Blocking Below the Waist by B

[TeacherRef]

Colleagues,

Please weigh in on the following play situations:

On a sweep, OG is leading the play.  OLB blocks the OG below the waist from the side [not 10-2].  At the time of the block the ball was within +/- 5-yards of the neutral zone and: a) in the low blocking zone or; b) out side the low blocking zone.

My ruling would be legal in a) and a foul for an illegal low block in b. 

In a) it appears that 9-1-6-b governs.  I believe AR 9-1-6-VI supports this. 

In b) in spite of its location in 9-1-6-a Team A prior to a change of team possession, 9-1-6-a-2 states that "PLAYERS [not Team A player] not covered by paragraph 1 (above) while the ball is in the zone and ALL players [not Team A players] after the ball has left the zone are allowed to block below the waist only if the force of the initial contact is from the front. . . ." [emphasis added]

IMO, to read otherwise would imply that the rules makers were not as interested in the health and safety of the Team A players as they were the Team B players.

I will appreciate hearing the collective wisdom of the group.

[Birddog]

The way I see it 6-a is talking about Team A players and when it says "players" it is referring  back to the first sentence where it says Team A prior to a change of team possession:

6-b Then addresses Team B players

I have a legal block in both situations.  The block by B was fewer than 5yds beyond the NZ.

[TxSkyBolt]

But 9-1-6a2 this is under the "a" paragraph which only deals with offensive players. "b" deals with defensive players.

If the block was not more than 5 yards beyond the NZ there is no foul.


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[bossman72]

B does not have to conform to 10-2.  Legal blocks

[Wingmanbp]

B can BBW in any direction within the 5 yards either side of the LOS
Blocking Below the Waist
9-1-6-b
2014 A.R.

team b prior to a change of team possession

    Other than in paragraphs 2 and 3 (below), players of team b may block below the waist only within the area defined by lines parallel to the goal line five yards beyond and behind the neutral zone extended to the sidelines. Blocking below the waist by players of team b outside this zone is illegal except against the ball carrier. (A.R. 9-1-6-VI, IX)
    Players of team b may not block below the waist against an opponent who is in position to receive a backward pass.
    Players of team b may not block below the waist against an eligible team a pass receiver beyond the neutral zone unless attempting to get to the ball or ball carrier. This prohibition ends when a legal forward pass is no longer possible by rule.