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Rule 12 Section 2 Article 4

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Rule 12 Section 2 Article 4
Rule Summary View Official Rule

BLOCKING BELOW THE WAIST ON KICKS AND CHANGES OF POSSESSION

Blocks below the waist are prohibited in the following situations:

  1. By players of either team after a change of possession; or
  2. By players of the kicking team after a Free Kick, Safety Kick, Fair-Catch Kick, Punt, Field-Goal Attempt, or Try Kick; or
  3. By players of the receiving team during a down in which there is a Free Kick, Safety Kick, Fair-Catch Kick, Punt, Field-Goal Attempt, or Try Kick.
  4. By players of either team during a scrimmage down prior to a change of possession unless the contact occurs in the Tight End Box. (Note: Players are prohibited from initiating contact below the waist of an opponent outside the Tight End Box, except against a runner or a player who is attempting to catch a forward or backward pass).

Penalty: For illegally blocking below the waist: Loss of 15 yards.

Additional Rules

Dynamic Kickoff

  • Rule 6

Hip-Drop Tackle

  • Rule 12 Section 2 Article 18

Play Clock

  • Rule 4 Section 6

Scoring Plays

  • Rule 11 Sections 1-5

Safety

  • Rule 11 Section 5

Forward Pass

  • Rule 8 Section 1

Backward Pass

  • Rule 8 Section 7

Ineligible Receiver

  • Rule 8 Section 1 Article 6

Fumbling in the End Zone

  • Rule 8 Section 7 Article 3

Down by Contact

  • Rule 7 Section 2 Article 1

Use of the Helmet

  • Rule 12 Section 2 Article 10

Roughing the Passer

  • Rule 12 Section 2 Article 11

Completing a Catch

  • Rule 8 Section 1 Articles 3-4

Non-Football Act Fouls

  • Rule 12 Section 3

Facemask

  • Rule 12 Section 2 Article 15

Fair Catch

  • Rule 10 Section 2

Clipping

  • Rule 3 Section 6

Illegal Formation

  • Rule 7 Section 5 Article 1

Illegal Motion

  • Rule 7 Section 4 Article 8

Illegal Shift

  • Rule 7 Section 4 Article 7

Defensive Pass Interference

  • Rule 8 Section 5

Offensive Pass Interference

  • Rule 8 Section 5

Offensive Holding

  • Rule 12 Section 1 Article 3

Illegal Contact

  • Rule 8 Section 4 Articles 1-4

Defensive Holding

  • Rule 12 Section 1 Article 6

Horse Collar

  • Rule 12 Section 2 Article 16

Chop Block

  • Rule 12 Section 2 Article 5

Illegal Use of Hands / Facemask

  • Rule 12 Section 1 Article 3

Pre-Snap Fouls

  • Rule 3 Section 4 Article 2

Neutral Zone Infraction

  • Rule 7 Section 4 Article 4

Illegal Block Above the Waist

  • Rule 12 Section 1 Article 3

Defenseless Player

  • Rule 12 Section 2 Article 9

Illegal Peel Back Block

  • Rule 12 Section 2 Article 2

Roughing or Running Into the Kicker

  • Rule 12 Section 2 Article 12

Intentional Grounding

  • Rule 8 Section 2

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