"chop block"?
 

I subbed for a crew this weekend and twice the umpire called a "chopblock" on an interior offensive lineman for blocking below the knees in the free blocking zone. I know that is not, by definition, a chopblock and I questioned whether blocking below the knees in the blocking zone is illegal. Could you help me out and give me a reference to go to. thanks

Rule 2-17-2 Blocking below the waist is permitted in the free-blocking zone when the following conditions are met:
a. All players involved in the blocking are on the line of scrimmage and in the zone at the snap.
b. The contact is in the zone.

The block must also occur while the ball is in the zone.

Was it in the WPFL? They have a rule specifically against blocking below the knees.

The game was Fed. Rules and took place in northern Mich.

Rule 2 Sec. 3 Art. 9... Chop block is a delayed block at the knees or below against an opponent who is in contact with a teammate of the blocker in the free-blocking zone.

Canadian Ruling
 

CANADIAN RULING:

We call this a delayed knee block and it is a UR foul.

We've expanded this rule to define "engaged" not requiring contact. If A1 and B1 are engaged such that they are obviously facing each other, and ready to engage in blocking, but no physical has yet to be established, it is still illegal for B2 to hit A1 low or A2 to hit B1 low.

What is a UR foul?

In Canada, UR is an acronym for Unnecessary Roughness. It:

• is a 15 yard foul
• also carries an AFD if by Team B
  • this is not true if both teams commit a major foul (OC, UR, RP)
• is restricted when applied from within the 30 yard line
• is a major foul, so more than 1 UR foul may be applied
• can be applied at any possible point of application at the option to the non-offending team