CLIPPING
Article 10 There shall be no clipping from behind below the waist against a non-runner. This does not apply
to offensive blocking in close-line play where it is legal to clip above the knee(s), but it is illegal to clip at or
below the knee(s).
Penalty: For clipping: Loss of 15 yards.
CLOSE-LINE PLAY
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTES
(1) Close-line play is that which occurs in an area extending laterally to the position originally occupied by
the offensive tackles and longitudinally three yards on either side of each line of scrimmage.
CLOSE-LINE PLAY—ROLL-UP BLOCK
(2) In close-line play, if an offensive player’s block (legal or illegal) is followed by the blocker rolling up on
the back of the leg(s) of the defender, the action is illegal and is considered unnecessary roughness.
Exception: An offensive lineman may not clip a defender who, at the snap, is aligned on the line of scrimmage
opposite another offensive lineman who is more than one position away when the defender is responding
to the flow of the ball away from the blocker.
Example: Tackle cannot clip nose tackle on sweep away.
(3) Doubtful cases involving a side block or the opponent turning his back as the block is being made are
to be judged according to whether the opponent was able to see or ward off the blocker.
(4) The use of hands from behind above the waist on a non-runner is illegal use of hands (see 12-1-3).
(5) The use of hands on the back is not a foul when it is by:
(a) one of the kickers in warding off a receiver, while going downfield under a kick, or
(b) any player in an actual personal legal attempt to recover a loose ball.
(6) It is not considered clipping if:
(a) a blocker is moving in the same direction as an opponent, and has initial contact on the side of
the opponent and then continues to contact with the opponent below his waist from behind with
any part of his body, or
(b) in any case if an official has not observed the blocker’s initial contact.