No Longer a Potential Blocker

[Ed Hickland]

There has been an ongoing discussion about this phrase from NFHS 9-2-3d.

Last season my LJ told a player he could not chuck a receiver downfield. The player's coach after the game told me he thought his player could contact the receiver all the way down field. The coach subsequently called the interpreter who agreed with the coach.

At the next general meeting there was a loud debate about this subject.

My position was NFHS 9-2-3d and 9.2.3 Situation A firmly prohibit B from contacting A when "he is no longer a potential blocker." Somehow the interpreter construed this to mean this was pass interference but agreed with my position on the rule and case book. My position is as long as the ball is not in the air B cannot contact A and the foul is illegal use of hands.

Interested in hearing how others interpret this.