Contra Costa County Football Officials Association New Officials Training Session No. 3 Blocking Legal Blocking Techniques Free Blocking Zone Types Block in the back Clipping Block below the waist Chop Block Holding Free Kick Blocking Blocking 2 Understanding Blocking • Know the two legal blocking techniques • Know the illegal types of blocks • Know that under certain conditions “illegal” blocks can be legal depending on: • The type of block • Where it occurs • When it occurs Free Blocking Zone • Who is doing the blocking • Who is getting blocked 3 Blocking Open Hand Technique • Hands in advance of elbow • At or below the shoulders • Hands inside frame of blocker’s body • Hands inside frame of opponent’s body 4 Blocking Cupped Hand Blocking • Palms not facing opponent • Forearms extended less than 45 degrees from body • Elbows can be inside or outside shoulders • Cupped blocking technique is not used very often in the High School level. 5 Blocking Frame of Opponent’s Body 6 Blocking Illegal Blocks (ALL = FLAG AT SPOT) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNWqp-SSlVs • Block in the back • Clipping • Blocking below the waist • Chop Block (may not be what you think it is) • Holding • Targeting • Blind side blocks 7 Blocking Block in the Back vs Clipping vs Block Below the Waist • Block in the back • Initial contact above the waist from the back • Clipping • Initial contact below the waist from the back • Blocking below the waist • Initial contact below the waist and from front or side provided opponent has feet on the ground 8 Blocking Block in the Back vs Clipping • Initial contact above the waist from the back • 10 Yard Penalty • Clipping if initial contact is below the waist from the back • 15 Yard Penalty 9 Blocking Chop Block • Block at the knees or below against an opponent in contact with a teammate of the blocker • High block at the same time as Low Block • For the purposes of chop block “Low” means at KNEES or below • Chop block fouls are usually seen by the umpire or referee. 10 Blocking What is Holding exactly? • Use of the hands, arms or legs to hook, lock, clamp, grasp, encircle , hold or restrain an opponent • Can be offensive or defensive • Philosophy: Call holding fouls only if at “Point of Attack” • It probably occurs somewhere on every play • Types of Holding 1. Tackle 2. Takedown 3. Pullover 4. Arm Bar 5. Grab and Restrict 6. Jerk and Restrict 11 Blocking “Tackle” Common in Frosh / Youth Games 12 Blocking Very hard to see Looks like B just knocked A over Best seen from sides (flanks) “Takedown” 13 Blocking Pullover Common in Frosh / Youth Games 14 Blocking Common during pass rush Arm Bar 15 Blocking Grab and Restrict Not a foul unless B attempts to get away 16 Blocking Grasp and Jerk Often by a mis-matched opponent 17 Blocking Coverage and Keys – 4 Man • Flanks • If read pass LJ • Blocks against and by receivers on your side • If read run • TE to receivers on your side • Blocks immediately around and in front of ball carrier U • Umpire • If read pass: • Gradually walk up to line of scrimmage • Generally snapper to tackle away from you • But can focus on any interior linemen • If read run: • Find point of attack • Blocks immediately around and in front of ball carrier 18 Blocking Free Kick Blocking Restrictions on K • Technically all Free Kicks but think “On sides” • Rule 9-3-8 • K may not block R until one of these happens: • Kick has traveled ten (10) yards • K is eligible to recover the free kick; that is, R has touched the ball • R advances into neutral zone and engages K • When in doubt …R initiated contact 19 Blocking Free Blocking Zone NOT the “Tackle box” • 4 yards to either side of ball and 3 yards up and down field from the MLB ball (6 by 8) • Player is in FBZ when any part of 3 yds his body is there (practical DL DL DL DL interpretation is Tackle to tackle – maybe TE depending on splits, Def Lineman and anyone showing blitz) • Exists from the snap until the ball leaves the zone 3 yds 4 yrs 4 yrs 20 Blocking Blocking in the Free Blocking Zone • Chop Blocks, Clipping and Holding are NEVER legal • Blocking in the back allowed if: • By A player who is on line • Against B player in the FBZ at snap • Contact is in FBZ • Blocking below waist is allowed: • By A players on the line in the FBZ at snap • Against B players on the line & in the FBZ at snap • Contact is in FBZ 21 Blocking Demonstration • Free Blocking Zone • “Full Field” Mechanics • On / Off Line • Backward Passes • Running Plays • Passing Plays • Kicking Plays (Scrimmage and Free kicks) • Kicks out of Bounds • Use of Penalty Flag 22 Blocking.