Crackback Block

[Jim D]

Crackback blocks are legal in NF rules. A lot of coaches (and some officials) would be really suprised if you told them that, but it's true.

Blocks in the back and blocks below the waist are illegal (in most cases). If a crack back or any other otherwise legal block has those features, then you penalize the BBW or BIB, but not the crackback.

[HLin NC]

Crackback is a matter of semantics, much like "cut block". Coaching terminology should not be misconstrued as the rules of football but unfortunately they are sometimes.

So far as the "not giving the defneder time to turn" sounds like either someone BS'ing his way out of quoting the rule or trying to get rid of a coach quickly.

[ddn]

Had a team run a play where a wide-out, who was lined up on the LOS went in motion and cracked the end. Called Illegal Motion as the wide-out must be 5yrds back at the snap if he started on the LOS and is in motion. Is this a correct call?

Coach then asked if the wide-out, starting on the line, stepped back and stopped, then went in motion, could he block the end. Fine, as long as it is a legal block?

[Jim D]

You are correct. In the first situation, the wide out was guilty of illegal motion. If he shifts to a position in the backfield and there are still seven on the line, he is free to go in motion after he has been set for a second. He can the block legally anyone he wants to.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by HLin NC

Crackback is a matter of semantics, much like "cut block". Coaching terminology should not be misconstrued as the rules of football but unfortunately they are sometimes.

So far as the "not giving the defneder time to turn" sounds like either someone BS'ing his way out of quoting the rule or trying to get rid of a coach quickly.

We had a crackback on the first play that required an injury timeout. The receiver FLATTENED the defender and knocked the wind out of him and no less than three officials saw the legal block.

Coach was livid until he saw that the player had the wind knocked out of him, then he apologized to the wing, saying that it must've been legal with that kind of result.

[Forksref]

If you want to seriously talk rules, get the term "crackback" out of your vocabulary. It is not to be found in NFHS rules. All the normal definitions regarding blocking apply here.

After a game last week, I had a parent ask me if "chop" blocks are legal. After talking to him, I found out that he meant blocks below the waist. I explained to him the legalities of blocks below the waist in the free blocking zone, etc.

I wish ESPN would do a show on rules so the average Joe can better understand them. Terminology would be a good place to start.