1. May not block below the waist against an opponent who is inside the Modified Tackle Box;

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1 The keys to understanding the rules for Team A blocking below the waist are: 1. Understanding which Team A players are restricted and which Team A players are unrestricted; 2. Understanding which direction restricted and unrestricted players may block below the waist when the block is made behind the line of scrimmage, or beyond the line of scrimmage. Restricted Players of Team A 1. A lineman more than 7 yards from the middle lineman of the offensive formation at the snap; 2. A back aligned at the snap with the frame of his body completely outside the tackle box, or completely outside the frame of the body of the second lineman from the snapper in either direction toward a sideline; (Comment: Paragraph 2 above refers to the tackle box, 5 yards in either direction from the snapper, or the outside shoulder of the second lineman from the snapper. For purposes of this document, we will call that area the Modified Tackle Box ) 3. A back who is in motion at the snap and during this continuous motion was outside the Modified Tackle Box any time after the ball was made ready for play and before the snap. Note: A back is not restricted if he starts from a set position inside the Modified Tackle Box and during that continuous motion does not leave the area. New Limitation for ALL Team A Players Before a change of team possession, a Team A player who is beyond the neutral zone may not block below the waist toward his own goal line. Then in question, the block is directed toward Team A s goal line. Blocking Guidelines for Restricted Players of Team A 1. May not block below the waist against an opponent who is inside the Modified Tackle Box; 2. May not block below the waist outside the Modified Tackle Box in a direction away from his adjacent sideline; 3. May block below the waist along a north south line or toward his adjacent sideline. 4. May not block below the waist toward his own goal line when he is beyond the neutral zone.

2 Summary of Restricted Team A Players Restricted Team A Players may block below the waist in a 180 arc toward the adjacent sideline when blocking below the waist behind the line of scrimmage. Restricted Team A players may block below the waist in a 90 arc toward the adjacent sideline when blocking below the waist beyond the line of scrimmage. Example: Both Team A players shown as restricted. Both may block below the waist in a 180 arc toward their adjacent sideline behind the line of scrimmage, and in a 90 arc toward their adjacent sideline beyond the line of scrimmage.

3 Unrestricted Player of Team A All Team A players that are not restricted are defined as unrestricted. Unrestricted Team A Players 1. May block below the waist in any direction when blocking below the waist behind the line of scrimmage. Beyond the line of scrimmage, all Team A players may not block below the waist toward their own goal line. 2. Who are in motion at the snap and have not been outside the Modified Tackle Box. After the ball is ready for play and before the snap may block below the waist in any direction when blocking behind the line of scrimmage. Beyond the line of scrimmage all Team A players may not block below the waist toward their own goal line. Summary of Unrestricted Team A Players Unrestricted Team A players may block below the waist in a 360 direction when blocking below the waist behind the line of scrimmage. Unrestricted Team A players may block below the waist in a 180 arc toward the opponents goal line when blocking below the waist beyond the line of scrimmage. Example: The Team A players shown as are unrestricted and may block below the waist in any direction behind the line of scrimmage (360 ) and may block in a 180 arc toward the opponents goal line when blocking below the waist beyond the line of scrimmage.

4 Team B Blocking Below the Waist Restrictions 1. Team B may only block below the waist only within the area behind lines parallel to the goal line five yards beyond and behind the neutral zone extended to the sidelines. In other words, Team B may only block below the waist in a 10 yard band centered on, and parallel to, the line of scrimmage. 2. Team B may block below the waist against a ball carrier without restriction. 3. Team B may not block below the waist against an opponent in position to receive a backward pass. 4. Team B may not block below the waist against an eligible Team A pass receiver beyond the neutral zone unless attempting to get to the ball or ball carrier. This prohibition ends when a legal forward pass is no longer possible.

5 Restrictions for All 1. During down in which there is a free kick or scrimmage kick, blocking below the waist by any player is illegal, except against the ball carrier; 2. After any change of team possession, blocking below the waist by any player is illegal except against a ball carrier.

6 Summary of Blocking Below the Waist Team A Two Groups Restricted and Unrestricted Restricted Team A players may block below the waist in a 180 arc toward the adjacent sideline when blocking behind the line of scrimmage and in a 90 arc toward the adjacent sideline when blocking beyond the line of scrimmage. Restricted

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8 Unrestricted Team A players may block below the waist in a 360 direction when blocking behind the line of scrimmage and in a 180 arc only toward the opponents end zone beyond the line of scrimmage. Unrestricted

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