NF high school rule.
NF high school rule: the neutral zone is the length of the football.
The neutral zone is expanded 2 yards into the defensive side during forward pass plays to allow offensive linemen to block their defensive opponents. Key to remember is that the blockers must be actively blocking a defender. They cannot just fire out two yards and stand there.
Here are fouls that may occur that I've called recently:
1. Offensive guard A53 blocks defensive tackle B76 about 6 yards down the field. Forward pass crosses the neutral zone.
2. Offensive guard A67 is uncovered. On the snap he drifts downfield about 5 yards. Forward pass crosses the neutral zone.
To answer your questions: offensive lineman cannot go beyond their line of scrimmage during a down where a forward pass crosses the neutral zone. If they are beyond the neutral zone they must be blocking a defender and the contact must be within the expanded neutral zone. The expanded neutral zone is 2 yards beyond the normal neutral zone.
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Mike Simonds
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