Lesson #19: Illegal target and blocking zone penalties ====================================================== *by Stephen Lorimor / Axis of Stevil* `Watch this lesson on YouTube `_ Last updated: January 14, 2019 Concepts -------- - Contact with an illegal blocking zone or to an illegal target zone is always a penalty if the block causes... - the target to fall down or go out of bounds, out of play, or back into play - the target to lose position against the initiator or an initiator’s teammate - the initiator or a teammate to gain position on an opponent, or maintain a position that would not have been otherwise - Brief and minor gains of position do not warrant a penalty unless earning a pass toward scoring or lead jammer status - It is not a penalty if the action was caused by the illegal action of an opponent 4.1.1 - Impact to an illegal target zone ---------------------------------------- - Verbal cues and their corresponding illegal target zones - “Low block” - legs below mid-thigh - “Back block” - butt or back (colloquially “between the bra straps”) - “High block” - neck or head - An illegal target zone block becomes legal (ie; the target becomes the initiator) if the target turns or moves thereby presenting an illegal target zone that cannot be avoided. - Contact with an opponent’s legs after falling small is not a penalty. - Exception: if this occurs 3+ times in a game - Exception: if sliding back in bounds initiates the contact - Avoidable forceful contact to the back warrants a penalty regardless of impact. - Forceful contact to the neck or head warrants a penalty 4.1.2 - Impact with an illegal blocking zone -------------------------------------------- - Verbal cues and their corresponding illegal blocking zones - “Leg block” - legs (below mid-thigh) - “Forearm” - arms (elbow to fingertips) not tucked into the torso - “Head block” - head or neck - Additional penalty thresholds include: - Significantly altering an opponent’s speed (ie; impeding) or trajectory - Forcing an opponent significantly off balance - Intentionally and forcefully jabbing an opponent with the elbow or knee - Head blocks need not include physical blocking (ie; can be positional) to warrant a penalty - Intentional positional blocking - No call - unintentional positioning causing an opponent to stop / change trajectory - Penalty - intentionally presenting one’s head to deter an opponent’s block - Penalty - continuing to deter an opponent’s block with one’s head after an initial unintentional positional block - Expulsion - reckless or negligent intentional positional block - Initiating a block with the head - Penalty - forceful contact initiated with the head or neck