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SCFOA OFFICIATING EDUCATION SERIES

Rule 9: Conduct of Players and Others

Part 1 of 3 — Helping the Runner; Illegal Use of Hands and Holding; Illegal Blocking

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RULE 9 — PART 1 OF 3

What's in This Deck

Helping the Runner

Illegal Use of Hands and Holding

Illegal Blocking

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SECTION 1

Helping the Runner

An offensive player shall not push, pull, or lift the runner to assist his forward progress.

Penalty

Helping the runner: 5 yards

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CASE PLAY — 9.1

Pushing the Runner vs. Pushing the Pile

THE PLAY

Fourth and goal from B's 1. (a) Runner A1 is pushed at the line of scrimmage from behind by A2, trying to get him into the end zone; or (b) without contacting A1 at all, A2 and A3 push the PILE forward into the end zone.

THE RULING

(a) A2 has fouled for helping the runner — a 5-yard penalty. If accepted, it becomes fourth and goal from B's 6.

(b) Neither A2 nor A3 has fouled. The rule prohibits pushing, pulling, or lifting the RUNNER specifically — pushing the pile without ever touching A1 doesn't violate it.

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SECTION

Illegal Use of Hands

and Holding

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SECTION 2 · ART. 1–2

Offensive Restrictions

An offensive player (except the runner) shall not:

Use a blocking technique that isn't permissible by rule.
Grasp or encircle any teammate to form interlocked blocking.
Use hands, arms, or legs to hook, lock, clamp, grasp, encircle, or hold in an effort to restrain an opponent.

The runner may not grasp a teammate.

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SECTION 2 · ART. 3

Defensive Restrictions

A defensive player shall not:

Use a technique that isn't permissible by rule.
Use his hands to add momentum to the charge of a teammate who is on the line of scrimmage.
Use hands or arms to hook, lock, clamp, grasp, encircle, or hold in an effort to restrain an opponent other than the runner.
Contact an eligible receiver who is no longer a potential blocker.

Penalties

Illegal use of hands/arms: 10 yards
Interlocked blocking: 10 yards
Holding: 10 yards

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CASE PLAY — 9.2.1 — A, C

Open Hands vs. Extended Forearms

THE PLAY

(A) Blocker A1 has his hands cupped and together in front of his body, elbows outside his shoulders. As he approaches his opponent, he raises his hands and forearms perpendicular to the ground to make contact.

(C) During a scrimmage down, blocker A1 contacts B1 with open hands: (a) with his forearms extended more than 45° from his body and palms toward the defender, or (b) in a pushing action while extending his arms beyond 45°.

THE RULING

(A) If the blocker's palms face the opponent, or his forearms extend more than 45° from his body, his hands MUST be open at and during contact — cupped hands in that position become illegal.

(C) Legal blocking technique in both (a) and (b) — open hands stay legal even with fully extended arms and palms facing the defender.

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CASE PLAY — 9.2.1 SITUATION B

Upright vs. Evasive Defender

THE PLAY

Blocker A1 has legal hand/arm position, elbows outside his body: (a) B1 attempts to penetrate the block in an upright position, and A1 contacts him above the shoulders with his forearm; or (b) as B2 ducks or submarines, A1 contacts him above the shoulder with his cupped hands.

THE RULING

(a) Illegal blocking technique — contact was made above the shoulders while the defender was in a normal upright position.

(b) The responsibility for that contact belongs to B2 — he took evasive action to avoid the block. Contact above the shoulders caused by the defender's own duck or submarine isn't held against the blocker.

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CASE PLAY — 9.2.1 — D, E

The Free-Blocking Zone, and Closed Hands

THE PLAY

(D) Lineman A1 and B1 are both inside the free-blocking zone at the snap. Before the zone disintegrates, A1 blocks B1 with open hands from behind, pushing with arms fully extended.

(E) In blocking B1, A1's forearms are almost fully extended from his body, and he contacts B1 with the side of his CLOSED hands. His palms aren't directly facing B1.

THE RULING

(D) Legal block — open-hand pushing from behind inside the free-blocking zone is permitted.

(E) Illegal blocking technique — hands may not be closed or cupped once the arms are extended more than 45° from the blocker's body, regardless of palm direction.

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CASE PLAY — 9.2.1 SITUATION F

Outside the Frame — Illegal Use of Hands, or Holding?

THE PLAY

A1 is blocking with open hands: (a) outside his own frame, or (b) outside B1's frame, during contact.

THE RULING

Illegal blocking technique in BOTH (a) and (b). But there's a further distinction: when the hands go outside the frame AND grasp the opponent or his equipment, that's holding instead of illegal use of hands — the same positioning error becomes a different foul depending on whether a grasp occurs.

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CASE PLAY — 9.2.1 SITUATION G

Maintaining a Legal Block as the Opponent Spins

THE PLAY

A1 makes legal contact on B1's chest with extended arms and open hands. B1 spins to evade A1 and get to the passer. A1 maintains contact while shifting his hands to B1's upper arm, then directly onto his back as B1 turns, finishing the block by forcing B1 beyond the passer.

THE RULING

Legal. To legally contact the back of an opponent this way, it must either be a continuation of contact that was legal at the start, or the opponent turned so quickly the blocker couldn't avoid it. The hands must stay open throughout — this open-hand technique is available anywhere blocking is legal for A.

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CASE PLAY — 9.2.1 SITUATION H

Using Hands on a Muffed Pass

THE PLAY

A1 throws a forward pass beyond the neutral zone. Eligible A2 touches it, and it's muffed high into the air. While the ball is loose: (a) ineligible A3 blocks B1 away from the ball, or (b) ineligible A3 touches the ball trying to catch it.

THE RULING

(a) Legal. Once A2 touched the ball, eligible offensive players may use hands or arms, and pass interference restrictions for eligibles have ended.

(b) Illegal touching. Even after an eligible teammate has touched the pass, an INELIGIBLE Team A player still may not touch the ball himself until a Team B player touches it first. He may still legally block an opponent away from the ball, though — just not touch it himself.

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CASE PLAY — 9.2.1 — I, J

Interlocked Blocking

THE PLAY

(I) On a kick try, after the snap, the offensive guards and tackles each grab the jersey of an adjacent teammate. K1's kick is successful.

(J) On another successful kick try, the interior linemen of K all reach and grasp the teammate immediately to their inside after the snap.

THE RULING

Interlocked blocking in both — a 10-yard penalty. Grabbing a teammate's jersey counts the same as grasping the teammate directly. Any time offensive players grasp each other this way — shoulders, arms, legs, ankles, wherever — it's interlocked blocking, regardless of exactly where the grip is.

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CASE PLAY — 9.2.3 SITUATION A

Contacting a Receiver Who's No Longer a Potential Blocker

THE PLAY

End A1 sprints from the line and cuts sharply toward the middle of the field, making no attempt to block B1. B1 pursues and pushes him from the side with open hands, contacting A1's upper arm before the pass is thrown. A1 was moving AWAY from B1 when the contact happened.

THE RULING

Illegal use of hands by B1. A defender may legally contact an eligible receiver beyond the neutral zone before the pass is in flight — but only if the receiver is still a POTENTIAL BLOCKER. Once the receiver isn't attempting to block, has moved past the defender, or is moving away, that contact becomes illegal. Here, A1 was clearly no longer a potential blocker on B1.

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CASE PLAY — 9.2.3 SITUATION B

Five Ways to Fight Off a Block

THE PLAY

As A's linemen charge on the snap, B1: (a) grasps guard A1's jersey and controls him until he sees where the ball is going; (b) slaps A1 on the side of the helmet, forcing his head to the side ("bell ringer"); (c) contacts A1 with one hand on the shoulder pad and one on the helmet, fighting off the block; (d) pulls A1's shoulders to one side and charges through to the runner; or (e) pulls A1's shoulders to one side so B2 can charge through instead.

THE RULING

(a) Holding — 10 yards. (b) Illegal personal contact. (c) and (d) are both LEGAL. (e) Illegal use of hands by B1 — also 10 yards. Fighting off a block with hands on the shoulder pad and helmet, or redirecting a blocker to make your own path, is fine; grasping the jersey or clearing a path for a TEAMMATE by pulling isn't.

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CASE PLAY — 9.2.3 SITUATION C

Contact on a Receiver Before the Pass Arrives

THE PLAY

Quarterback A1 drops back 15 yards and throws a legal forward pass intended for A2, who is 5 yards behind the neutral zone. Before the pass reaches A2: (a) B1 tackles A2, or (b) B1 blocks A2.

THE RULING

(a) Tackling A2 is a foul — a form of holding, since defenders may not grasp an opponent other than the runner. This happens during a loose-ball play, so the 10-yard penalty is enforced from the previous spot.

(b) B1's contact is NOT pass interference, and if the block itself is otherwise legal, there's no foul at all.

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SECTION

Illegal Blocking

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SECTION 3 · ART. 1–2

What Makes Blocking Illegal, and Below-the-Waist Limits

Blocking by a player on offense or defense is illegal when it's:

Kick-catching interference.
Forward-pass interference.
A personal foul.

A player shall not block an opponent below the waist, except:

In the free-blocking zone, when it meets the zone's requirements.
To tackle a runner or a player pretending to be a runner.

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SECTION 3 · ART. 3–4

Protecting the Fair-Catch Signaler, and the Kicker

A receiver who has given a valid or invalid fair-catch signal shall not block an opponent until the kick has ended.
The kicker or place-kick holder of a free kick may not be blocked before:

He has advanced 5 yards beyond his free-kick line; or
The kick has touched the ground or any other player.

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SECTION 3 · ART. 5–6

Blocking in the Back, Chop Blocks, and Clipping

A player shall not block an opponent in the back, except:

In the free-blocking zone, when it meets the zone's requirements.
Using hands and arms above the waist to ward off a blocker, reach a runner, or catch/recover a loose ball he may legally touch or possess.
To tackle a runner or a player pretending to be a runner.

A player shall not chop block or clip.

Judgment Call

When a game official doesn't clearly see the initial contact, the presumption is that the contact was legal and not from behind
Only when contact is clearly ruled to be from behind, with real doubt about the exact point of contact, should it be called clipping

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SECTION 3 · ART. 7

Kicking Team Restrictions on a Free Kick

No member of the kicking team may initiate contact (block) an opponent on a free kick until:

The legal kick has traveled 10 yards;
The kicking team is eligible to recover the free-kicked ball; or
The receiving team initiates a block within the neutral zone.

Penalties

Blocking below the waist: 15 yards
Blocking after fair-catch signal: 15 yards
Blocking kicker/holder: 15 yards
Blocking in the back: 10 yards · Chop block: 15 yards · Clipping: 15 yards
Illegal block (Art. 7): live-ball foul, 10 yards

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CASE PLAY — 9.3.2 SITUATION A

Below-the-Waist Blocking — Who Qualifies?

THE PLAY

A1 is legally in motion at the snap: (a) within the free-blocking zone, or (b) outside it, with B1 in the zone at the snap. In (a), A1 blocks B1 below the waist as immediate, initial action within the zone. In (b), A1 comes into the zone and blocks B1 above the waist and in the back, also as immediate, initial action.

THE RULING

Illegal block in BOTH. In (a), even though the block happened as immediate initial action, A1 and B1 weren't ON THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE — they were only in the zone. The blocker must be on the line AND in the zone at the snap for a legal below-the-waist block. In (b), it's illegal blocking in the back — a completely separate problem from the below-the-waist requirement.

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CASE PLAY — 9.3.2 SITUATION B

Timing the "Immediate, Initial Action"

THE PLAY

A1, B1, and B2 are all on the line and in the free-blocking zone at the snap; A2 is in shotgun outside the zone. After the snap: (a) A1 blocks B1, disengages, then blocks B2 below the waist before the ball leaves the zone; (b) B1 is in a gap, and A1 takes a step to reach him before contacting below the waist, moving continuously toward B1; (c) A1's initial contact with B1 is below the waist, and the block continues both above and below; or (d) A1 rises and slightly retreats as if pass blocking, then dives to block B1 below the waist.

THE RULING

(a) Illegal — blocking a SECOND player below the waist isn't part of the immediate, initial action anymore.

(b) and (c) are LEGAL — both meet all criteria for a legal below-the-waist block as long as it's part of the immediate, initial action. A2's location outside the zone doesn't matter, since the relevant players (linemen, in the zone at the snap) are what count.

(d) Illegal — the retreat-then-dive isn't immediate, initial action either.

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CASE PLAY — 9.3.2 — C, D, E

Who's Eligible for a Below-the-Waist Block

THE PLAY

(C) Back A9, lined up behind the quarterback within the free-blocking zone, blocks B7 (who was in the zone at the snap) below the waist as A8 drops back to pass.

(D) Linebacker B7 is in the free-blocking zone but off the line of scrimmage. He blocks A8 below the waist while the ball is still in the zone.

(E) On a running play, lineman A1 (who was in the zone) crosses through it and blocks B1 (also in the zone at the snap) below the waist, from the side, away from the snap spot, as the lead blocker for a reverse.

THE RULING

(C) Illegal — A9 wasn't on the line of scrimmage at the snap, so he can't legally block below the waist even from within the zone.

(D) Illegal — B7 was off the line of scrimmage. BOTH the blocker and the player being blocked must be on the line and in the zone.

(E) Illegal — crossing through the zone to lead-block for a reverse isn't immediate, initial action following the snap.

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CASE PLAY — 9.3.2 SITUATION F

Chop Blocks in Combination

THE PLAY

A1 and A2 combine to block B1: (a) both block downfield, A1 above the waist and A2 simultaneously below the waist but above the knees; (b) both block in the free-blocking zone, A1 above and A2 below the waist; (c) A1 blocks above the waist as immediate, initial action while A2 simultaneously blocks below the waist and above the knees; or (d) both A1 and A2 block below the KNEES from the front, while in the free-blocking zone.

THE RULING

(a), (b), and (c) are all illegal chop blocks by A2 — combining a high block and a low block on the same opponent from two blockers is exactly what the chop-block rule prohibits, regardless of zone or timing.

(d) is LEGAL — a combination block entirely below the knees, from the front, with both blockers in the free-blocking zone as immediate initial action, doesn't meet the chop-block definition.

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CASE PLAY — 9.3.2 SITUATION G

A Split End Blocking Toward the Ball

THE PLAY

A sets with split end A1 outside the defensive end and outside the linebacker — not in the free-blocking zone. After the snap, A1 blocks toward the ball on either B1 (the defensive end) or B2 (a linebacker 2 yards off the line): (a) B1 above the waist from the front; (b) B2 below the waist from the front; or (c) B1 with his hands on the side of B1's shoulder pads.

THE RULING

(a) and (c) are legal. (b) is an illegal block below the waist. A1 may block either defender, but outside the free-blocking zone the block must stay above the waist and hit the front or side of the opponent.

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CASE PLAY — 9.3.2 SITUATION H

Where Contact Starts Matters

THE PLAY

A1 is the lead blocker on a sweep, outside the free-blocking zone, and blocks B1: (a) initial contact is below B1's waist, and the block wasn't part of immediate, initial action; (b) initial contact is with B1's hands, which are below the waist, and continues at B's knees; or (c) initial contact is at waist level, and continuing contact moves down to B1's legs.

THE RULING

(a) and (b) are illegal blocks below the waist. (c) is LEGAL. If initial contact is at the waist or above and CONTINUES down to below the waist, that's a legal block — the deciding factor is where the block starts, not everywhere it ends up.

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CASE PLAY — 9.3.2 — I, J

When the Defender's Own Movement Changes the Contact Point

THE PLAY

(I) R1 rushes to block a punt by K1. K2 tries to block R1, aiming above the waist — but just before contact, R1 jumps to try to block the punt, and K2's contact ends up below R1's waist.

(J) A1 contacts B1 with a legal block above the waist. Both players stop or bounce back slightly, and: (a) A1 immediately continues his charge and blocks B1 below the waist; or (b) A1 retreats or recoils, then blocks B1 below the waist.

THE RULING

(I) K2's block is legal — his initial direction was legal, and R1's own jump caused the low contact, absolving K2. This would NOT hold if R1 had instead changed direction laterally — in that case, K2's initial contact would still need to be above the waist.

(J) (a) is legal — a continuous charge that drops below the waist after legal initial contact is fine. (b) is illegal — recoiling or resetting after initial contact, then blocking low, counts as a SECOND block, and that one starts illegally.

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CASE PLAY — 9.3.4

Blocking the Kicker After the Ball Touches the Ground

THE PLAY

From his 40, K1 kicks the ball laterally and short on a kickoff, hoping his team can recover just beyond R's free-kick line. The ball bounces immediately after being kicked. K1 is blocked by R1: (a) on his 42, or (b) on his 43, 5 yards from the sideline.

THE RULING

Legal block in both, as long as the contact is above the waist. Once the ball touches the ground, the kicker/holder loses his special protection and may be legally contacted.

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CASE PLAY — 9.3.5 — A, B, D

Blocking in the Back Doesn't Require Immediate Action

THE PLAY

(A) Offensive lineman A1 is on the line and in the free-blocking zone at the snap. He drops back a step, moves three steps inside, and — while still in the zone — contacts B1 (also in the zone at the snap) in the back. The zone still exists.

(B) A1 hands to A2, who hands to A3 running a sweep. Linemen A4 and A5 pull and block opponents from behind, in the back, while the ball is still in the zone — all players were in the zone at the snap.

(D) A2, on the line and in the zone at the snap, pulls down the line and contacts B7 (also in the zone at the snap) in the back, inside the shoulders, below the neck, above the waist, while B7 and the ball are still in the zone.

THE RULING

Legal in all three. Unlike below-the-waist blocking, blocking IN THE BACK inside the free-blocking zone does NOT have to be part of the immediate, initial action following the snap — as long as both players were in the zone at the snap and the ball hasn't left the zone yet, delayed contact in the back is still legal.

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CASE PLAY — 9.3.5 — C, E, F

Blocking in the Back — Legal and Illegal Contexts

THE PLAY

(C) A9 approaches B10 in the open field at an angle, pushing him in the back with one hand and on the shoulder with the other.

(E) Runner A1 is hit behind the line and the ball pops free, either (a) in the air or (b) rolling on the ground. B1 pushes A2 in the back, above the waist, to get to the loose ball.

(F) Runner A1 breaks free at midfield. A2 runs between A1 and safety B1, who's closing fast. As B1 nears A2, he pushes him from behind, above the waist, to clear a path to A1, then tackles A1 at B's 10.

THE RULING

(C) This IS an illegal block in the back — open-field pushing outside the free-blocking zone doesn't get the zone's exception.

(E) Legal in both (a) and (b) — a defender pushing a blocker in the back, above the waist, to get to a loose ball he may legally possess, is permitted.

(F) Also legal — the same principle applies to a defender pushing a blocker out of the way, above the waist, to reach the runner.

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CASE PLAY — 9.3.6

Clipping vs. Legal Contact in the Back

THE PLAY

(A) A1 is on the line and in the free-blocking zone at the snap. He drops back a step, moves three steps inside, and — still in the zone — clips B2, who was also on the line and in the zone at the snap, before the ball leaves the zone.

(B) Linebacker B1 is three yards off the line but in the free-blocking zone. A2, on the line and in the zone at the snap, blocks: (a) B1 below the waist, from behind; or (b) B1 in the back, above the waist. Contact happens in the zone while the ball is still there.

THE RULING

(A) Illegal block — clipping. The free-blocking zone protects legal in-back blocks, but clipping (contact from behind, at or below the waist) is prohibited everywhere, zone or not.

(B) (a) is clipping — a 15-yard penalty from the basic spot. (b) is legal — the same contact, above the waist instead of below, falls under the zone's in-back exception instead.

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CASE PLAY — 9.3.7

Kicking Team Contact Before the Ball Travels 10 Yards

THE PLAY

(A) During a free kick, K1 initiates contact against R1 before the ball travels past R's restraining line (10 yards). No R player had blocked K in the neutral zone.

(B) During other free kicks: (a) R touches the ball before it travels 10 yards, and K then contacts R and recovers; (b) after 10 yards, K contacts R before R touches it, and K recovers; (c) after the ball touches the ground and travels 10 yards, K contacts R before recovering; (d) after 10 yards, and after R initiates a block against K in the neutral zone, K recovers; or (e) R and K contact each other at approximately the same time, before 10 yards.

THE RULING

(A) Live-ball foul, illegal block. If accepted, R chooses enforcement from the succeeding spot, or from the previous spot with a re-kick required.

(B) Legal recovery by K in (a), (b), (c), and (d) — each satisfies one of the conditions that unlocks K's contact (10 yards traveled, R touched first, or R initiated contact). In (e), when it's a toss-up, officials should presume R initiated the contact — meaning no foul.

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

Rule 9, Part 1 — Recap

The 45-degree forearm angle is the hinge for legal hand use: inside it, closed/cupped hands are fine; beyond it, hands must be open — and going outside the blocker's or opponent's frame while grasping turns illegal use of hands into holding instead.

A below-the-waist block is legal only when BOTH players were on the line of scrimmage and in the free-blocking zone at the snap, AND the block happens as immediate, initial action — miss any one of those three conditions and it's illegal.

Blocking in the back inside the free-blocking zone does NOT require immediate, initial action — that's a critical difference from the below-the-waist rule, and a common point of confusion.

A chop block is specifically a HIGH-LOW combination from two blockers on the same opponent — a combination block that's entirely above or entirely below the waist doesn't qualify, even with multiple blockers involved.

The kicker and holder are protected until 5 yards past the free-kick line or until the kick touches the ground or another player — whichever comes first ends that protection.

When a defender's own movement (jumping, ducking, submarining) causes contact to land somewhere that would otherwise be illegal, responsibility usually shifts to the defender — but only if he didn't also change direction laterally.