BLOCKING BELOW THE WAIST CLARIFICATIONS
BLOCKING BELOW THE WAIST CLARIFICATIONS
This memo will clarify two issues that have surfaced this Summer following the rule changes related to blocking below the waist:
1 – There is NO requirement for a back to “get a piece” of an offensive lineman to be considered within the tackle box. Some teams use very tight splits which results in backs having nobody in front of them, yet they are still within 5 yards of the ball, which puts them in the tackle box. They are then allowed to legally block below the waist since they are within the tackle box. If Team A has normal splits by their lineman and you rule the tackle box ends just outside the tackles for a balanced line, the back will need to “get a piece” of the offensive tackle to be considered within the tackle box.
2 – The neutral zone is expanded one yard beyond the line of scrimmage for the purposes of defining the tackle box for the linemen who are in the tackle box and legally allowed to block below the waist. Those linemen can go forward up to a yard beyond the neutral zone and still be considered in the tackle box when they block. There have been questions about the backs who come forward into the line to block. Those backs who are legally allowed to block below the waist in the tackle box will also get that leeway up to a yard beyond the neutral zone for their blocks, which must be 10‑2 if below the waist.
3 – The interior line in the tackle box are not restricted to one low block during the down, nor are they restricted to blocking low ONLY on the initial line charge. However, their legal low blocks after the initial line charge must be 10‑2.
4 – The “initial line charge” is not defined by a specific number of steps after the snap. It is a combination of time after snap and number of actions after the snap. If the block is the player’s 2d action after the snap, it is AFTER the initial line charge. The team A lineman in the tackle box who takes a quick step back or laterally just before blocking low can block from the side.
If you have any questions regarding this or any other rule, please email football@taso.org
