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Arizona Football: New Rules for the 2018 Season

By Mark Barrera

7 Oct 2000: A shot of a helmet of the Arizona Wildcats and a football during the game against the USC Trojans at the Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. The Wildcats defeated the Torjans 31-15.Mandatory Credit: Donald Miralle /Allsport
7 Oct 2000: A shot of a helmet of the Arizona Wildcats and a football during the game against the USC Trojans at the Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. The Wildcats defeated the Torjans 31-15.Mandatory Credit: Donald Miralle /Allsport /
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TUCSON, AZ – NOVEMBER 23: Center Kyle Quinn #76 of the Arizona Wildcats prepares to snap the football during the college football game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Arizona Stadium on November 23, 2012 in Tucson, Arizona. The Sun Devils defeated the Wildcats 41-34. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
TUCSON, AZ – NOVEMBER 23: Center Kyle Quinn #76 of the Arizona Wildcats prepares to snap the football during the college football game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Arizona Stadium on November 23, 2012 in Tucson, Arizona. The Sun Devils defeated the Wildcats 41-34. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

What about blocking below the waist?

Blocking below the waist has been watched carefully for several years now. It is a necessary rule and one that should be enforced. However, as the National Football Foundation points out, it is a situational rule.

A low block is always illegal after a change of possession (interception return or fumble return) and during a kick play. During an offensive play, it becomes situational.

Last seasons rule: If two offensive players use each other, one pushes from the front and one from behind below the waist, it is a penalty. When the defender is closing in on a tackle, and an offensive player comes in low from the side, it is a penalty.

Blocking below the waist is legal if you’re directly in front of the defensive player and make an effort to lunge out to disrupt the path of the defensive player. Confusing, right? Well, the 2018 rules hope to make it much more explicit.

The rule remains the same for a change of possession. That isn’t going away. Change of possession is where “head-hunting” takes place, with defensive players looking to take out the offense for a change.

For the offensive team snapping the ball, here are the changes made:

  1. Linemen who are inside the tackle box at the snap may block below the waist from the front or the side until the ball leaves the tackle box.
  2. All others may block below the waist only if the force of the block is directly from the front – that is, forward of the concentration area of the player being blocked Below are the following exceptions to this rule:
    1. If a player is outside the tackle box or in motion at the snap, he may not block below the waist back toward the location of the ball at the snap – aka a crackback block. Even if the block is directed from the front, it is illegal.
    2. Once the ball has left the tackle box, no player is allowed to block below the waist toward his own end line – aka a peel-back block.
  3. The major change for 2018 is as follows: Downfield, more than five yards beyond the line of scrimmage, any block below the waist is illegal.

These changes, albeit detailed and kind of a lot to remember, will protect players from significant injuries. Reconstructive knee surgery, leg breaks, torn ACL/MCL/PCL/Meniscus, torn Achilles, these can all happen at any moment, but low blocks are a major player in these injuries.

Love to hear your thoughts on this rule change.

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