Illegal Blindside Block

Many years ago, ESPN featured a “Jacked Up” segment when the announcers celebrated massive hits, many of which were in the open field. This statement is not based on empirical evidence, but all those hits would likely be flagged as illegal blindside blocks today.

In 2018, the NFHS Football Rules Committee established the blindside block definition (Rule 2-3-10) and added Rule 9-4-3n prohibiting a blindside block.

Todd Tharp, chair of the NFHS Football Rules Committee and assistant director of the Iowa High School Athletic Association said, “With this new definition of a blindside block and the penalty to be assessed, the committee stresses the importance of proper coaching techniques under the rules and accurate enforcement by the game officials.” (Emphasis added)

One must study both rules to glean all blindside block components.

Rule 2-3-10: A blindside block is a block against an opponent other than the runner, who does not see the blocker approaching.

Rule 9-4-3n: [No player or nonplayer shall] execute a blindside block outside of the free-blocking zone with forceful contact unless initiated with open hands.

There are four components of an illegal blindside block:

  1. Outside the free-blocking zone
  2. Forceful contact (interpreted as the opponent is knocked to the ground)
  3. The opponent does not see the blocker approaching
  4. The blocker does not initiate with the hands

Unfortunately, players are still slamming into opponents with a shoulder or forearm and not executing the block with open hands.

Officials must maintain correct eye discipline to correctly adjudicate the blindside block. We cannot laser-focus on the runner; we should have only one set of eyes on the ball. If a tackler is not close to the runner, the covering official should look at blocks ahead of the runner.

Many illegal blindside blocks occur in the open field and during punt and interception returns. Watch for colors going “against the flow.” Watch for headhunters who are intent on delivering punishment to an unsuspecting opponent.

We must see the entire play (beginning, middle, and end). We can’t witness a player falling to the ground and assume contact was an illegal blindside block.


Quiz

Read the quiz stem and then choose the best answer.

2/5 from the A-40. Following first down play, A11 exits, leaving ten players on the field. Team A is in formation and A12 is calling presnap signals. A33 steps onto the field and sets up outside the numbers. At the snap, A33 blocks B15.

  1. Kill the clock and flag Team A for an illegal substitution
  2. Following the snap, A33 is guilty of an illegal substitution
  3. Following the snap, Team A is guilty of an illegal formation
  4. A33 is guilty of illegal participation
  5. Team A’s coach is guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct

Review Rules 3-7, 7-2-1, 9-6-4, 10-4-2a

Click below to reveal the Quiz answer and accompanying explanations.