LegalIllegal Blocking

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Legal/Illegal Blocking

• Presented by Mike Sears

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Definitions

• The key to any rule

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What is blocking?

• Rule 2, Section 3, Art. 1... Blocking is
  obstructing an opponent by contacting him with
  any part of the blockers body.

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Closed hand Technique

• Closed or cupped hand technique 
• 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. 
• 3.The forearms are extended no more than 45
  degrees from the body. 

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Open Hand Technique

• Open hand technique. The hand(s) shall be 
• 1.In advance of the elbow. 
• 2.Inside the frame of the blockers body the
  frame of the blockers body is the front of the
  body at or below the shoulders. 
• 3.Inside the frame of the opponents 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
  opponents 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. 
• 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.

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Holding

• Understanding and Detecting The Foul

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Rule 9-2-1

• 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.

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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.

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Holding Classifications

• Bear Hug
• Arms are wrapped around an opponent outside the
  frame and players 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
• Players 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.

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The Dance with No Foul

• Opponents facing off.
• Offensive linemans technique isnt quite legal
  but the defensive makes absolutely no attempt at
  getting to the ball carrier.
• This doesnt deserve a flag because the defender
  was not restricted by the illegal actions of his
  opponent.

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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?

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The Free Blocking Zone

• When certain types of blocks are legal

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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.

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Blocking Below the Waist
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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/TEs who go out of the zone to block
  linemen, linebackers below the waist.
• Linemen/Running Backs who block linebackers who
  arent on the line below the waist.
• A delayed BBW when a team is in shotgun formation.

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Block in the Back
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Definition of Block in the Back

• Making initial contact from behind and above the
  waist against an opponent who is not the runner.

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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.

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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.

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Definition of Clipping

• Making initial contact from behind and below the
  waist against an opponent who is not the runner.

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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.

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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.

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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.