Expert: Vic Winnek - 11/9/2007

Question
Can you please explain the chop block rule and if chop blocking is ever legal? I always thought it was illegal completely and both players get ejected for an illegal chop block. The reason I am asking is because in my local league, the referees have interpreted the rules as this (cut and pasted from their Email):

"Question:

1. Adjacent lineman can legally chop block with no delay.  

Answer:

The definition of a chop block is given in Rule 2-3-3.  Strictly speaking, no-one may chop block ever and there is no such thing as a "legal chop block".  However, the situation you describe is not a chop block and is therefore legal.

I will try to sum up the definition of a chop block as succinctly as I can.  We have discussed this at length here in Victoria recently, so your email is a valuable opportunity to test my ability to summarise the rule.

1.  All combination blocks with a low element (e.g. high-low, low-high or low-low), with or without a delay, by non-adjacent linemen, within the neutral zone, are chop blocks.
2.  All combination blocks with a low element (e.g. high-low, low-high or low-low), with or without a delay, where all players are beyond the neutral zone, are chop blocks.

For any other combination block to be a chop block, the second block must be a delayed, low block.  Hence, unless it is covered by one of the above two situations, a simultaneous high-low block (e.g. by adjacent linemen) is not a chop block and is legal.

                                      No delay between blocks     -  Delay between blocks (see note 1)

Combination block executed by:     - High/low - Low/high - Low/low - High/low - Low/high - Low/low

1. Adjacent linemen                -  No Foul -  No Foul - No Foul -   Foul   -  No Foul -  Foul
2. Non-adjacent linemen            -  Foul    -  Foul    - Foul    -   Foul   -  Foul    -  Foul
(contact occurring in the NZ)
3. Two offensive players beyond NZ -  Foul    -  Foul    - Foul    -   Foul   -  Foul    -  Foul
4. Other players (in or behind NZ) -  No Foul -  No Foul - No Foul -   Foul   -  Foul    -  Foul

Answer
Shane I am about to travel for my college game this weekend.  I will return Sunday and try to answer your question better.  The cut & pasted answer is correct.  Chop blocks with delays are illegal if it is done by two ajacent linemen with NO delay then it is permitted.

The term Chop block is a term of art described above.  The person who answered your question has correctly defined a chop block.

As far as ejecting players -  that is not automatic amd rarely done for a chop block.  In fact in my 21 years of officiating I have never seen a player ejected for a chop block.  To eject a player or players for a chop block is overly extreme and may be over officious.