FOOTBALL
EDITOR: JEFFREY STERN
jstern@referee.com
RULES, MECHANICS, PHILOSOPHY
BLOCK BUSTER By George Demetriou
T
he 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 (9-16). 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
THOMAS CAMPBELL/USA TODAY SPORTS
NCAA Makes Major Change to Blocking Below the Waist Rule
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