High School-TE Blocking Below Waist/Cut Block

[Rolling Wolf]

I coach in North Carolina and it was my understanding, I think 2 years ago, that a new rule under the NFHS Ruling Guidelines that it was illegal for a Tight End to cut block below the waist. I think I also remember some changes to the Free Blocking Zone. Can someone please enlighten me on this subject.

[VA Official]

Originally Posted by Rolling Wolf

I coach in North Carolina and it was my understanding, I think 2 years ago, that a new rule under the NFHS Ruling Guidelines that it was illegal for a Tight End to cut block below the waist. I think I also remember some changes to the Free Blocking Zone. Can someone please enlighten me on this subject.

The free blocking zone is 4 yards to either side of the snap and 3 yards in advance of and behind the LOS. He may block below the waist against an opponent as long as both he and the opponent are on the line and in the zone at the snap, the contact occurs within the zone, and the zone has not disintegrated yet (i.e., the ball has not left the zone). Note: if you have a guard, tackle, and TE on one side of the center, it would have to be a very tight formation to get the TE inside the FBZ before the snap.

But, with an unbalanced formation where you just have a guard and TE on one side of the snapper, the TE is usually within the free blocking zone. It doesn't matter what the player's designated position is (TE in this case), just whether or not he meets the above criteria.

The most recent change to the free blocking zone says that clipping is now illegal even inside the zone. But I must say I haven't seen a clip inside the free blocking zone since 'Nam. Others may have.

[JRutledge]

The only changes I know of are that you cannot clip anymore in the FBZ like you used. Nothing about the TE explicitly unable to BBW. Unless there is a local interpretation, there was nothing national. Some TEs because of splits would be in the zone.

Peace

[Rich]

Unless the TE is lined up split wide from the tackle, we usually put the TE in the zone at the snap for consistency purposes.

Any part of the player in the zone is in the zone.

[VA Official]

Originally Posted by Rich

Unless the TE is lined up split wide from the tackle, we usually put the TE in the zone at the snap for consistency purposes.

Any part of the player in the zone is in the zone.

That's interesting (no sarcasm intended). Our association puts the TE outside the zone unless the splits are narrow. I wonder how divided this actually is from state to state.

[jTheUmp]

Let's assume that each player's shoulders are 2 feet wide without any shoulder pads or anything on. (probably pretty close). Let's say 3 feet wide adding in shoulder pads and a bit of extra space. That's 1 yard.

So, if Center-Guard-Tackle-Tight End are lined up basically touching each other's shoulder pads, you've got 1/2 (center) + 1 (guard) + 1 (tackle) + 1 (TE) = 3 1/2 yards to the outside of the TE, so the TE would be in the zone.

If we're talking "normal" splits, you're probably looking at closer to 1.5 (center) + 2 (Guard) + 2 (tackle) = 5.5 yards, meaning the TE is outside of the blocking zone.