2-17-2 Diagram

2-17-2 In 11 player football, all players involved in blocking below the waist must be on the line of scrimmage and in the free blocking zone at snap. B5 moves to line of scrimmage just prior to the ball being snapped and therefore meets the definition of a lineman.

2-17-2 in eight player football, the free blocking zone is a square area extending laterally 3 yards either side of the spot of the snap and 3 yards behind each line of scrimmage.

2-17-1, 2-17-2, 2-17-4 It is legal for offensive linemen to block below the waist in the free-blocking zone, provided both players were on their lines of scrimmage and within the zone at the time of the snap and the block is an immediate, initial action following the snap. No. 77 could only block No. 62 below the waist if the block was immediate, initial action following the snap. No. 65 can block No. 93 below the waist even though No. 93 is playing off his shoulder, if the block is an immediate, initial action following the snap. No. 72 could not block No. 55 below the waist at any time during this play.

2-3-7, 2-17-1, 2-17-2, 9-3-2 The initial contact in PlayPic A is above the waist. In PlayPic B, the blocker then loses contact and the blocker starts a new block below the waist, this is a foul. A block below the waist is legal if it occurs in the free-blocking zone, provided both players were on their lines of scrimmage and within the zone at the time of the snap and the block is an immediate, initial action following the snap.

2-3-7, 2-17-1, 2-17-2, 9-3-2 While in the free-blocking zone, the initial contact in PlayPic A is with the hands below the waist. When the blocker finishes the block below the waist as in PlayPic B, it is not a foul. A block below the waist is legal if it occurs in the free-blocking zone, provided both players were on their lines of scrimmage and within the zone at the time of the snap and the block is an immediate, initial action following the snap.

2-17-2, 9-3-2 Blocking below the waist is permitted in the free-blocking zone when all players involved are on the line of scrimmage and in the zone at the snap, and the contact is in the zone. The PlayPic depicts a situation in which team B tries to take out the lead blocker on a sweep. The block shown would be a foul if it were outside the zone.