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Originally Posted by Mike L
in consideration of some comments made elsewhere.....
Is a BIB really a safety issue? Or is it more just an unfair blocking issue because the player has little to no opportunity to fend off the block?
Every other "safety" type foul carries a 15 penalty. The BIB used to be clipping and was essentially downgraded to what we have now, a 10 yd penalty, just like a hold and all the other blocking type fouls that I don't think anyone views as a safety issue.
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Actually for a long time after clipping (which is a danger to ACLs of the knee) was banned, blocking in the back above the waist was legal; but that was when the hands & arms had to be kept close to the body in blocking. BIB as a specific foul (part of illegal use of hands) came about when use of the hands in blocking was liberalized; as a compromise, it was allowed only on the opponent's trunk in front. I'm not sure whether BIB as a more general foul (even if the hands & arms are kept close to the body in blocking) was adopted along with it immediately, or only after one or more seasons, in Fed.
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How many injuries have been caused due to a BIB? I've never seen one. I suppose if the defender is standing there and the blocker blasts him from the back you could have a problem. But I'd be willing to bet 99.9% of the BIBs we see are when the blocker is beat and he simply reaches out to push the defender out of the play.
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It was never considered a safety issue before it was outlawed. However, reaching out and pushing was illegal use of hands by the offense, regardless of whether the push was in front or back. So now it's legal in front, and still not in back, but in addition, a pure body block in back is also illegal.
Robert