FOOTBALL

BLOCK BUSTER

NCAA Makes Major Change to Blocking Below the Waist Rule

By George Demetriou

The NCAA Football Rules Committee met in March in Indianapolis and announced the changes for the 2022 season. The Playing Rules Oversight Panel, which is charged with evaluating new rules in terms of negative impact on the image of the game, safety concerns or financial impact on institutions, approved the changes in April.

The changes are presented in perceived order of importance. Referee thanks Steve Shaw, NCAA secretary-rules editor, for reviewing the material. For official rule language and interpretations, always consult NCAA publications.

Blocking below the waist (9-1-

6). Blocking below the waist is now only allowed on scrimmage plays that do not include a legal kick. The only players who can block low are linemen of either team and team A stationary backs as explained below. The prohibitions on low blocks during kick plays and after any change of possession remain.

Team A linemen with an initial position completely inside the tackle box may legally block below the waist inside the tackle box on their initial line charge in any direction. Blocks initiated within one yard beyond the neutral zone are considered within the tackle box. After the initial line charge, those linemen may block below the waist within the tackle box until the ball leaves the tackle box only if the force of the initial contact is directed

Under an NCAA rule change for 2022, a player disqualified for targeting in the second half may appeal to avoid serving a suspension in the first half of that player’s next game.

from the front. “Directed from the front” is defined as within the clock face region between “10 o’clock and 2 o’clock” forward of the area of concentration of the player being blocked.

Play 1: A1 is on his line of scrimmage seven yards to the right of the snapper. He immediately blocks B2 below the waist (a) in front and directly toward team B’s goalline, or (b) from the right side of B2. Ruling 1: Both blocks are illegal. Because A1 is outside the tackle box at the snap, he may not block below the waist in any direction.

Stationary team A backs lined up within the tackle box may block below the waist within the tackle box until the ball leaves the tackle box only if the force of the initial contact is directed from the front. All other team A players are not allowed to block below the waist.

Play 2: The ball is at the left hashmark. Back A1 initially sets up outside the tackle box to the left. He then moves inside the tackle box, stops and resets behind the left tackle. At the snap, he immediately blocks B2 below the waist. A1’s block is from the (a) front, or (b) side. Ruling 2: A1’s position inside the tackle box and the fact he was stationary at the snap are a factor. In (a), the block is legal, but not in (b). Stationary backs may block low within the tackle box only from the front.

Play 3: Back A1 sets up within and on the left side of the tackle box. As shotgun quarterback A2 begins to call signals, A1 starts in motion to his right. At the snap, A1 is two yards in front of and to the right of A2, serving as a pass protector. While A2 is in the pocket, moving to his right, A1 blocks B3 below the waist (a) in front and directly toward team B’s goalline, or (b) in front by moving to his left. Ruling 3: Even though A1 was in the tackle box at the snap and his block was inside the box, because he was in motion at the snap, he may not block below the waist in any direction.

Team B players aligned in a stationary position within one yard of the line of scrimmage within the tackle box may legally block below the waist in any direction within the tackle box on their initial line charge. All other team B players are not allowed to block below the waist except against a ball carrier.

Play 4: Left guard A1 pulls to his right to be a lead blocker on a sweep. After making his initial charge, defensive tackle B2 runs down the line laterally in pursuit. While still inside the tackle box, B2 blocks A1 below the waist. Ruling 4: Foul for illegal block below the waist. After making his initial charge, B2 may not block below the waist even within the tackle box.

BY THE NUMBERS

3Number of officials used in NFL games from 1925-28.

4Number of officials used in NFL games starting in 1929, when the field judge was added.

5Number of officials used in NFL games starting in 1947, when the back judge was added.

6Number of officials used in NFL games starting in 1960, when the line judge was added.

7Number of officials used in NFL games starting in 1978, when the side judge was added.

DID YOU KNOW?

Mike Morton, who will be a rookie NFL official in 2022, was drafted by the thenOakland Raiders and played for them from 1995-98. He is the first NFL official who played in a Super Bowl. Morton, who will work as an umpire, is a dentist in Charlotte, N.C.

THEY SAID IT

“(Officials) do a pretty darn good job. It’s the toughest sport to officiate because of the size of the field and the speed of the game.”

— Pro Football Hall of Fame member and Fox television NFL analyst Howie Long analyst Howie Long

howie long

TEST YOURSELF

In each of the following you are given a situation and at least two possible answers. You are to decide which answer or answers are correct for NFHS and NCAA rules, which might vary. Note: In kicking situations, K is the kicking team, R the receiving team. Solutions: p. 81.

1. After the ball is dead, runner A1 rises and roughly pushes B2 to the ground. Earlier in the game, A1 was penalized for cursing at an official. a. Personal foul. b. Unsportsmanlike conduct. c. A1 is ejected/disqualified. d. All of the above.

2. In which of the following cases is a player penalized for intentionally removing his helmet? a. During an official’s timeout for a measurement. b. During an official’s timeout for an opponent’s injury. c. As he is running off the field after making a great play. d. In the interval between a try and a free kick. e. None of the above.

3. On a free kick, K1 commits kick-catch interference at team R’s 45 yardline. The ball goes out of bounds at the 50 yardline untouched by team B. a. Both penalties may be enforced. b. Only one of the penalties may be enforced.

4. Fourth and five from team K’s 30 yardline. An official blows an inadvertent whistle when K1’s punt is in flight. When the down is replayed: a. The clock starts on the snap. b. The clock starts on the ready.

5. Third and 10 at team B’s 15 yardline. A1’s legal forward pass is caught by A2 at team B’s 10 yardline. A2 advances to team B’s six yardline, where he fumbles. The ball goes over the end line. During the play, B3 is flagged for roughing the passer. The penalty is enforced from: a. Team B’s six yardline. b. Team B’s 10 yardline. c. Team B’s 15 yardline.

Targeting (9-1-3, 9-1-4). When a targeting foul occurs in the second half, the carryover penalty of sitting out the first half of that player’s next game is eligible for further appeal. A conference may now submit a request to the NCAA national coordinator of officials, who will review video of the play. If it is obvious a player was incorrectly penalized for targeting, the conference may vacate the suspension and allow the player to play in the next game.

Feigning injuries (3-3-5b). For the reporting and investigation process to address teams that are awarded an injury timeout through deceptive actions which was put in place last season, the national coordinator of officials will provide feedback to the conference for further action instead of the athletic director of the involved school. Any penalties levied would be up to the conference office.

Feigning an injury for any reason is unethical. An injured player must be given full protection under the rules, but feigning an injury is dishonest, unsportsmanlike and contrary to the spirit of the rules.

Play 5: Late in the fourth quarter, A1 runs for a first down and the officials notice B2 on the ground grabbing his knee. The clock is stopped and the athletic trainer comes onto the field. B2 quickly runs off the field with an apparent fake limp. He re-enters the game after sitting out a down. Ruling 5: The officials properly stopped the clock giving B2 the full protection he is entitled to by rule. The opponents or the officials should bring the play to the attention of the national coordinator, who will conduct a review.

Defensive holding (9-3-4c-e

Pen.). Defensive holding remains a 10-yard penalty but always includes an automatic first down regardless of whether or not the foul is against an eligible receiver or whether the foul occurs behind or beyond the neutral zone.

Play 6: Third and 15 on team A’s 25 yardline. B1 holds A2 at the line. A3’s pass is tipped by B4 at team A’s 24 yardline and falls incomplete at the 32 yardline. Ruling 6: Although A3’s pass has not crossed the neutral zone because it was touched behind the neutral zone, the automatic first down applies. It will be first and 10 for team A at its 35 yardline. The requirement the contact be made against an eligible pass receiver when an untouched legal forward pass crosses the neutral zone no longer applies.

Unsportsmanlike conduct (9-2-1a1

Pen.). The enforcement of the 15-yard penalty and an automatic first down for unsportsmanlike conduct fouls by team B players is aligned with the enforcement for personal fouls on pass plays. On successful pass plays, the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty may now be added to the end of the last run by the offense if there is no change of team possession during the down to ensure the foul is penalized.

Play 7: Third and 10 on team A’s 20 yardline. B1 hits A2 as he is releasing a pass (no foul). The pass is caught by A3 at team A’s 24 yardline. A3 runs to team A’s 40 yardline. As the pass is thrown B1 taunts A2. Ruling 7: The penalty is enforced from the end of the run, resulting in first and 10 for team A at team B’s 45 yardline. Under the previous rule the enforcement spot would have been the previous spot, resulting in the penalty being declined.

Blocking after fair catch signal

(6-5-4 Pen.). The penalty for a player of team B who makes a valid or invalid signal for a fair catch and does not touch the ball and blocks or fouls an opponent during that down has been reduced to 10 yards from 15 yards unless it is a personal foul.

Play 8: Fourth and three on team A’s 40 yardline. Punter K1 kicks the ball and R2 signals for a fair catch. The ball bounces at team B’s 25 yardline and ricochets off K3’s leg. Seeing that the ball has been illegally touched by K3, R2 pushes K3 at team B’s 10 yardline in the front above the waist as K3 was allowing the ball to roll toward the goalline. After pushing K3, R2 recovers the ball and runs for a touchdown. Ruling 8: A foul for blocking after giving a fair catch signal. The 10-yard penalty is enforced half-the-distance from the spot of the foul. It will be team B’s ball, first and 10 at its five yardline.

Illegal touching (7-3-11 Pen.).

The penalty for illegal touching by an originally ineligible receiver now includes loss of down.

Play 9: Team A is attempting a two-point try. Left tackle A1 moves into the flat to potentially receive a backward pass. A2 throws a pass to A1, who catches the ball and runs into the end zone. The line judge rules the pass was forward. Ruling 9: A foul for illegal touching. Because the penalty includes loss of down, the try is not replayed.

Simulated slide (4-1-3r). If a ball carrier simulates or fakes a feet-first slide, the ball is dead at that spot. Such a player is not considered defenseless unless contact qualifies as a late hit or another type of defenseless player definition applies.

Editorial changes. In addition to the rule changes, editorial changes were made to clarify existing rules.

Fumble at rest (7-2-5b). When the ball is declared dead for a fumble at rest with no player attempting to secure it, it is treated the same as a fumble out of bounds. Previously, the ball was awarded to the fumbling team at the dead-ball spot.

Play 10: A1 breaks free for a long run with no opponent in close pursuit. A1 drops the ball at team B’s one yardline, thinking he has scored. The ball rolls into the end zone with no player making an attempt to recover. Ruling 10: The ball belongs to team A at the one yardline.

Crown of the helmet (9-1-3).

Based on the new helmet designs, the crown of the helmet definition has been updated for greater clarity. The crown of the helmet is the top segment of the helmet; namely, the circular area defined by a six-inch radius from the apex (top) of the helmet.

Instant replay — clock

adjustment (12-3-6b). The replay official may address any clock adjustment and status when a ruling is reviewed with less than two minutes in the second quarter or fourth quarter.

Defenseless player (2-27-14a,

9-1-4 Note 2). A player in the act of or just after throwing a pass includes any offensive player in a passing posture with focus downfield. It does not have to be the quarterback or the player who first controlled the snap.

Coaches’ booths (1-4-11b).

Coaches’ booths for both teams are to be approximately equivalent in all aspects including locations in relation to the field. Coaches’ booths should be located in the traditional press box area.

Illegal blindside block

(Appendix F, Signal 28). A new signal for an illegal blindside block has been added. To signal, referees bring their fists together in front of their chest. Referees will include the word “Illegal” in their verbal penalty announcement, as in, “Personal foul, illegal blindside block.” George Demetriou has been a football official since 1968. He lives in Colorado Springs, Colo. 

Never Forget This ‘Always’

By Judson Howard

There are few absolutes in football rules. That is due to multiple penalty options, timing variances and rule exceptions. Be suspicious when a football test question includes “never” or “always.” Some things are never true or not always false.

However, there is one unconditional fact about timing rules: The clock always stops at the end of fourth down. It doesn’t matter what happened during the play or what type of play was run.

Here are six possible outcomes during a fourth-down play. • The offense gets a first down. • The offense does not reach the line-to-gain. • Either team scores. • Team B recovers a fumble or intercepts a pass. • A foul is called. • A player is injured.

All of those events call for the clock to stop when the down is over.

It doesn’t matter which team next snaps the ball or if the down is repeated. Nor does it matter if the clock next starts on the ready or the snap.

Knowing all of that, you should unconditionally give the stop-the-clock signal at the end of a fourth-down play. You will never be wrong.

When you give the closed fist signal to indicate fourth down, use the crew communication signal to remind crewmates of the situation. The signal seen in the PlayPic has multiple meanings (snapper protection, fourthdown fumble rule in NCAA) but one of the messages is a reminder to give the stop-the-clock signal when the play ends. Judson Howard, Los Angeles, is a replay official in the Pac-12 Conference. He officiated more than 20 years, many at the NCAA Division I level. 

Snapper protection rules apply

Returned to Sender

It is rare for team K to get the ball back during the same down on which it punts. But it can happen, as illustrated in the MechaniGram.

It is fourth and 10 on team K’s 45 yardline. K1 shanks the punt. R2 muffs the ball at his own 42 yardline and the ball bounces back behind the neutral zone, where K2 recovers at his own 41 yardline. Not knowing the gift his team has been given, K2 throws a pass intended for an eligible teammate, but it is incomplete.

In NCAA play, the ball is dead when K2 recovers it, therefore the pass would not occur. Since R1 touched the kick beyond the neutral zone, it will be first down for team K at the spot of K2’s recovery and the game clock would start on the snap due to the legal kick (3-3-2d-8, 5-11e-2).

Under NFHS rules, the pass is foolish but legal. Since team K was in legal possession at the end of the down, it is a first down for team K at its own 41 yardline. The game clock starts on the snap since a new series was awarded after a legal kick (3-4-3c, 5-1-3f, 5.1.3 C).

Things change, however, if a punt is blocked and doesn’t cross the neutral zone.

Play: Fourth and 10 for team K from its own 20 yardline. K1’s punt is blocked. The loose ball rolls to team K’s 14 yardline and is recovered by K2, who (a) punts it again, or (b) throws a pass that is caught by eligible K3. K3 is downed at team K’s 33 yardline. Ruling: In (a), the kick is legal and the play is treated like any other punt. In (b), the play is legal. First down for team K from its own 33 yardline and the clock starts when the ball is ready for play. 

PRESS BOX

MUFF

PASS

A2 B2

SPOT OF SNAP

PUNT

A1

CASEPLAYS

Fumble, Inadvertent Whistle

Play: Team A is attempting a two-point try. A1 fumbles at team B’s five yardline. A2 recovers there and advances to team B’s two yardline when the covering official blows the whistle. Ruling: In NFHS, the ball remains live until the official blows the whistle. But due to the inadvertent whistle, team A will likely choose to have the down replayed (4-2- 3c, 7-42). In NCAA, due to the fourthdown fumble rule, the ball is dead when A2 recovers it. Therefore, the whistle is proper. Play resumes with team A’s free kick (4-1-2a, 7-2-2a Exc. 1, 8-3-2d-5).

Ball Strikes Pylon

Play: Third and goal at team B’s eight yardline. A1 catches a pass and is hit at team B’s two yardline. He fumbles and the ball strikes the pylon, which is properly placed. Ruling: Under both codes, the ball is dead when it strikes the pylon. The result of the play is a touchback. Team B will begin a new series at its own 20 yardline (NFHS 1-2-4, 4-2-2b, 8-53c, 8-5-4; NCAA 2-12-2, 4-2-3b, 8-6-1a, 8-6-2).

Ineligible Catches Pass

Play: Third and seven at team A’s 34 yardline. Defensive lineman B1 rushes the passer and tips a legal forward pass, which continues in flight. After the tip, ineligible A2 catches the ball at team A’s 38 yardline. Ruling: Under both codes, that’s a legal catch. All team A players become eligible when team B is first to touch the pass (NFHS 7-5-6b; NCAA 7-3-11).

Too Many Players

Play: Team A lines up for a two-point try attempt. Team B has 11 players in its defensive formation. B12 runs onto the field just before the ball is snapped. A1 takes the handoff and carries the ball into the end zone. Ruling: In NFHS, B12 is guilty of illegal participation. Team A scores two points and will accept the penalty from the succeeding spot (8-3-5). In NCAA, that is a live-ball foul for illegal substitution. Team A will decline the penalty and keep the two points (3-5-3b, 8-3-3b, AR 3-5-3 VI).

5 MINUTES WITH TOM QUICK

SEC umpire talks about keeping peace in the middle.

Resides: Shawnee, Kan. Profession: Senior vice president and shareholder for HUB International, the largest privately held insurance and surety bond company in the U.S. Experience: Big 12 staff 2002-11 and Southeastern Conference (SEC) umpire since 2012. Worked the 2008 BCS National Championship game. Has also worked a College Football Playoff Semifinal, two Fiesta Bowls, two Orange Bowls, Sugar Bowl, Rose Bowl, three Big 12 championship games, and an SEC championship game.

REFEREE: Over the years have you found yourself working outside the hashes more than you used to?

QUICK: I’m convinced that for all officials, but especially the umpire, who really does manage a lot of what goes on inside, the more effort you put into presence around the deadball action, getting different-colored jerseys separated and letting them know that you’re there, prevents you from having to throw gamemanagement fouls. That’s one thing I’ve learned. And I think to me that’s effort-based game management work off which the crew feeds. I take a lot of pride actually not just running around the field but letting the kids know wherever the hot spot or warm spot is, “Hey, today we’re just going to play, let’s go back in the huddle.”

REFEREE: When a play breaks down, how do you determine where trouble may pop up?

QUICK: When it breaks down and it seems to be all chaotic I think that’s when the umpire needs to really lock down. While the wing officials are covering forward progress, the deep guys are really looking at holds, the referee is taking care of his quarterback, there’s really nobody staying in the middle to get that cleaned up to then move onto the next batch. Chaos in my opinion means time for the umpire to calm down.

REFEREE: How important is it for umpires to interact with players?

QUICK: The more active an umpire is at communicating, the kids will respond to that. At the high school level, at small college, it’s communicating with them and letting them know you’re there for them without befriending them. It has worked for me.

REFEREE: Do you have a pregame routine regarding communication?

QUICK: It’s typical the offensive lines (warm up) in the left end of the end zone. I go down and I don’t get in the middle of the drills. I know from looking at the film and in preparation that week who the leaders are, who the upperclassmen are. And it’s the same speech I’ve given for over 20 years: “My name’s Tom, I’m here to work with you.” It’s to the point now where the coaches actually know what I’m trying to do, and they will stop and say, “Listen to this guy.” It’s just to build rapport with the kids. During the game, it could be a backer that says, “Tom, I need you to move,” or, “I’m dropping into the zone.”

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