Illegal Use of the Hands

[Suudy]

This seems to come up every year, and it never seems to be resolved. We argue every year on whether this is a foul.

Tight-end A80 is dragging across the field behind the defense as A7 drops back to pass. B51, seeing A80 dragging, hits A80 and knocks him down. After A80 is knocked down, A7 throws an incomplete pass at A80.

The question is the contact by B51 an illegal use of the hands. Rule 9.2.3d says that a "defensive player shall not d. Contact an eligible receiver who is no longer a potential blocker."

I think in this case it is obvious that A80 is on a pass route, and that the contact by B51 is illegal use of the hands. Others argue that if the hit was legal (i.e. in the front and not flagrant or punishing), then it is not a foul.

How do you interpret the "no longer a potential blocker" phrase?

Note: NFHS rule listed (9.2.3)

[BktBallRef]

If the passer has obviously dropped back to pass and the receiver obviously is not trying to contact the defender but is attempting to move away from him, it's an easy call for me.

[Forksref]

I like the term "impede" to describe how the A player was held up. Knocking him down is not what I consider to be a borderline call. It's easy, as BBR just said.

[MJT]

Most definitely illegal use of hands, and if the ball is in the air, you have DPI.

[ref-farai]

Two weeks ago I was the HL in a game that had an almost identical play. IUofH is the right call.

[Niner]

Disagree. Until a forward pass that crosses the LOS is thrown, the end is a potential blocker. A screen pass, a swing pass, or a QB draw could be run--- to name a few. The "no longer a potential blocker" relates to the pass being thrown another direction and the end being out of the play. If he is blocked after the pass is thrown in his direction, it is DPI.