ENRUES
All penalties

Illegal blindside block

Penalty: Offense, Defense, Special teams

What it is

A player moves toward his own end line and blocks an opponent who cannot see him coming, using a forearm, shoulder or helmet to hit him.

The penalty

The penalty is 15 yards. The penalty is enforced from the spot of the foul.

More detail

The rule is meant to protect players who are looking away from the contact, such as those watching the ball on a return.

Animated play

101020203030404050504040303020201010END ZONEEND ZONEXXXXXMoving back toward his own end lineHits a player who cannot see himIllegal blindside block15 yards backPlayers are chasing the ball, looking the other way.A blocker hits one of them from the side.

Blue circles are the team with the ball. X marks the other team. The yellow oval is the ball.

  1. A player is watching the ball and is not looking at the blocker.
  2. The blocker runs toward his own end line and hits him from the side, with his forearm, shoulder or helmet.
  3. The officials flag an illegal blindside block: fifteen yards.