Tackling below the waist

[BktBallRef]

Originally posted by gsf23
High school game in colorado last year. I was on the sideline doing stats. On a runing play, the runner is tackled and a flag flies in on the play. The referee gives the signal for chp block and points at the defense. The coach asks what the penalty was and the referee told him the flag was for tackling below the waist.

Is there even such a thing? I've never heard of it and my question would be how are you supposed to tackle?

A chop block is not tackling below the waist. A chop block occurs when one player blocks an opponent above the waist and then a teammate blocks the same opponent at or below the knees. It sounds like maybe one defender was tacking high and the second defender hit the runner in the knees. However, that is not illegal.

Most of the rules concerning illegal blocking and illegal use of hands do not apply when tackling a runner. Except for grabbing the face mask, most anything that would be illegal to do to a player without the ball, is legal to do against a runner.