Clipping in Free Blocking Zone

[BG5]

Gents,

I understand that clipping is not allowed in the FBZ or anywhere else.  My questions is what exactly is a clip? 

A play that I see at times is when a offensive tackle goes low on a defensive lineman either in the gap or heads up over the offensive guard.  If the tackle blocks low from the side is this a clip or is it only a clip if the action is from the back?  I am confused if anything should be done if the block is from the side.

Thanks,

BG5

[AlUpstateNY]

Gents,

I understand that clipping is not allowed in the FBZ or anywhere else.  My questions is what exactly is a clip? 

A play that I see at times is when a offensive tackle goes low on a defensive lineman either in the gap or heads up over the offensive guard.  If the tackle blocks low from the side is this a clip or is it only a clip if the action is from the back?  I am confused if anything should be done if the block is from the side.Thanks,

You might take a look at NFHS 2-5-1 & 2 for clarification details.

[HLinNC]

Once the IBB was imposed, an honest to goodness Clip kind of fell by the wayside.  I think it's been close to 20 years since I've flagged one.

ART. 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.

ART. 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, and not against a player who is a runner or pretending to be a runner.

[BIG UMP]

Once the IBB was imposed, an honest to goodness Clip kind of fell by the wayside.  I think it's been close to 20 years since I've flagged one.

ART. 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.

ART. 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, and not against a player who is a runner or pretending to be a runner.

Agree, clipping is difficult at best since initial contact must be essentially below the waist.

[TimD]

Agree with HLinNC, I've been officiating 20 years and have called clipping only once.

[hef333]

Yeah..I've called Hurdling 3 more times than Clipping...and I've called Hurdling 3 times...

[dch]

Clipping frequently occurred, and was called, when low blocks were allowed in the open field and before blocking in the back was it's own foul.

[KWH]

From the 2019-20 NFHS Handbook:
2002 - A "Block in the back" foul is separated from the "Clipping" foul

I'm thinking the last time I used Signal 39 must have been in 2001!

[AlUpstateNY]

From the 2019-20 NFHS Handbook:
2002 - A "Block in the back" foul is separated from the "Clipping" foul

I'm thinking the last time I used Signal 39 must have been in 2001!

Blocking has always been an integral part of American Football, and the rules have evolved over time to reflect details, concerns, penalties and their consequences.

Specifics, related to the differences between prohibited blocking techniques, and their consequences are spelled out in NFHS Rule 9-3-2 thru 7 (Illegal Blocking) and described specifically in NFHS 2-3-1 thru 10 (Blocking).  Both rules are worthy of concentrated review to help recognize and understand specifics and differences.

[bossman72]

From the 2019-20 NFHS Handbook:
2002 - A "Block in the back" foul is separated from the "Clipping" foul

I'm thinking the last time I used Signal 39 must have been in 2001!

It's funny, because that makes sense now that all the old-timer fans would yell "That's a clip!" when they thought we missed a block in the back.  Everything used to be clipping.

[CalhounLJ]

When y’all get clipping straight, help me educate my coaches on the chop block. Around here, everything low is called a chop from the sideline.

[AlUpstateNY]

When y’all get clipping straight, help me educate my coaches on the chop block. Around here, everything low is called a chop from the sideline.

Although it's well worth the effort to help educate those who misunderstand, or ignore, the explicit definition of a "chop block"
(NFHS: 2-3-8), or the other blocking descriptions and definitions included in NFHS 2-3.  As we've all been advised, "You can lead a horse to water, but the horse has to decide if, and when, to drink".

Of course the better, and more accurately, we understand each of these definitions and are personally able to properly and concisely explain them, can be extremely helpful in eliminating confusion.  Unfortunately, those who have yet to fully comprehend and recognize EACH of these individual definitions often improperly conflate pieces of different definitions to form inaccurate and/or misleading understandings.   Patience, although clearly worthwhile to achieve, can be an elusive skill to master.

[CalhounLJ]

It was a tongue-in-cheek comment.