If he goes in motion and does not come to a stop he is locked in by his original position if he stops at the center.
If he continues past the center while facing the LOS it is now the adjacent sideline, right in the example. The key is the center and whether or not the motion man comes to a stop.
Take a peek at Redding's Bulletin. You might change your take
COLLEGE FOOTBALL OFFICIATING, LLC
INTERPRETATION
BLOCKING BELOW THE WAIST: ADJACENT SIDELINE
Player Stationary At The Snap
The adjacent sideline is the sideline to the player’s outside. This is the case no matter where the ball is located when it is snapped.
For a player on the left side of the formation, this will be the sideline to the left.
For a player on the right side of the formation, this will be the sideline to the right.
EXAMPLE 1 The ball is at the right hash mark. Back A22 is one foot outside the tackle box to the left of the formation and he is stationary when the ball is snapped.
RULING: The left sideline is to A22’s outside so it is his adjacent sideline, even though technically he is closer to the sideline to his right, which is “across the formation” from him. A22 is 25 yards and one foot from the right sideline and is slightly more than 28 yards from the left sideline. The clear intent of the rule is for the adjacent sideline to be to his left, i. e., to his outside.
Player In Motion At The Snap
For a player who is moving at the snap, the adjacent sideline is determined the same as for a player who is stationary at the snap. That is, it is the sideline to the outside of his position at the snap. Note that his adjacent sideline will “flip” if his motion takes him beyond the snapper before the ball is snapped.
EXAMPLE 2 The ball is at the left hash mark. Back A33 is split far to the right. After all eleven Team A players have been set for at least one second A33 starts in motion to his left. When the ball is snapped he is just behind the right tackle and still moving laterally to the left.
RULING: The adjacent sideline for A33 is the right sideline, since he started from that
side and is still to the right of the snapper when the ball is snapped. Thus he may legally
block below the waist north-and-south or toward his right sideline.
EXAMPLE 3 The ball is at the left hash mark. Back A33 is split far to the right. After all
eleven Team A players have been set for at least one second A33 starts in motion to his
left. He continues beyond the snapper, and when the ball is snapped he is just behind
the left guard and is “running in place” rather than moving laterally.
RULING: The adjacent sideline for A33 is the left sideline; that is now the sideline to his
outside since his motion has taken him behind the snapper and to the opposite side of
the formation from which he started. Thus he may legally block below the waist northand-
south or toward his left sideline.
Player in Motion Directly Behind the Snapper
When a back in motion is almost directly behind the snapper when the ball is
snapped, it may be difficult to determine which side of the formation he is on to
establish his adjacent sideline. In this case, the adjacent sideline is interpreted to be the
sideline toward which he is moving. Thus he will be able to block below the waist legally
north-and-south or toward the sideline in front of him.
EXAMPLE 4 Back A44 lines up to the left of the formation, either inside or outside the
tackle box. He starts in motion laterally to his right. At the snap he appears to be
directly behind the snapper as he continues moving laterally to the right.
RULING: The adjacent sideline for A44 is the sideline to the right. Thus he may legally
block below the waist north-and-south or toward the sideline to the right of the
formation.
Rogers Redding
Secretary-Rules Editor
NCAA Football Rules Committee
