The Free Blocking Zone is an imaginary rectangular area extending 4 yards from either side of the ball laterally and 3 yards behind each team’s line of scrimmage. In this zone, certain blocks are allowed that are not in any other area of the field of play. In this article, I will dive into the specific privileges and which players have them while in the free blocking zone.
WHAT IS THE FREE BLOCKING ZONE?
As stated before, the free blocking zone is an area of the field which extends from the spot of the football. To be exact, it is a total of 8 yards wide and 6 yards long. The free blocking zone is special as it only exists during a scrimmage down and it disintegrates once the football leaves the zone. The ball can leave the zone through snap (shotgun or errant snap), drop back (by passer), or carry. Once the free blocking zone disappears, all the privileges that come with being in the zone also go away for the rest of the down.
WHO IS IN THE FREE BLOCKING ZONE?
Any player that is with the confines of the zone at the snap is considered in the free blocking zone. This includes any part of the body breaking the plane of the zone. Obviously interior linemen are the first players that come to mind when thinking about which players are in the free blocking zone. However, quarterbacks, upbacks, tight ends, linebackers, and safeties are also examples of other non-linemen that can potentially inhabit the zone at the snap.
WHAT PRIVILIGES DO PLAYERS HAVE IN THE FREE BLOCKING ZONE?
The major privileges that players in the free blocking zone have that others do not are centered around blocking. If the correct criteria is met, blocks that are illegal everywhere else on the field can be legal in the free blocking zone. Note that the window for executing these blocks closes once the ball leaves the zone and it disintegrates.
Blocking Below the Waist
Any offensive player that is on their line of scrimmage and inside of the free blocking zone at the snap may block an opponent who was also in the zone and on their line of scrimmage at the snap below the waist.
Any defensive player that is on their line of scrimmage (within 1 yard is considered on the LOS for defensive players) and inside of the free blocking zone at the snap may block an opponent who was also in the zone and on their line of scrimmage at the snap below the waist.
Things to remember:
- The contact must occur in the zone.
- The ball must be in the zone at the time of the block.
- The block must be against an opponent that was also in the zone AND on their line of scrimmage at the snap.
- All blocks below the waist must be immediate and on the initial charge at the snap.
Blocking in the Back
Any offensive player that is on their line of scrimmage and inside of the free blocking zone at the snap may block an opponent (who was also in the zone at the snap) in the back.
Things to remember:
- The contact must occur in the zone.
- The ball must be in the zone at the time of the block.
- The block must be against an opponent that was also in the zone and on their line of scrimmage at the snap.
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
Consider the following when officiating action in the free blocking zone:
- Observe the initial contact and determine what type of block was INITIATED.
- Was the contact in the free blocking zone?
- Were both players in the free blocking zone and on their line of scrimmage at the snap?
- Was the ball still in the free blocking zone?
If you can answer all these questions, then you can confidently determine if the contact in the zone was legal. Line play, especially in the free blocking zone, is something all officials must be attentive to and always be on alert. It will take time learning how to filter the action of what seems to be a perpetual car crash, but mastering this part of the game is a sure sign of the game slowing down for a young official.
