BIB and safety

[Mike L]

in consideration of some comments made elsewhere.....

Is a BIB really a safety issue? Or is it more just an unfair blocking issue because the player has little to no opportunity to fend off the block?

Every other "safety" type foul carries a 15 penalty. The BIB used to be clipping and was essentially downgraded to what we have now, a 10 yd penalty, just like a hold and all the other blocking type fouls that I don't think anyone views as a safety issue.
How many injuries have been caused due to a BIB? I've never seen one. I suppose if the defender is standing there and the blocker blasts him from the back you could have a problem. But I'd be willing to bet 99.9% of the BIBs we see are when the blocker is beat and he simply reaches out to push the defender out of the play.

[bossman72]

It's definitely a safety issue. The defender cannot defend himself when he his hit from behind. I've seen a dislocated shoulder, ACL tear, stingers, and rolled ankles caused by BIB's.

[Welpe]

The defender also can't defend himself from many sideblocks but those aren't illegal either.

[Texas Aggie]

By far, most injuries occur on legal blocks. So it isn't a safety issue any more than football the game is a safety issue. I would also argue that blocking below the knees from the side (legal -- at least in NCAA) is more dangerous than from the back (illegal in all codes). So in this sense, we could argue all day about what is truly an unsafe block, legal or illegal, and what isn't.

BIB is a 10 yard penalty and like holding, should be flagged at the point of attack only -- or at least, only then and in very limited other situations. If the BIB is 10 yards behind a runner, for example, we ignore it. Of course, we play by NCAA rules and get input from college conferences on how to enforce certain things. Fed may want that called but I would have a real hard time flagging that play under any code.

[Jim D.]

Here are some comments from the NFHS Offical's Manual -

The basic requirement for all sports officials is courage. When there are infractions, officials must penalize promptly and consistently. Vigilant administration of the playing rules permits no tolerance for fouls, infractions or violations. Regardless of the pressure from fans, coaches or players, officials must have the courage to call fouls as they occur. When officials accept a game assignment, their responsibility is definite. The protection and welfare of the player is paramount and with this there can be no compromise. Officials who fail to promptly discharge their responsibility of penalizing for infractions are unqualified to officiate interscholastic contest.

[Mike L]

And how exactly does this apply to the subject at hand?

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by Mike L

in consideration of some comments made elsewhere.....

Is a BIB really a safety issue? Or is it more just an unfair blocking issue because the player has little to no opportunity to fend off the block?

Every other "safety" type foul carries a 15 penalty. The BIB used to be clipping and was essentially downgraded to what we have now, a 10 yd penalty, just like a hold and all the other blocking type fouls that I don't think anyone views as a safety issue.

Actually for a long time after clipping (which is a danger to ACLs of the knee) was banned, blocking in the back above the waist was legal; but that was when the hands & arms had to be kept close to the body in blocking. BIB as a specific foul (part of illegal use of hands) came about when use of the hands in blocking was liberalized; as a compromise, it was allowed only on the opponent's trunk in front. I'm not sure whether BIB as a more general foul (even if the hands & arms are kept close to the body in blocking) was adopted along with it immediately, or only after one or more seasons, in Fed.

How many injuries have been caused due to a BIB? I've never seen one. I suppose if the defender is standing there and the blocker blasts him from the back you could have a problem. But I'd be willing to bet 99.9% of the BIBs we see are when the blocker is beat and he simply reaches out to push the defender out of the play.

It was never considered a safety issue before it was outlawed. However, reaching out and pushing was illegal use of hands by the offense, regardless of whether the push was in front or back. So now it's legal in front, and still not in back, but in addition, a pure body block in back is also illegal.

Robert