More BBW stuff from RR

[El Macman]

Nothing earth shaking.
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COLLEGE FOOTBALL OFFICIATING, LLC

ADDITIONAL PLAY SITUATIONS
BLOCKING BELOW THE WAIST

1. Second and 5 at the A-35. The ball is at the left hash mark. As the play develops guard A66 blocks below the waist against linebacker B55 at the A-37 yard line. The block is directed generally toward a sideline and at a slight angle back toward Team A’s goal line. RULING: Illegal block. While A66 is unrestricted for blocking below the waist, no player of Team A may block toward his own goal line when beyond the neutral zone. Fifteen yards at the spot of the foul. (9-1-6-a-1)

2. Second and 5 at the A-35. The ball is at the left hash mark. A88 is lined up at the left end position at the snap. As the play develops he blocks below the waist against an opponent at the A-37. This block is directed toward the sideline to Team A’s right. At the snap A88 is (a) five yards from the snapper; (b) seven yards from the snapper. RULING: (a) Legal block. A88 is unrestricted with regard to blocking below the waist. (b) Illegal block. A88 is restricted and thus may block below the waist only north-south or toward his adjacent sideline. This block is toward the non-adjacent sideline. (9-1-6-a-2-a)

3. Second and 5 at the A-35. The ball is at the left hash mark. Team A is in a tight balanced-line formation. Back A22 is stationary at the snap directly behind the left tight end—that is, completely outside the left tackle. RULING: A22 is restricted with regard to blocking below the waist. He may not block below the waist in any direction inside the area defined in the rule, and outside this area he may block below the waist only north-south or toward his left (adjacent) sideline. (9-1-6-a-2-b)

4. Second and 5 at the A-35. The ball is at the left hash mark. Back A22 initially sets up outside the tackle box to the left after the ball has been made ready for play. He then moves inside the tackle box, stops and resets behind the left tackle. He goes in motion to his right, and at the snap he is directly behind the left guard. RULING: Although A22 started his motion inside the tackle box and remained within the tackle box before the snap, he was outside the tackle box after the ball was made ready for play; thus A22 is restricted with regard to blocking below the waist. He may not block below the waist in any direction inside the area defined in the rule, and outside this area he may block below the waist only north-south or toward his left (adjacent) sideline. (9-1-6-a-2-c)

5. Second and 5 at the A-35. The ball is at the left hash mark. Back A22 initially sets up directly behind the left guard. He goes in motion to his right and at the snap he is directly behind the right guard. RULING: A22 is unrestricted regarding blocking below the waist; although he is in motion at the snap he has not been outside the defined area any time after the ball became ready for play. (9-1-6-a-4)

6. Second and 5 at the A-35. The ball is at the left hash mark. Linebacker B55 blocks below the waist against guard A68 at (a) the A-37; (b) the A-41; (c) the A-33; (d) the A-29. RULING: B55 may legally block below the waist inside the area between the A-40 and the A-30—i.e., five yards on either side of the line of scrimmage. (a) and (c) legal; (b) and (d) illegal. (9-1-6-a-5)

7. Second and 5 at the A-35. The ball is at the left hash mark. QB A12 rolls to his left, reverses field, and runs to his right. Back A44 is at the A-33 in position to receive a backward pass from A12 when the defensive end B99 blocks A44 at the thigh. RULING: Illegal block below the waist by B99. Although B99 is within the area where players of Team B may legally block below the waist, they may not block low on a player in position to receive a backward pass. (9-1-6-a-6)

8. Second and 5 at the A-35. The ball is at the left hash mark. Tight end A88 runs a route across the middle as Team A executes a draw play to the fullback A47. Linebacker B54 blocks below the waist against A88 at the A-40. When this block takes place ball carrier A47 is (a) at the A-33; (b) at the A-37. RULING: Team B may not block below the waist against an eligible receiver beyond the neutral zone as long as a legal forward pass is possible. (a) Illegal block. (b) Legal block since it is within the five-yard belt; the ball is beyond the neutral zone and thus a legal forward pass is not possible by rule. (9-1-6-a-7)

9. Team A punts on fourth down at the A-25. Back A40 is positioned as a personal protector about six yards in front of the punter. As defensive end B82 rushes to try to block the kick A40 blocks him below the waist at the A-15. RULING: Illegal block. Neither team may block below the waist during a kicking down. The penalty may be enforced either at the previous spot with a repeat of fourth down or at the spot where the dead ball belongs to Team B. (9-1-6-b)

10. Second and 5 at the A-35. B44 intercepts a pass at the B-40 and on the return teammate B21 blocks below the waist at the B-45. This block is directed along the
north-south line. B44 is tackled at the A-45. RULING: Foul by B21. Following a change of possession no player is allowed to block below the waist in any direction anywhere on the field. 15 yards from the spot of the foul. First and 10 for Team B at the B-30. (9-1-6-c)

Rogers Redding
Secretary-Rules Editor
March 30, 2012

[TXMike]

I don't get it.   Why waste the time and material it took to put these out?  For the most part they are things that a 2d or 3d years HS official in Texas or Mass. would likely not even miss. 

[Andrew McCarthy]

I don't get it.   Why waste the time and material it took to put these out?  For the most part they are things that a 2d or 3d years HS official in Texas or Mass. would likely not even miss.

It's more for the coaches.

[DJW201]

I am a little confused by Ruling 4 in the new BBW rulings and Ruling 10 in the prior BBW rulings.

4. Second and 5 at the A-35. The ball is at the left hash mark. Back A22 initially sets up outside the tackle box to the left after the ball has been made ready for play. He then moves inside the tackle box, stops and resets behind the left tackle. He goes in motion to his right, and at the snap he is directly behind the left guard. RULING: Although A22 started his motion inside the tackle box and remained within the tackle box before the snap, he was outside the tackle box after the ball was made ready for play; thus A22 is restricted with regard to blocking below the waist. He may not block below the waist in any direction inside the area defined in the rule, and outside this area he may block below the waist only north-south or toward his left (adjacent) sideline. (9-1-6-a-2-c)

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 resets 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 legal, as A40 is unrestricted.

[LJ Silver]

The difference is related to the status of the back in question at the snap.

In #4, A22 is in motion at the snap, and thus covered under the relevant restrictions for backs in motion.  Since he had been outside the tackle box after the ready, he is restricted.

In #10, A40 has re-set within the tackle box, is not in motion at the snap, and therefore not covered under the relevant restrictions for backs in motion.  Thus, he is unrestricted.

[Magician]

The difference is related to the status of the back in question at the snap.

In #4, A22 is in motion at the snap, and thus covered under the relevant restrictions for backs in motion.  Since he had been outside the tackle box after the ready, he is restricted.

In #10, A40 has re-set within the tackle box, is not in motion at the snap, and therefore not covered under the relevant restrictions for backs in motion.  Thus, he is unrestricted.

Very good explanation.  Rogers gave us a good comment at Honig's clinic last weekend.  What they are trying to avoid with the motion man is a situation where he has built up a lot of momentum with his motion and then making a low block.  If he is outside the tackle box and ends up in th tackle box at the snap, he's likely built up some momentum.  If he is set or his motion keeps him in the tackle box, he hasn't moved very far.