American Football IFAF Approved Ruling 9-1-6
- A1, an end, is positioned 11 yards to the left of the snapper at the snap. B2 is between the original position of A1 and the sideline. A1 blocks B2 away from the position of the ball at the snap. The block by A1 is below the waist and directly in front of B2 and less than five yards beyond the line of scrimmage. RULING: Legal block because it is directly at the opponent’s front and less than five yards beyond the line of scrimmage.
- Quarterback A1 is forced to run out of his protecting pocket, leave the tackle box, and scramble back and forth across the field. A2, a wide receiver, positioned 12 yards to the left of the snapper at the snap, moves downfield and then returns toward the neutral zone. A2 blocks B2 below the waist clearly from the side. RULING: Illegal block below the waist since it is not from the front. 15-yard penalty.
- On a run or pass option play, wide receiver A2 at the snap is positioned 12 yards to the right of the snapper. He moves downfield and then returns toward the neutral zone. The ball has left the tackle box when A2 blocks B2 below the waist in the 10-to-2 region directly at B2’s front and slightly toward Team A’s end line. RULING: Illegal block below the waist. Even though A2 blocks below the waist directly at the front, the block is toward his own end line. 15-yard penalty.
- At the snap A82 is positioned on the line of scrimmage to the right side of the formation, 10 yards from the snapper. Back A31, a flanker positioned to the left side of the formation, runs a deep reverse to the right side after receiving the ball from a teammate. As the play develops, A82 blocks linebacker B62 toward the line through the original position of the ball. The block by A82 is below the waist and directly at the front, clearly inside the “10 o’clock to 2 o’clock” region. The block occurs (a) less than five yards downfield; or (b) more than five yards beyond the neutral zone. RULING: (a) Illegal crackback block. The block below the waist is directed toward the line through the original position of the ball. 15-yard penalty. (b) Illegal crackback block. 15-yard penalty.
- 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.
- Defensive end B88 blocks below the waist against tackle A75 one yard beyond the line of scrimmage. The block is (a) directed from the front; (b) at the opponent’s side. RULING: Foul for illegal block below the waist. The block takes place within the 10-yard belt, but to be legal, it must be directed from the front. [Cited by 9-1-6-b-1]
- Back A22 is stationary inside the tackle box at the snap. After the snap he shoots between the tackle and the guard on his side, crosses into Team B’s secondary and blocks low on linebacker B55 (a) less than five yards beyond the line of scrimmage; or (b) more than five yards beyond the line of scrimmage. The contact is at B55’s thigh from the side and is directed straight ahead of A22. RULING: In both (a) and (b), illegal block below the waist. Since A22’s initial position is not on the line in the tackle box, he is restricted from blocking other than with a “10-2” block. 15-yard penalty.
- Third and seven at the 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-40 beyond the right hash mark, A22 overtakes B40 and blocks him below the waist clearly and directly at the front (10-to-2). The direction of this block is downfield and slightly toward the right sideline. A44 is tackled at the B-45. RULING: Illegal block below the waist. Even though the block is from the front, it is more than five yards beyond the neutral zone.
- First and 10 at the A-40. A12 takes the snap and starts on a sweep to his/her 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-44. A12 is driven out of bounds at the A-48. RULING: No foul. B55’s block below the waist is legal because it occurs fewer than five yards beyond the neutral zone and is directed from the front. ´ [Cited by 9-1-6-b-1]
- 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 is outside the tackle box at the snap, so he may block below the waist only within the 10-2 region. 15-yard penalty.
- First and 10 at the A45. 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-49. In either case the block is below the waist at the side of the opponent. RULING: (a) Legal block. A66 is still in the free-blocking zone. (b) Foul, illegal block below the waist. In this case A66 has left the tackle box and free-blocking zone and has gone to the second level to make this side block. To be legal this block must be directed from the front in the “10-2” region.
- First and 10 at the A-25. A75 is lead blocking for the ball carrier on a run play. Linebacker B55 blocks A75 from the front below the waist at (a) the A-32; (b) the A-28. RULING: (a) Illegal block below the waist. (b) Legal play.
- First and 10 at the A-25. A87 is running a pass route while the quarterback holds the ball. Linebacker B55 blocks A87 from the front below the waist at (a) the A-32; (b) the A-28. RULING: Illegal block below the waist in both cases because A87 is an eligible receiver and a legal forward pass is still possible.
- Third and 6 at the A-34. Team A is not in a scrimmage kick formation. Quarterback A6 takes the snap, drops back and punts the ball downfield. Linebacker B55 blocks A75 from the front below the waist at the line of scrimmage before the ball is kicked. RULING: No foul. It was not obvious to Team B that a kick was going to be made since it was made on third down and Team A was not in scrimmage kick formation.