RULE 2 - SECTION 17 FREE-BLOCKING ZONE--LEGAL BLOCKING BELOW THE WAIST, LEGAL CLIPPING, LEGAL BLOCK IN THE BACK

ART. 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.

ART. 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.

ART. 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.

ART. 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.

ART. 5 . . . 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.

 

The FBZ is basically a temporary exception to the clipping, blocking below the waist and block in the back fouls, provided the conditions detailed above are met. Also, officials have been instructed to allow these blocks if A is in the shotgun and the contact occurs immediately after the snap, with no delay or other move first. The ball leaves the FBZ too quickly on shotgun snaps for there to be any delay before the contact.

RULE 2 - SECTION 17 FREE-BLOCKING ZONE--LEGAL BLOCKING BELOW THE WAIST, LEGAL CLIPPING, LEGAL BLOCK IN THE BACK

ART. 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.

ART. 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.

ART. 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.

ART. 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.

ART. 5 . . . 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.

 

The FBZ is basically a temporary exception to the clipping, blocking below the waist and block in the back fouls, provided the conditions detailed above are met. Also, officials have been instructed to allow these blocks if A is in the shotgun and the contact occurs immediately after the snap, with no delay or other move first. The ball leaves the FBZ too quickly on shotgun snaps for there to be any delay before the contact.

 

Nevermind. I didn't read all of your post. Who has given the officials the instruction to permit blocks below the waist when the qb is in the gun? Seems like that instruction is contrary to the rule to me.

This is the one rule that I think isn't called correctly by officials.

Nevermind. I didn't read all of your post. Who has given the officials the instruction to permit blocks below the waist when the qb is in the gun? Seems like that instruction is contrary to the rule to me.

 

 

That is the interpretation that Ky has determined to be legal. It is a hot topic among coaches from different states that have different rulings and interpretations of this rule.

In Kentucky we get our official interpretations from Julian Tackett. Each state has senior officials and rules experts who provide rule interpretations.

This is the one rule that I think isn't called correctly by officials.

 

Do you think it is called when it is legal. Or do you think that it is not called when it is illegal?

In Kentucky we get our official interpretations from Julian Tackett. Each state has senior officials and rules experts who provide rule interpretations.

 

Thanks

Three points to note about the FBZ exception is who is allowed to do what.

 

1. Offensive players, may block below the waist, clip and block in the back, providing all FBZ conditions are met.

 

2. Defensive players may block below the waist, but may not clip or block in the back.

 

3. At no other time or place is blocking below the waist, clipping or block in the back legal. This is different from NCAA and NFL, who both allow some blocking below the waist under certain circumstances.

Do you think it is called when it is legal. Or do you think that it is not called when it is illegal?

 

ART. 5 . . . 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.

 

 

When teams are in the shotgun and the ball is snapped the ball has left the zone in a matter of seconds. I see plenty of blocking bellow the waiste after this has happened.

Seems like the wrong direction if the KHSAA goals are to minimize injuries.

Edited January 20, 201016 yr by gamehuntr

Because the ball leaves the FBZ so quickly in shotgun is why the contact must be immediately at the snap. If has been decided that this contact is legal if it occurs immediately at the snap.

 

Blocking below the waist in NCAA and NFL is legal in more circumstances than in high school. This FBZ exception actually limits contact of this nature to a very small window of opportunity in space and time. I believe that eventually the Fed will eliminate this exception for the safety reasons you allude to.

hey ref is correct. Assuming all other conditions are met, if the block occurs immediately at the snap it is legal, not by interpretation, but by the rule because the ball has not left the zone yet. If there is a snap, then the lineman pauses, and then blocks a defensive player within one yard of his line of scrimmage at the snap below the waist, it is a foul.

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This is not the hardest rule in the book.

hey ref is correct. Assuming all other conditions are met, if the block occurs immediately at the snap it is legal, not by interpretation, but by the rule because the ball has not left the zone yet. If there is a snap, then the lineman pauses, and then blocks a defensive player within one yard of his line of scrimmage at the snap below the waist, it is a foul.

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This is not the hardest rule in the book.

 

 

I am almost completely certain that in Virginia and Illinois it is illegal to cut when in the shotgun.

FBRules is correct about the low block when in shotgun. It is legal by rule. My comments about an interpretation came in reponse to questions about the shotgun and we were told the rule covers such blocks when they occur immediately after the snap. Any delay after the snap and the opportunity to block low is gone precisely because the ball has left the FBZ so quickly after the snap.

 

I also stated that each state has their own rules authority who can make the same or other interpretations. Those officials in other states are told how to call such blocks.

Seems like the wrong direction if the KHSAA goals are to minimize injuries.

 

Blocking below the waist is the only way some players even have a chance to compete against another. I crab block which is not a dangerous block at all would not be allowed.

 

NCAA rules (which TX and a couple of other states play by modified NCAA rules) allow cut blocks on the edge with some limits. Its not as dangerous as what it might seem. When done in an illegal manner it of course dangerous like any other block.