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Rule 12 Section 2 Article 4

NFL Video Rulebook

View Official Rulebook

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:

By players of either team after a change of possession; or
By players of the kicking team after a Free Kick, Safety Kick, Fair-Catch Kick, Punt, Field-Goal Attempt, or Try Kick; or
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.
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

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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