Before a change of team possession all offensive players (a) may block below the waist in a north-south line toward the opponent's goal line: and (b) who are beyond the neutral zone may not block below the waist at any angle toward their own goal line. Assume that these blocks do not occur in this mini missive.
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PLAY |
RULING |
| 1 | Back A33 goes in motion from outside the tackle box and stops inside the tackle box lite. He goes in motion again and remains inside the tackle box lite. A33 blocks B96 below the waist in any direction inside the tackle box. |
Legal block. A33 is unrestricted. Rules editor change on April 18, 2012. |
| 2 | Back A33 is in the tackle box but outside the tackle box lite when he starts in motion to his right. He blocks B96 in the tackle box and toward A33's adjacent sideline. |
Illegal block. A33 is restricted and may not block below the waist in the tackle box nor toward the non-adjacent sideline. |
| 3 | Initially, back A28 is lined up behind the snapper. Then, A28 goes in motion and is behind the right tackle when the ball is snapped. Downfield, A28 blocks low beyond the neutral zone and toward the left sideline. |
Legal block. A28 is unrestricted since he never left the tackle box lite before the snap. |
| 4 | Back A33 lines up behind the tight end who is in the tackle box. A33 is outside the left tackle. After the snap, A33 blocks B96 low in the tackle box. |
Illegal block. A33 is restricted. A33 was not in the tackle box lite at the snap. |
| 5 | Back A33 starts in motion from behind the right tackle and is in motion behind the left tackle at the snap. A33 turns and blocks B96 toward the right sideline but in the tackle box. |
Legal block. A33 is unrestricted since he never left the tackle box lite. |
| 6 | Wingback A28 starts in motion from right to left and is behind the right guard at the snap. A28 leads the play around left end and blocks B44 toward the right sideline eight yards beyond the neutral zone. |
Legal block. A28 is restricted. A28 was behind the right guard at the snap. A28 may not block below the waist in the tackle box nor toward the left sideline. |
| 7 | Team A lines up with the snapper, A62 and A63 tight on the right hash mark with the other four linemen lined up tight near the left hash mark. The middle lineman is A66. Following a quick backward pass to the left, A66 blocks B44 below the waist toward the right sideline. |
Legal block. A66 is unrestricted since he is a lineman and within seven yards of the middle offensive lineman at the snap. A66 is treated just like a back who is stationary inside the tackle box lite at the snap. |
| 8 | B94 blocks eligible receiver A88 below the waist two yards beyond the neutral zone just after the snap. After the block, A16's uncatchable legal forward pass is incomplete. |
Illegal block. Even though the block was within five yards on each side of the neutral zone, a legal forward pass is still permissible by rule. |
| 9 | Back A33 is three yards beyond the neutral zone in position to catch a backward pass from the ball carrier when he is blocked below the waist by B94. |
Illegal block. Even though the block was within five yards on each side of the neutral zone, A33 was in position to catch a backward pass. |