Quote:
Originally posted by Texas Aggie
Had a play tonight: (7th grade) receiver fires off the line and gets blocked by the defender 2-3 yards or so downfield. Pass is thrown to that area and I flag DPI. Coach is screaming that receiver initiated the block, which I didn't really agree with. It looked more like they were both blocking, but the receiver could have been defending himself.
Anyway, what I think the coach was really arguing without knowing it was the one yard rule that allows a defender to block within 1 yard of the LOS. 2 Questions:
1. Is the "1 yard" more like a "1 second" (related to offense set prior to the snap) in terms of distance -- in other words really one step? Should this be enforced liberally or conservatively (i.e. if this is, say, a yard and an inch downfield -- flag or no; which team is the one that has to gain an advantage)?
2. Our mechanics call for us as wings to "release" 5-7 yards downfield when we read pass. Even if I'm on my way to that area, I may have lost exact focus on where the LOS is. Related to Question 1, how do I judge this in a real live play?
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There is no 1 yard rule, or any distance rule. When DPI comes into play is when a defender makes contact with an eligible receiver after he is no longer a potential blocker. Most of us use the guideline of when the receiver is on the same yard line as the defender (made his cut or break) then the defender must have his hands off.
Thus, your release downfield will not matter cuz you have no yardline to think about, just if contact occurs after the receiver is in his route.