From the CFO
2012: RULES CHANGES—PLAY SITUATIONS BLOCKING BELOW THE WAIST
1. Third and seven at the A-30. The ball is at the left hash mark. Back A22 is split outside the tackle box to his left, and B40 moves out to cover him. The handoff goes to back A44 who runs up the middle and is tackled at the A-45. As the play develops A22 blocks B40 below the waist at the A-35. The direction of his block is (a) straight ahead along the north-south line; (b) directly toward the sideline to A22’s left; (c) off the north-south line at a slight forward angle toward the sideline to his right. RULING: Because of his position A22 is restricted in how he may legally block below the waist. His adjacent sideline is to his left. (a) Legal block, because it is forward along the north- south line. (b) Legal block, because it is toward his adjacent sideline. (c) Foul, illegal block below the waist. The block is directed toward the non-adjacent sideline. Fifteen yards at the spot of the foul.
2. Third and seven at the A-30. The ball is at the left hash mark. Back A22 is lined up inside the tackle box just behind the right tackle. Tight end A88 is on the line six yards to the left of the snapper in a balanced-line formation. The handoff goes to back A44 who runs up the middle and is tackled at the A-45. As the play develops A22 blocks B40 below the waist at the A-35 and A88 blocks B55 below the waist at the A-40. RULING: These blocks are legal as long as they are not toward Team A’s goal line because at the snap both A22 and A88 are positioned such that they are not restricted.
3. Third and seven at the A-30. The ball is at the left hash mark. Back A22 is split outside the tackle box to his left, and B40 moves out to cover him. The handoff goes to back A44 who sweeps around the right end and is tackled at the B-45. As the play develops B40 runs to his left to follow the play and A22 chases him. At the A-45 beyond the right hash mark A22 overtakes B40 and blocks him below the waist at the side or front. The direction of this block is (a) toward the left sideline; (b) directly along the north-south line; (c) slightly off the north-south line toward the right sideline. In each case the block is NOT directed toward Team A’s goal line. RULING: Because of his position A22 is restricted in how he may legally block below the waist. His adjacent sideline is to his left. (a) Legal block, because it is toward A22’s adjacent sideline. (b) Legal block, because it is along the north-south line. (c) Foul, illegal block below the waist. The block is directed toward the non-adjacent sideline. Fifteen yards at the spot of the foul.
4. Third and seven at the A-30. Split end A88 is on his scrimmage line wide to the right side, eight yards from the middle lineman. During a running play A88 blocks below the waist against B66, the block directed toward A88’s left. This block occurs (a) at the A- 39; (b) at the A-41. RULING: (a) and (b) Foul, illegal block below the waist. Because of his position at the snap A88 is restricted in blocking below the waist. His adjacent sideline is to his right. Since in each case the block is directed away from his adjacent sideline, it is illegal.
5. Back A37 is lined up directly behind the snapper. He starts in motion to his right and at the snap is inside the tackle box and directly behind the right guard. A37 leads the play around right end as the quarterback keeps on a sweep to the right. As the play develops A37 goes beyond the neutral zone and blocks below the waist against an opponent, the direction of the block being along the north-south line and toward Team A’s goal line. RULING: Illegal block below the waist. Although A37’s block is north- south, it is directed toward his goal line.
6. Third and seven at the A-30. Team A is in a balanced-line formation with the ball at the left hash mark. Back A22 sets up outside the tackle box to the left. As quarterback A11 under center begins to call signals A22 starts in motion to his right. At the snap A22 is five yards directly behind the left guard and serves as A11’s lead blocker on a sweep to the right. At the A-31 A22 blocks below the waist against defensive end B99; the direction of the block is toward the right sideline. RULING: Foul, illegal block below the waist. Because A22 is in motion at the snap he is restricted in blocking below the waist, even though he is inside the tackle box. His adjacent sideline is to his left (his outside sideline at the snap) and his low block is made toward the right sideline.
7. Defensive end B89 is two yards beyond the neutral zone when he blocks below the waist against an opponent who is the lead blocker on a sweep play. RULING: Legal block. Had B89 executed this same block more than five yards beyond or behind the neutral zone, it would be illegal.
8. Third and seven at the A-30. Back A44 is lined up inside the tackle box behind the left tackle and goes in motion to his right. At the snap he has not left the tackle box and is directly behind the left guard. He blocks below the waist against an opponent at the A- 28, the block being directed toward the sideline to the right of the formation. RULING: Legal play. Although the block is to A44’s non-adjacent sideline it is legal because A44 is not restricted from blocking below the waist.
9. Third and seven at the A-30. Back A40 enters the game after the ball is made ready for play and sets up behind the left tackle inside the tackle box. After being set for one second, A40 goes in motion to his right. At the snap he has not left the tackle box and is directly behind the right guard. He blocks below the waist against an opponent at the A- 28 (a) toward his right sideline; (b) toward his left sideline; (c) straight ahead on a north/south line. RULING: (a), (b), and (c). Legal blocks. While technically A40 was outside the tackle box upon entering the game after the ball became ready for play, he satisfies the spirit of the rule for being unrestricted by always remaining inside the tackle box after coming to a set position initially.
10. Third and seven at the A-30. Back A40 enters the game after the ball is made ready for play and sets up as a wingback, two yards outside the tight end to the left of the formation. After coming to a set position, as the quarterback is calling signals A40 slides into the tackle box and either runs in place or re-sets behind the left tackle to help with an apparent blitz. He then blocks below the waist at the A-28 (a) toward his right sideline; (b) toward his left sideline; (c) straight ahead on a north/south line. RULING: (a), (b) and (c). These blocks are all illegal, as A40 is restricted by having been outside the area and thus may not block below the waist inside this area.
