B team clipping

jjb · #1 (**permalink**) Tue Jun 22, 2004, 07:40pm

reading through the July issue of Referee... The article on "cracking down on crackbacks" play 3... Immediately after the snap and at a time when it is legal for certain team A players to clip, B5 clips A7 while both players and the ball are in the zone. RULING : There is no exemption to permit clipping by team B. Result : A 15 yard clipping foul on B5. Contrary to popular belief, it is possible for team B to be penalized for clipping...

regarding this ruling - suppose it's 3/1 . B5 lunges forward at the snap and catches pulling guard A7 in the backside causing A7 to fall. This fast action in the free blocking zone compels me not to flag the clip. However the article makes me rethink my position. I do not have my books handy but tomorrow I will re-read the free blocking zone. I'm fairly new and would appreciate any feedback. My goal is to be consistant and within the rules.

PiggSkin · #2 (**permalink**) Tue Jun 22, 2004, 10:17pm

The article is correct in that B does not have the right to clip... However, in the case you describe, A turned away from the hit... The B player is not responsible for the contact being in the back... Therefore, there is no foul...

I don't remember if this is explicitly stated in the rulebook, or if it's simply an interpretation... I'm pretty sure it's in the picture book, though...

Snake~eyes · #3 (**permalink**) Wed Jun 23, 2004, 12:39am

Quote:

Originally posted by PiggSkin
The article is correct in that B does not have the right to clip... However, in the case you describe, A turned away from the hit... The B player is not responsible for the contact being in the back... Therefore, there is no foul...

I don't remember if this is explicitly stated in the rulebook, or if it's simply an interpretation... I'm pretty sure it's in the picture book, though...

I do believe thats stated in the rulebook. A player which turns making a block, which was going to be a legal block illegal is not illegal. That sounded confusing

jjb · #4 (**permalink**) Wed Jun 23, 2004, 04:28am

I read my rules book. 2-17- 3a specifies offensive linemen may clip , 3b against defensive linemen , 3c contact is in the zone.
casebook 2-17-2 situation D - All linemen may block below the waist as long as they are in the zone & on the line at the snap. This is supported by rules book 2-17-2.

Defensive linemen - A) cannot block in the back ; B) cannot clip ; C) can block below the waist

Thanks for the heads up on the legal block in the back. Case book 2-3-2 situation b (comment). The situation describes offensive blockers but the comment talks about a blocker not being able to stop his charge when his opponent quickly turns.

As a newcomer to officiating I must say the rules and case books have it all but boy it ain't easy reading

Theisey · #5 (**permalink**) Wed Jun 23, 2004, 06:22am

Quote:

Originally posted by jjb
....
As a newcomer to officiating I must say the rules and case books have it all but boy it ain't easy reading

No one will disagree with that statement.

knowning rule 2, entitled definitions inside and out will help you understand the remaing rules. good luck

ljudge · #6 (**permalink**) Wed Jun 23, 2004, 12:02pm

I believe I have one correction, jjb. If you solely look at article 2 you could be misled that B players cannot block in the back.

B can definitely block in the back even outside the FBZ (unless I'm reading rule 9 incorrectly). If I'm misled someone please help me understand why.

Rule 9, Section 3 (Illegal Blocking), Article 5 (bullet b)

A player shall not clip or block an opponent in the back except:

b. Using hands and arms to contact an opponent above the waist in warding off a blocker, or when attempting to reach a runner, or catch or recorver a loose ball which he may legally touch or possess.

Again, if I'm misunderstanding this please let me know.

Thanks

jjb · #7 (**permalink**) Thu Jun 24, 2004, 04:18am

B can definitely block in the back even outside the FBZ (unless I'm reading rule 9 incorrectly)

I agree with you ljudge. If B1 is chasing runner A1 and A2 is between B1 and A1 , B1 can push A2 in the back as he overtakes him to get to A1 .

ljudge · #8 (**permalink**) Thu Jun 24, 2004, 11:45am

I failed to mention this, but actually, A can too. If A1 fumbles the ball and B1 is between A2 and the ball, A2 can block B1 in the back outside the FBZ because he can legally touch or possess the ball after A1 has fumbled it.

Also, "legally" is key here when considering scrimmage kicks. If, for example, K is running down field during a scrimmage kick he can't block R in the back because he can't legally touch the ball (ie: first touching even though not a foul is a violation, hence an illegal act). Therefore, this rule won't apply in this situation. The only way I see it applying is if R caught the ball, then fumbled. K could then block R in the block to get the loose ball because he can now legally touch or possess it.