, clip or block in the back is not to continue after the ball has left the zone.

 

First, notice the items in bold. Blocking below the waist and clipping can legally occur only between offensive and defensive linemen (never against players not on the line at the snap). However, an offensive lineman may legally block a "linebacker" in the back, provided they're both in the zone and the ball is in the zone when the block in the back occurs.

 

Offensive backs, flankers, and split ends cannot enter the zone and legally commit any of the above mentioned blocks because they did not start out in the zone at the snap. Tight ends are usually lined up in the zone and, as a general statement, can legally block a defensive tackle or linebacker in the back. But defensive ends are not usually in the zone at the snap, and a tight end who blocks a defensive tackle below the waist will probably be a suspect for a chop block (because the offensive tackle will most likely also be engaged in blocking him).

 

Next, notice that the zone disintegrates when the ball leaves the zone. As previously stated, it has been interpreted by the KHSAA that, in shotgun formation, an immediate block below the waist by an offensive lineman is legal. However, no delay in the block whatsoever is permitted. So, in the shotgun, if a lineman first stands and then drops down to block below the waist, it's a foul. (Offensive tackles are bigger suspects than guards and centers because they tend to have more separation between them and the defensive tackles).

 

And last, a chop block is a delayed, high/low or low/low double-team block and is illegal even in the free blocking zone.

Edited September 17, 200818 yr by offside

First, some definitions:

 

Rule 2-5-1...Clipping is a block against an opponent when the initial contact is from behind, at or below the waist, and not against a player who is a runner or pretending to be a runner.

 

Rule 2-5-2...Blocking in the back is a block against an opponent when the initial contact is in the opponent's back, inside the shoulders and below the helmet and above the waist.

 

Rule 2-5-3...Such cases shall not be ruled clipping and/or blocking in the back unless the official sees the initial contact. When in doubt, the contact is legal...

 

Rule 2-25-3...A defensive player is on his line of scrimmage when he is within 1 yard of his scrimmage line at the snap.

 

Next, here's Rule 2-17, Free-blocking Zone--Legal Blocking Below the Waist, Legal Clipping, Legal Block in the Back:

 

1. The free-blocking zone is a rectangular area extending laterally 4 yards either side of the spot of the snap and 3 yards behind each line of scrimmage. A player is in the free-blocking zone when any part of his body is in the zone at the snap.

 

2. Blocking below the waist is permitted in the free-blocking zone when the following conditions are met:

a. All players involved in the blocking are on the line of scrimmage and in the zone at the snap.

b. The contact is in the zone.

 

[The term "cut block", usually refers to a block below the waist, whether legal or illegal. The term does not appear in the Rules book, and is frequently misused.]

 

3. Clipping is permitted in the free-blocking zone when the following conditions are met:

a. By offensive linemen who are on the line of scrimmage and in the zone at the snap.

b. Against defensive players who are on the line of scrimmage and in the zone at the snap.

c. The contact is in the zone.

 

4. Blocking in the back is permitted in the free-blocking zone when the following conditions are met:

a. By offensive linemen who are on the line of scrimmage and in the zone at the snap.

b. Against defensive players who are in the zone at the snap.

c. The contact is in the zone.

 

5. The free-blocking zone disintegrates and the exception for a player to block below the waist, clip or block in the back is not to continue after the ball has left the zone.

 

First, notice the items in bold. Blocking below the waist and clipping can legally occur only between offensive and defensive linemen (never against players not on the line at the snap). However, an offensive lineman may legally block a "linebacker" in the back, provided they're both in the zone and the ball is in the zone when the block in the back occurs.

 

Offensive backs, flankers, and split ends cannot enter the zone and legally commit any of the above mentioned blocks because they did not start out in the zone at the snap. Tight ends are usually lined up in the zone and, as a general statement, can legally block a defensive tackle or linebacker in the back. But defensive ends are not usually in the zone at the snap, and a tight end who blocks a defensive tackle below the waist will probably be a suspect for a chop block (because the offensive tackle will most likely also be engaged in blocking him).

 

Next, notice that the zone disintegrates when the ball leaves the zone. As previously stated, it has been interpreted by the KHSAA that, in shotgun formation, an immediate block below the waist by an offensive lineman is legal. However, no delay in the block whatsoever is permitted. So, in the shotgun, if a lineman first stands and then drops down to block below the waist, it's a foul. (Offensive tackles are bigger suspects than guards and centers because they tend to have more separation between them and the defensive tackles).

 

And last, a chop block is a delayed, high/low or low/low double-team block and is illegal even in the free blocking zone.

 

Many thanks for that explanation! I just wanted to be straight on this rule as it is new to me and had never been called in a previous game before that one Saturday. My son has always done a considerable amount of cut blocking on the line as center, but this season he has been asked to shotgun and this hadn't come up before. I also appreciate all the typing you had to do to get the rules across.

Thanks,

Papagrit :thumb:

Many thanks for that explanation! I just wanted to be straight on this rule as it is new to me and had never been called in a previous game before that one Saturday. My son has always done a considerable amount of cut blocking on the line as center, but this season he has been asked to shotgun and this hadn't come up before. I also appreciate all the typing you had to do to get the rules across.

Thanks,

Papagrit :thumb:

 

Also remember that blocks below the waist and clipping (even in the free blocking zone, and even when legal) always present potential player safety issues and are always suspect to officials. All officials will err on the side of caution; if in doubt, we're taught, these blocks are illegal.

 

Maybe we also have a more refined eye in varsity games than we do in middle-school games.

Thanks for the valuable info, Offside. You cleared it up for me when you said the rule about the free blocking zone in the "shotgun" formation was changed a couple of years ago. I guess I need to attend the rules clinic more instead of just having my name signed,lol.

First, some definitions:

 

Rule 2-5-1...Clipping is a block against an opponent when the initial contact is from behind, at or below the waist, and not against a player who is a runner or pretending to be a runner.

 

Rule 2-5-2...Blocking in the back is a block against an opponent when the initial contact is in the opponent's back, inside the shoulders and below the helmet and above the waist.

 

Rule 2-5-3...Such cases shall not be ruled clipping and/or blocking in the back unless the official sees the initial contact. When in doubt, the contact is legal...

 

Rule 2-25-3...A defensive player is on his line of scrimmage when he is within 1 yard of his scrimmage line at the snap.

 

Next, here's Rule 2-17, Free-blocking Zone--Legal Blocking Below the Waist, Legal Clipping, Legal Block in the Back:

 

1. The free-blocking zone is a rectangular area extending laterally 4 yards either side of the spot of the snap and 3 yards behind each line of scrimmage. A player is in the free-blocking zone when any part of his body is in the zone at the snap.

 

2. Blocking below the waist is permitted in the free-blocking zone when the following conditions are met:

a. All players involved in the blocking are on the line of scrimmage and in the zone at the snap.

b. The contact is in the zone.

 

[The term "cut block", usually refers to a block below the waist, whether legal or illegal. The term does not appear in the Rules book, and is frequently misused.]

 

3. Clipping is permitted in the free-blocking zone when the following conditions are met:

a. By offensive linemen who are on the line of scrimmage and in the zone at the snap.

b. Against defensive players who are on the line of scrimmage and in the zone at the snap.

c. The contact is in the zone.

 

4. Blocking in the back is permitted in the free-blocking zone when the following conditions are met:

a. By offensive linemen who are on the line of scrimmage and in the zone at the snap.

b. Against defensive players who are in the zone at the snap.

c. The contact is in the zone.

 

5. The free-blocking zone disintegrates and the exception for a player to block below the waist, clip or block in the back is not to continue after the ball has left the zone.

 

First, notice the items in bold. Blocking below the waist and clipping can legally occur only between offensive and defensive linemen (never against players not on the line at the snap). However, an offensive lineman may legally block a "linebacker" in the back, provided they're both in the zone and the ball is in the zone when the block in the back occurs.

 

Offensive backs, flankers, and split ends cannot enter the zone and legally commit any of the above mentioned blocks because they did not start out in the zone at the snap. Tight ends are usually lined up in the zone and, as a general statement, can legally block a defensive tackle or linebacker in the back. But defensive ends are not usually in the zone at the snap, and a tight end who blocks a defensive tackle below the waist will probably be a suspect for a chop block (because the offensive tackle will most likely also be engaged in blocking him).

 

Next, notice that the zone disintegrates when the ball leaves the zone. As previously stated, it has been interpreted by the KHSAA that, in shotgun formation, an immediate block below the waist by an offensive lineman is legal. However, no delay in the block whatsoever is permitted. So, in the shotgun, if a lineman first stands and then drops down to block below the waist, it's a foul. (Offensive tackles are bigger suspects than guards and centers because they tend to have more separation between them and the defensive tackles).

 

And last, a chop block is a delayed, high/low or low/low double-team block and is illegal even in the free blocking zone.

 

Thanks, that cleared it up and the calls at Leslie Co were correct and the call against MC vs Clinton Co was wrong!

Also remember that blocks below the waist and clipping (even in the free blocking zone, and even when legal) always present potential player safety issues and are always suspect to officials. All officials will err on the side of caution; if in doubt, we're taught, these blocks are illegal.

 

Maybe we also have a more refined eye in varsity games than we do in middle-school games.

 

I am a little confused. If you are taught that the blocks are illegal and the rules say that they are legal. How can their be consistancy when coaches are coaching their players to make these blocks and some officials throw the flag and others do not? This is what frustrates fans, players and coaches alike!

I am a little confused. If you are taught that the blocks are illegal and the rules say that they are legal.

I said, "if in doubt, it's a foul."

From my perspective the one that always frustrated me comes from the other side of the ball.

 

A lead blocker goes to kick out a defensive end. The defensive end takes the legs out on the lead blocker. That is supposed to be a penalty, is it not? If it is not, I owe a lot of referees apologies for constantly nagging them about it.

From my perspective the one that always frustrated me comes from the other side of the ball.

 

A lead blocker goes to kick out a defensive end. The defensive end takes the legs out on the lead blocker. That is supposed to be a penalty, is it not? If it is not, I owe a lot of referees apologies for constantly nagging them about it.

 

Yes, you are right. I am guilty of missing that one, too. I'll be watching for it tonight.

Yes, you are right. I am guilty of missing that one, too. I'll be watching for it tonight.

There are some teams that do this numerous times a game, yet it is never called for some reason.