Clipping

1
Clipping Block in the Back

• Tony Dutton

2
Clipping Defined (2-4)

• Force of the initial contact
• From behind and
• At or below the waist.
• Exception against the runner.
• Position of head or feet do not necessarily
  indicate point of initial contact.

3
Approved Ruling (9-1-2-III)

• When two players of opposing teams fall to the
  ground, the body of one lies across the back of
  the legs of the other. RULING
• Not necessarily a violation of the clipping rule.
  No official should declare a clipping foul
  unless he observes the block from its inception.

4
Block in the Back Defined(2-3-4)

• Force of the initial contact
• From behind and
• Above the waist.
• When in question contact is below the waist.
• Exception against the runner.
• Position of head or feet do not necessarily
  indicate point of initial contact.

5
Rules Governing Clipping Block in the Back

• There shall be no clipping. (9-1-2-d)
• A block in the back is illegal. (9-3-3-c)
• Basically illegal blocks with some exceptions.
• Exceptions for both are almost word-for-word
  identical
• Clipping (9-1-2-d Exceptions 1-4)
• Block in the Back (9-3-3-c Exceptions 1-5)

6
A Clip or Block in the Backis Legal

• Where Within the blocking zone centered on the
  snapper 5 yards laterally and 3 yards
  longitudinally in each direction.
• When
• Until the ball is touched outside the area or
• Until the ball is outside the area after a fumble
  or muff inside the area.

7

• But
• A player on the
• line of scrimmage
• may not leave
• the area, return,
• and clip (or block
• in the back).
• A block from
• behind and at or
• below the knee
• is illegal.

10 yds
E T G C G T E
6 yds
8
A Clip or Block in the Backis Legal

• When a player turns his back to a potential
  blocker who has committed himself.

9
A Clip or Block in the Backis Legal

• When a player attempts
• To reach a runner,
• To legally recover or catch a fumble, muff,
  backward pass, kick or touched forward pass,
• He may push an opponent below the waist at or to
  the buttocks or in the back above the waist.

10
A Clip or Block in the Backis Legal

• When, to get to a forward pass, an eligible
  player behind the neutral zone pushes an opponent
  below the waist at or to the buttocks or in the
  back above the waist.

11
Significant DifferenceBetween Clipping BBW

• Clipping is a personal foul (15yards),
  prohibited under 9-1-2-d. It does carry over to
  the try, succeeding kickoff or in extra periods.
• A Block in the Back is a foul (10 yards) under
  the Blocking rules, 9-3-3-c. It does not carry
  over to the try, succeeding kickoff or in extra
  periods.