Blocking
What is blocking in football?
What are blocking types?
Are there any illegal blocks?
Blocking is a set of legal elements the player uses to obstruct the ball or runner’s path. Both offensive and defensive players exploit them to prevent opponents’ advantages. Thus, the offense aims to prevent the defender from interfering with the ball carrier from getting to the goal line or at least the first down line marker. Defenders pressure the quarterback or ball carrier to capture it.
There are some types of blocking. Man-to-man blocking suggests personal duels between the linemen to open the way for the running back or wide receiver who runs with the ball to score. It has strict rules of pair building that change with transformations in the lineup.
Zone blocking means the player or a group of players share a part of the field they are responsible for. It’s a practical scheme, simplifying the creation of lanes. All team works as a precise mechanism. This blocking manner is flexible. The teams exploit its consistent rules, changing the formations several times per play. Sometimes the players and coordinators accidentally or intentionally invent new schemes that replace the older ones.
The blocking is hazardous for the players. Leagues follow the statistic of injuries and correct the blocking rules. For example, the experts found that blindside block leads to injuries and leaves the potential victim unprepared for it. This block is illegal now.