Is the "shoeshine" BBW?

[MJT]

As you read below, you will see the "shoeshine" block could be legal or illegal, but you will see for yourself when it is and is not.

Here is a pregame I have done regarding clipping BBW, and BIB

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!!!

STUMP THE CHUMP!
1. Immediately after the snap, B77 clips A50. Both players on the LOS at the snap, the ball is in the zone, and so is the block. Legal block by B77 or not, and explain. Illegal – defense can never legally clip.

2. On a trap play lineman B77 has a BBW on A50 or A20. Which blocks, if any are legal. The 1st is legal as B can BBW against another player who is on the LOS and in the zone at the snap. The 2nd is illegal cuz A20 was not on the LOS and in the zone at the snap.

3. Lineman A66 is clearly outside the FBZ at the snap and he comes into the zone and commits a BIB against an opponent who is in the zone and the ball is in the zone. Legal or not? No – he must be in the zone at the snap.

1. So, if they do not make any contact and are only trying to get the defense to have to jump over them, you definitely do not have a foul.
2. If they make contact and the lineman is already engaged, you will have a chop block.
3. If they make contact and he is not already engaged, you could have a foul for clipping or BBW if the ball was out of the zone, or depending where player being "shoeshined" was at the snap.

[jjrye22]

I know what you are looking for. The definition of a block is:
2.3.1.a. Blocking is obstructing an opponent by contacting him with
any part of the blocker’s body.

You are looking if the contact has to be active, and you are describing that the player just flops on the ground in front of someone and lets them run into him.
It is in my opinion very much a block, and since the initial contact is below the waist, it is a block below the waist.
The O lineman knows that the defender will be moving in that direction - and is actively trying to prevent it with his body.

We had a similar problem with our flag football. There was no blocking beyond the LOS, so team mates would run in front of the ball carrier and 'place their body' in front of a defender so that they couldn't get to the ball carrier.
Technically the rules used defined blocking as the use of hands to push an opponent, so some coaches thought they were smart and it didn't conform to blocking.
We just gave them 15 yard illegal contact fouls instead (which it was).

James

[ljudge]

Originally Posted by MJT

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)

Actually, the defense can BIB too. It's just listed under rule #9. A defensive player may block in the back to get to a runner or lose ball he may legally touch or possess.