High School-TE Blocking Below Waist/Cut Block

[VA Official]

Originally Posted by Rolling Wolf

Thanks for the information guys. I have had a couple of referees tell me that a TE could no longer block below the waist. I knew the dimensions of the free blocking zone and the change you pointed out about no clipping is the change I have forgotten. We run 2 foot splits and with our blocking scheme we rarely need our TE's to cut block but I had abandoned it all together based on what I was told. From what I am reading from you guys, this seems to be an interpretation rule based on alignment of the TE. We face an opponent this Friday night who pull their backside guard and tackle and cut block with the TE and they use about 2 foot splits. I will be talking to the white hat before the game to get his interpretation and how he is going to call it. Again thanks.

2 foot splits between the C/G, G/T, and T/TE leaves no doubt in my mind that the TE is outside the free blocking zone and there should be a flag if he blocks below the waist. Also, the R will more than likely not be making this call in the game. The flag would most likely come from the umpire.