Q: I see college wide receivers blocking 15 yards downfield as another receiver catches a 5-yard out route behind them as they block. I thought you could only block downfield if the ball was caught behind the line of scrimmage. I have seen high school teams do this also. Has the rule changed, and if so can you explain it please?
A: "The rules regarding blocking during forward pass plays are pretty much identical from high school to college. Forward pass interference restrictions for the offense begin at the snap; therefore, it is offensive pass interference if an offensive player who is beyond the neutral zone blocks any defensive player before or during a legal forward pass that crosses the neutral zone untouched by a defensive player that was in or behind the neutral zone. The last part basically keeps the offense from being penalized in the event that a pass intended to be behind the line is tipped by a defensive player and ends up past the line of scrimmage. A screen play for instance. The one exception is that an offensive player may immediately make contact on a defensive player who is on the line of scrimmage at the snap, as long as that block does not continue downfield beyond the expanded neutral zone (3 yards). This exception allows receivers the ability to use a legal block at the line of scrimmage to create space between themselves and a defender in press coverage.
"Please keep in mind that not all contact is created equal, meaning that just because a receiver is restricted from blocking, just simply making contact with a defender is not necessarily illegal." - David Lockman, All Star Football Officials Association
Produced by Georgia High School Football Daily, a free e-mail newsletter. To join the mailing list, click here.
About the Author
