Football: Clipping will be illegal in free-blocking zone this fall

Clipping is now illegal in high school football after the football rules committee for the National Federation of State High School Associations eliminated the rule allowing clipping in the free-blocking zone.

Clipping (blocking in the back or back of the leg) was permitted in the free-blocking zone, which is defined as a rectangular area extending laterally four yards either side of the spot of the snap and three yards behind each line of scrimmage.

“The NFHS Football Rules Committee’s action this year on making clipping illegal in the free-blocking zone once again reinforces its continued effort to minimize risk within the game,” said Bob Colgate, driector of sports and sports medicine at the NFHS and staff liaison for football.

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