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