Lesson #19: Illegal target and blocking zone penalties¶
by Stephen Lorimor / Axis of Stevil
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