Cut block/ block below the waist

[Cherry5]

What is the exact rule in sixman? So far we have had a ref tell us we can't do it at all. The one said only between the gaurd box which if we are in tight is like a 3 yard box but if we are in spread he said its whatever is inbetween the WR.

 

[ZeroRisk]

There is no six-man exception for the rule regarding blocking below the waist, so the same rules apply.

1. Blocking below the waist is illegal on any down in which there is a kick or after there has been a change of possession during the down.

2. On a regular scrimmage down, NO PLAYER may block below the waist back toward his own goal line after crossing the neutral zone.

3. On a regular scrimmage down, there are two types of players -- restricted and unrestricted. Unrestricted players can block below the waist in any direction (except back toward their goal line after crossing the neutral zone) at any time during the down. Restricted players can only block "north/south" or back toward their adjacent sideline.

Players are unrestricted if they are on the line or in the backfield INSIDE the tackle box. So in a tight formation, just about any player on a six-man team can block below the waist in any direction except as detailed in 1 and 2. If a player is outside the tackle box, whether on the line or as a back, he can only block back toward his own sideilne or straight up the field.

Players in motion -- If a player outside the tackle box goes in motion, he is STILL RESTRICTED, even if he is in the tackle box when the ball is snapped. In order for him to become unrestricted, he has to come into the tackle box and come to a stop, which them makes him an unrestricted player.

If an unrestricted back goes in motion, they are still unrestricted as long as their entire motion doesn't carry them outside of the tackle box. If you go outside the tackle box, you are restricted.

Clear as mud? I hope so. This is a TERRIBLE RULE and is very hard for a 4- or 5-man crew to officiate and even worse at the 6-man football level where every play is topsy-turvy and it is impossible to keep track of where players came from.

 

[ZeroRisk]

There can be a lot of confusion regarding this rule and I don't blame coaches, players, fans, and even officials for getting things confused. It is very likely that the NCAA is heading towards adopted NHFS-style rules and banning blocking below the waist entirely in the years to come.

Although there are a lot of technicalities to the rule, this the best way to break it down in a nutshell.

"Lineman and backs in the box can block in any direction except back toward their goal line past the line of scrimmage. For outside guys, it has to be to the outside or straight up the field."

This doesn't cover everything, but it eliminates the vast majority of the penalties that would come from this rule -- and just about any one that a crew of 4 or 5 officials is going to see.

 

[JasonTX]

There can be a lot of confusion regarding this rule and I don't blame coaches, players, fans, and even officials for getting things confused. It is very likely that the NCAA is heading towards adopted NHFS-style rules and banning blocking below the waist entirely in the years to come.

Although there are a lot of technicalities to the rule, this the best way to break it down in a nutshell.

"Lineman and backs in the box can block in any direction except back toward their goal line past the line of scrimmage. For outside guys, it has to be to the outside or straight up the field."

This doesn't cover everything, but it eliminates the vast majority of the penalties that would come from this rule -- and just about any one that a crew of 4 or 5 officials is going to see.

Just to clarify. Lineman outside the tackle box are not always restricted. A lineman is restricted when he is 7 or more yards from the middle lineman.