The Ultimate Book on Holding - Sample Chapter

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The Ultimate Book On Holding Know It • See It • Call It FROM REFEREE AND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SPORTS OFFICIALS

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Contents

Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Chapter 1 The Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Chapter 2 The Philosophical Debate . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Chapter 3 Tips & Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Chapter 4 Position-by-Position Review . . . . . . . . . . 33 Chapter 5 Offensive Holding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Chapter 6 Defensive Holding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Check List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

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Offensive Holding In This Chapter Tackle

Pullover Hook & Restrict Grab & Restrict Jerk & Restrict

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CHAPTER 5

Takedown

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OFFENSIVE HOLDING

I

IN AN EFFORT TO AID OFFICIALS in determining what is a hold and what isn’t, a list of six acts has been developed. An official who can mentally place a suspect block into one of the following categories improves his chances of being correct.

Tackle The tackle happens comparatively infrequently. A tackle as a block is most likely to occur as part of a block below the waist at the line. It is also an act of desperation by an offensive lineman is badly beaten by a defender.

Snappers who have to take several steps to get to their targeted linebacker might also convert their low block to a tackle as might the lead blocker on a sweep.

Takedown A takedown is often fairly obvious. It may momentarily look like a wrestling match. It is often preceded by the blocker manipulating his opponent. The takedown may occur in three general directions. A defender going down directly opposite the direction he wanted to advance is the easiest takedown to discern. Most often, the takedown occurs in the direction the defender wanted to go. At a glance that may appear to be a legitimate block.

A size mismatch between blocker and rusher increases the probability of a takedown. A factor to keep in mind is that backfield pass blockers are often smaller than defensive linemen, making the need for an “equalizing” technique more probable.

Pullover The pullover is a type of takedown and it is the most difficult to rule on.

The pullover almost always occurs on a pass play. The offensive lineman grabs his opponent at the armpits or chest plate of the shoulder pads and then pulls him over himself, making it look like the defender ran over his blocker and fell down in the process. Some linemen may be clever enough to grab the opponent’s jersey and then attempt to step on his feet. The pullover will likely create the appearance that the blocker has been run over. That is also a tactic used by diminutive players.

Hook and restrict In order to hook an opponent, the blocker must allow his hands to get outside the frame of his body. That is usually easily discernable. For a 42 The Ultimate Book On Holding

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OFFENSIVE HOLDING

foul to occur, that act must result in a restriction that affects the play. If the defender immediately blows through the extended arm, no holding has occurred. Hook and restrict is also referred to as an arm bar and no actual holding takes place. There is no grabbing involving and the arm serves as a barrier, making it impossible for the defender to continue in the path he wants to follow. If the arm bar causes the opponent to take a circuitous route or perceptibly slows the defender’s charge, a restriction has taken place. One example is a pass rusher who is forced to add extra steps to his route to the quarterback.

Grab and restrict If the defender beats his blocker, the blocker may grab the defender’s jersey as he is moving away. The jersey grab can be subtle or patently obvious. Again, the grab must affect the play and result in a restriction for a foul to occur.

Jerk and restrict This type of hold begins with two hands on the opponent’s chest. After contact is made, the blocker slides his hands up under the opponent’s shoulder pads and grabs the jersey. With that firm grasp, the blocker jerks the opponent aside or moves him away from the point of attack, thus delaying his advance.

Regarding the illustrations As a further aid, each type of offensive holding is depicted in the following pages. The acts are shown from at least two perspectives: the wing official’s, the umpire’s or referee’s, depending on who is most likely to see the foul. However, if a hold is shown from, say, the umpire’s view, it doesn’t mean the referee would not see it, and vice versa.

In each illustration, the offensive team is designated by the black jerseys; the defense is always wearing gray.

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OFFENSIVE HOLDING Referee View: TACKLE PlayPic®

The referee can look through the quarterback to see the blocking by the guard or tackle.

PlayPic®

If the rusher clearly beats the blocker, the blocker may simply reach out and hooks the rusher’s leg. The rusher may or may not bring the rusher to the ground.

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OFFENSIVE HOLDING Wing View: TACKLE PlayPic®

The speed of the defender can draw the wing’s eye to the initial engagement PlayPic®

The offensive player may simply shift roles, becoming a tackler instead of a blocker.

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OFFENSIVE HOLDING Referee View: TAKEDOWN PlayPic速

A blocker who stops moving his feet will often rely on his upper-body strength to move the defender in one direction or the other.

PlayPic速

Many times, the blocker will take the defender to the ground as a wrestler would take down an opponent.

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