1. Linemen with initial position completely inside the tackle box may legally block below the waist inside the tackle box on their initial line charge. A block initiated 1-yard beyond the neutral zone is considered within the tackle box. After the initial line charge, these linemen may block below the waist within the tackle box until the ball leaves the tackle box only if the force of the initial contact is directed from the front.
Approved Ruling 9-1-6 VII. 1/10 @ A-40. A12 takes the snap and starts on a sweep to his right. Guard A66 pulls and leads the play. As the play develops linebacker B55 blocks A66 from the front at the thigh at the A-39. A12 is driven out of bounds at the A-48. RULING: Illegal block below the waist. B55 was not aligned in a stationary position within one yard of the line of scrimmage and therefore cannot block below the waist.
Approved Ruling 9-1-6 IX. 1/10 @ A-45. Guard A66 is next to the snapper. Immediately after the snap, A66 blocks (a) nose guard B55 at the A-46, or (b) linebacker B33 at the A-48. In either case the block is below the waist at the side of the opponent. RULING: (a) Legal block. A66 has left the tackle box, but a block initiated one yard beyond the neutral zone is considered within the tackle box. (b) Foul, illegal block below the waist. In this case, A66 has left the tackle box and has gone to the second level to make this low block. To be legal this block may not be below the waist.
Approved Ruling 9-1-6 XI 3/10 @ A-25. Left tackle A77 is line up inside the tackle box and defender B55 is an edge rusher and is lined up near the line of scrimmage and just outside of A77. At the snap, A77 kicks back into pass protection and B55 comes straight up the field rushing the passer. During the initial line charge of B55, A77 blocks B55 below the waist and the block is directed from the side well behind the neutral zone. A77 has one foot in the tackle box as the block is initiated. RULING: Legal block by A77. This action is considered part of the initial line charge and A77 can block below the waist and is not restricted to only blocking below the waist from the front. After the initial line charge, and if it is clearly a second act, then A77 is restricted to blocking below the waist in the tackle box and the block then must be directed from the front.
Approved Ruling 9-1-6 XII 3/10 @ A-25. Left tackle A77 is lined up inside the tackle box and defender B60 is lined up near the line of scrimmage and inside of A77 and is head up on left guard. The play is a toss sweep to the right and as B60 on his initial line charge starts his pursuit, A77 releases to the right and blocks B60 below the waist from the side. RULING: Legal block by A77. This action is considered part of the initial line charge and A77 can block below the waist and is not restricted to only blocking below the waist from the front. There is no step count for initial line charge, just a judgement if the action becomes a second act. After the initial line charge, and if it is clearly a second act, then A77’s block below the waist in the tackle box must be directed from the front.
2. Stationary Backs lined up with any part of their body inside the tackle box may block below the waist within the tackle box until the ball leaves the tackle box only if the force of the initial contact is directed from the front. “Directed from the front” is defined as within the clock face region between “10 o’clock and 2 o’clock” forward of the area of concentration of the player being blocked.
Approved Ruling 9-1-6 I. 1/10 @ A-40. Back A44 in lined up just behind the RT, and has his left foot inside the RT’s outside foot. At the snap, A44 works back across the formation and blocks B77 below the waist from the side. B77 is inside the tackle box and 1 yard in the offensive backfield at the time of the block. During the play, A33 runs for a 12-yard gain. RULING: The block by A44 is an illegal block below the waist because it is not directed from the front. Stationary backs lined up within the tackle box may block below the waist in the tackle box until the ball leaves the tackle box only if the force of the initial contact is directed from the front. The penalty is 15 yards and is enforced from the previous spot. Team A will have 1/25 @ A-25.
Approved Ruling 9-1-6 II. 1/10 @ A-40. Back A44 is stationary and lined up 4 yards deep and is just behind the RG. After the snap, QB A12 takes a deep drop, and remains in the tackle box looking downfield. Linebacker, B55 blitzes between the LG and LT, and A44 crosses over to the left side of the formation and blocks B55 below the waist at the A-36. The block is directed from the front. After the block, A12’s pass is completed to A88 for a gain of 15-yards. RULING: There is no foul on the play. The block by back A44 is legal as a stationary back lined up within the tackle box may block below the waist in the tackle box until the ball leaves the tackle box only if the force of the initial contact is directed from the front. Team A will have 1/10 @ B-45.
Approved Ruling 9-1-6 III. Back A41 is stationary at the snap directly behind the right tackle in a balanced line formation. His left shoulder is inside the tackle box. The quarterback hands the ball to back A22 who runs straight ahead. A41 blocks B2 who moves into the offensive backfield to make a play on the ball carrier before A22 reaches the line of scrimmage. The block is below the waist and clearly at the side. RULING: Illegal block. A41 is partially inside the tackle box and behind the second lineman at the snap, but the block is not from the front.
Approved Ruling 9-1-6 V. Back A22 is stationary inside the tackle box at the snap. After the snap A22 shoots between the tackle and the guard and blocks B55 below the waist directed from the front. The initial contact is three yards beyond the neutral zone. RULING: Illegal block below the waist. The block is directed from the front, but is beyond the neutral zone.
Approved Ruling 9-1-6 VI. 3/7 @ A-30. The ball is at the left hash mark. Back A22 is split completely outside the frame of the tackle on the left side, and B40 moves out to cover him. The handoff goes to back A44 who sweeps around the right end. As the play develops B40 follows the play and A22 chases him. At the A-34 beyond the right hash mark A22 overtakes B40 and blocks him below the waist clearly and directly at the front (“10-to-2”). A44 is tackled at the B-45. RULING: Illegal block below the waist. A22’s initial position is outside the tackle box, so A22 may not legally block below the waist.
Approved Ruling 9-1-6 X 3/10 @ A-25. Back A21 is stationary and is lined up in the tackle box. Just after the snap A21 immediately releases outside the tackle box. QB A12 is in the pocket to pass and A21 sees linebacker B54 blitzing. A21 returns into the tackle box and before A12 throws the pass, blocks B54 below the waist in the tackle box and the block is directed from the front. RULING: Foul by A21 for an illegal block below the waist. Once a player leaves the tackle box during the play, that player is considered outside the tackle box for the remainder of the down. A21 may not block below the waist once considered outside the tackle box.
Approved Ruling 9-1-6 XIII 3/10 @ A-25. Back A21 is stationary and is lined up in the tackle box. Just after the snap, A21 immediately steps up and blocks blitzing linebacker 1-yard beyond the neutral zone. The block is below the waist and directed from the front. RULING: Legal block by A21. A block initiated 1-yard beyond the neutral zone is considered within the tackle box for both a lineman and back assuming that block meets all the other requirements for a legal block below the waist.
3. All other Team A players are not allowed to block below the waist.
Approved Ruling 9-1-6 VIII. At the snap tight end A85 is aligned six yards from the snapper. Before the ball has left the tackle box, A85 blocks tackle B77 below the waist at the side. RULING: Illegal block below the waist. A85’s initial position is outside the tackle box at the snap, so A85 may not block below the waist. Fifteen-yard penalty.
b. Team B prior to a change of team possession:
1. Players aligned in a stationary position within 1-yard of the line of scrimmage within the tackle box may legally block below the waist in the tackle box on their initial line charge.
Approved Ruling 9-1-6 IV. Defensive end B88 is lined up on the outside shoulder of tackle of A75. On the initial line charge, B88 blocks tackle A75 below the waist from the side inside the tackle box. RULING: No foul for an illegal block below the waist.
2. All other Team B players are not allowed to block below the waist except against a runner.
c. Kicks. During a down in which there is a free kick or scrimmage kick, blocking below the waist by any player is illegal except against a ball carrier.
d. After change of team possession. After any change of team possession, blocking below the waist by any player is illegal except against a ball carrier.
Clipping. No player may violate Rule 9-1-5 (Clipping).
