Question:

Center snaps ball and immediately “cuts” down on the nose guard. Let me explain the block: Just as he snaps the ball, he goes down to the legs and ankles of the nose guard.

Is this legal?

As you describe this play it is legal. It is legal for the center to block the nose guard below the waist if the block was immediately after the snap. The actual rule is much more involved and covers many more players, more area, and for a longer period of time when the block may occur. Someone else will come along with all the free-blocking zone rules later but this explaination will cover your specific scenario.

Free Blocking Zone
 

Thanks.

I have the rules: 2-17-2 and 9-3-2.

Just wanted to make sure I was interpereting them correct.

Thanks@

The free-blocking-zone extends 3 yards forward & back from the LOS and 4 yards to either side of the ball. As long as the ball is in the zone, the contact is in the zone, and both players involved were lined up on the LOS, blocks in the back and blocks below the waise become legal.

That's my understanding anyway :)

Almost. It should say...blocks in the back by the offense...

Here is something I put together for blocking. I hope the formatting works as I have it in word.

Blocking, free blocking zones, illegal blocks

Clipping – Initial contact at or below the waist against a player other a runner or pretending to be a runner.
Clipping is permitted in the FBZ when
1)by offensive linemen on the LOS and in zone at snap
2)against defensive linemen on LOS and in zone at the snap
3)the contact is in the zone
4)the ball is still in the zone
Summary: Only offense can legally clip. All must be on LOS and in zone at snap.

Blocking below the waist - initial contact at or below the waist from the front or side and they are not the runner.
BBW is permitted in the FBZ when
1)by all players who are on the LOS and in the zone at the snap
2)the contact is in the zone
3)the ball is still in the zone
Summary: Anyone who is on the LOS and in the zone can BBW.

Blocking in the back – initial contact is in the opponents back, inside the shoulders, below the helmet, and above the waist, and against a player other than a runner or pretended runner.
BIB is permitted in the FBZ when
1) by offensive linemen who are on the LOS and in the zone at the snap
2) against defensive players who are in the zone at the snap
3) the contact is in the zone
4) the ball is still in the zone
Summary: Only offense can legally BIB. Offense must be on LOS and in zone at snap, defense just in zone at the snap. (LB’s are probably in the zone at the snap)

Butt block – Illegal – using the facemask, front, or top of helmet to make contact at any time.

Chop block – Illegal – delayed block at the knees or below against an opponent who is already engaged.
1st block high and 2nd block low – illegal, 1st block low, 2nd block low – illegal
Key only illegal if the 2nd block is low.
All simultaneous blocks by 2 on 1 defender are legal!!!

REPLY: MJT...good summary! I would make one revision though. In your definition of clipping, it should probably read: "<i>Initial contact <b>from behind</b> at or below the waist against a player other a runner or pretending to be a runner.</i> Right?

My favourite topic...
Are you looking to NF?
With NCAA this is not 100% true.
Simultaneous 'combo' blocks by adjacent linemen in the NZ are legal.
Simultaneous 'combo' blocks beyond the NZ are not legal.

I think it is better to sum it up as:
Illegal:
All delayed blocks with the 2nd being low.
All combos from non-adjacent linemen.
All combos from offense clearly beyond the NZ.

James

REPLY: James, I'm certain that MJT's summary was for Federation rules. Anyone who has ever seen all the criteria for an NCAA chop block realizes that you need a post-grad degree to remember them.

Also, fundamental difference between Fed and NCAA chop block is in the definition of the <u>low</u> block portion of the chop. In Federation, the low block is defined to be at the <b>knees</b> or below. The NCAA low block is defined to be at the <b>thigh</b> or below.

What if the QB is in a "shotgun" formation 5-6 yards behind the LOS?

When QB is in shotgun, the only thing that changes if the length of time that the ball is in the NZ. The suspect block must be nearly immediate in this case to be legal. If there's any real delay between snap and the initiation of the block, you probably have an illegal block.

But this, admittedly, is a much fuzzier area than a regular snap.

My crew has discusse this and decided that if the block is "immediate" the ball will still be in the zone. If he steps back then goes low, the ball would be out of the zone.