Blocking (From NF Forum)

[mikesears]

Guys,

Over at the NFHS forum, there is a very interesting discussion concerning blocking. Things like what things we look for before flagging holding, etc. I would like to put together an article to post on my website about blocking and I am seeking your collective feedback on the topic.

Let's discuss rules and theory of what we will and won't flag as far as holding goes. - Can we agree to say we WON'T flag holding away from the point of attack unless it is blatant? I am looking for MORE than that. I want to discuss things like technical infractions we won't flag and why/when we won't flag them.

I am very interested in everyone's opinions from the rookies all the way up to seasoned veterens.

I hope this makes sense

[Bob M.]

REPLY: Mike...I hope you don't mind, but I'll post what I did over on the Federation Board. If it does nothing else, it might stimulate the kind of discussion you're looking for.

From the NFHS Football Discussion Board:
Officials have heard many times that we should only call holding when it occurs at the point of attack, i.e. when it occurs at a place and time that may have an impact on the play. But that’s usually where the discussion ends. In my opinion, that exactly where the discussion should begin.

More needs to be said about what actually constitutes holding, what types of actions should be flagged. What are the "keys" you look for when you have a player suspect for holding? Let’s take a look at the wording of the Federation’s rule prohibiting “holding.” (NF 9-2-1c: “An offensive player (except the runner) shall not…(c.) Use his hands, arms or legs to hook, lock, clamp, grasp, encircle or hold in an effort to restrain an opponent.”) I’ve always believed that the operative word in the rule is “restrain.” Unless the act restricts an opponent from moving toward the ball carrier (point of attack), I’d be inclined to let it go.

An NFL friend of mine told me what they look for when a player is suspect for holding at the point of attack: Look for the blockee to make an “unathletic move.” That is look for him to make a move that looks nothing like what an athlete might do if he acting in an unrestricted way. Examples: look for his shoulders to spin away from his direction of movement; look for his arm to be pulled away from the side of his body restricting his move toward the ball carrier. And the big one…look for the blockee to “lose his legs.” This last one deserves a better description. When an athlete moves, he typically has his body over his legs, which provide balance. If a player is restricted by an opponent in a manner such that either his legs are pulled out from under his upper body, or his upper body is held so that his unrestricted legs move out from under him, then he has “lost his legs.” In such cases, when these things take place at or close to the point of attack, you almost definitely have a hold.

This philosophy is practiced by many college officials as well. I personally see no reason why it can’t be used as your decision criteria in high school ball. Suppose two opponents are facing off at the LOS. The offensive player grabs a handful of jersey inside. The two continue to face off as the runner passes by them. The NFL calls this a “dance” and will most likely not flag it. Why? Because the defender is not really being restricted. In fact, he might even be considered a "willing participant" in the face-off. But, if the defender in this scenario tries to make a move toward the runner and a real restriction to his movement is obvious, you’ll undoubtedly see a flag.

Let’s have some more discussion about this.

[kdf5]

I firmly believe that if the ball goes right and you call holding on the left that you don't subscribe to the "a good one knows when to throw and a great one knows when not to" theory.

However, how do we know that the guy held on the left wouldn't have gotten to the play but for the hold? Maybe he could have been the one to stop the 80 yd TD run?

[Mike Simonds]

Originally posted by kdf5
I firmly believe that if the ball goes right and you call holding on the left that you don't subscribe to the "a good one knows when to throw and a great one knows when not to" theory.

However, how do we know that the guy held on the left wouldn't have gotten to the play but for the hold? Maybe he could have been the one to stop the 80 yd TD run?

I believe that you have to call blatant holding (I mean the really big holds like take-downs, wrapping-up and not letting go, etc.) even if its away from the point of attack.

Good defensive teams are taught how to "stove-pipe" (Coach Hayden Fry's term not mine) which is to keep the runner north-south so that the pursuit will eventually catch-up. Once the runner breaks towards the sideline or against the grain back towards the other side is when the defense loses the advantage to use pursuit to run down the ball-carrier.

Therefore, I call holding if 1. the hold is obvious and 2. the hold is sustained.

P.S. This is my criteria for calling holding when the hold occurs away from the initial point of attack. From my umpire position this would be when I detect holding upon reading my initial key (in our mechanics its the block by the offensive tackle on the referee's side of the line).

Once I pick-up the actual point of attack then I will relax my "sustained" hold criteria because a momentary hold at the actual point of attack is more likely to create an unfair advantage to the offense.

Some of the holds I look for include: grasping the shoulder pads and turning the defender away from the runner, pulling the defender down by the front of his jersey, hooking the defender with an arm around the body and not releasing immediately, etc.

Most of the time the blocker can avoid holding by keeping his feet moving and legs driving ahead and when appropriate switching to an old-fashioned shoulder block versus the open-hand method.

A good defensive coach once told me that he realizes that offensive blockers will use their hands aggressively so he coaches his players to maintain separation from the blocker by extending their own arms and hands and pumping their legs and feet.

Which brings up a great point about defensive holding. I noticed that good defenses will often create a 3 on 2 advantage at a certain point on the line. So we must also be vigilant about defensive holding to allow a linebacker or defensive back the opportunity to make a play behind the line of scrimmage (including passing and kicking downs).



[Edited by Mike Simonds on Feb 6th, 2004 at 12:42 PM]

[James Neil]

Originally posted by Bob M.
REPLY: An NFL friend of mine told me what they look for when a player is suspect for holding at the point of attack: Look for the blockee to make an “unathletic move.”.... And the big one…look for the blockee to “lose his legs.” Let’s have some more discussion about this.

Good stuff Bob. I was taught this philosophy in Personal Touch Camp
One example of “lose his legs” you want to watch for during passing situations, is when you see the on-rushing defensive lineman falling down on top of the retreating blocker in a very “unathletic move.”
More then likely the offence lineman has slipped his hands underneath the front of the sholder pads of the onrushing defenceive lineman, or gather up a bunch of his jersey and just fallen backward. This one I was told has to be flagged.
I was also told that holding will become easer to see if I keep my focus on my keys. As an Umpire I’m to focus on the snapper and the two adjoining players. Keep these players in your line of sight forming a triangle as you move to the line of scrimmage. In other words “fish in your own pond” and you’ll bag the big one.

[Doc-WI]

Jim,
What you describe is normally referred to as a "pullover." Another trick to keep an eye out for that defensive lineman use(usually at the college and NFL levels) is when an attacking lineman, usually an end, will use an outside "rip" technique after the o-lineman has placed his hands on the d-linemans chest. Announcers always assume this is holding because the D-end looks as if he is being horse-collered. It's not, the defensive player created his own disavantage. To continue, if the d-player thinks he can't make it to the QB, sometimes he'll clamp down with his rip arm and then throw his feet out from under himself pulling the o-lineman on top of him. Looks ugly to the layman, but again NOT offensive holding.

Bob, Jim, kdf5, Mike(x2)--great discussion. Its good to be having a professional exchange of ideas again. Lets all try to keep it this way and not let our discussions deteriorate like some other boards lately.

[Edited by Doc-WI on Feb 7th, 2004 at 04:22 PM]