All offensive football is based on effective blocking from every member of the team on every type of play. This is the greatest example of "teamwork" in any of our sports. Every member of the team is doing a job, not for himself or for any other individual teammate, but for the success of the team. The only objective is to advance the ball.

A boy must have a real desire for body contact. He must enjoy matching his body strength against that of another boy. He must have the spirit of a good "roughhouser."

Being a successful blocker is not entirely a matter of physical size and "brute" strength. It is not enough to be a "big boy." You must also be smart enough to outthink your opponent, and speedy and quick enough to outmaneuver him.

Every time you throw a halfhearted block, you let your team down! Make yourself the most dependable blocker on your team, the one who can always be counted on!

The ability to block an opponent so that he stays blocked depends on your ability to master a variety of movements in a variety of situations. However, the beginning position is always the same, the "three-point stance." It is used by both linemen and backfield men.

1. Your right foot goes slightly back of your left foot, the right toe even with the instep of the left foot. The width of the spread between your feet depends on your size. The idea is for you to feel comfortable and well-balanced. Your right hand goes to the ground in front of your feet, directly in line with the right foot. The knuckles of your right hand should be bent so that a slight pressure is put on the first three fingers of the hand. In this position, your right foot, left foot, and right hand form a triangle. We have described foot and hand placements for a right-hander. If you are left-handed, reverse your feet with the left toe even with the right instep, and place your left hand on the ground.

2. Your opposite arm, your left if you are a right hander, is relaxed. The forearm is across the thigh of your left leg. Your left hand hangs freely to the inside of the left knee. Keep your hand off either your hip or knee and you will remain relaxed. Too many boys feel it is necessary to brace their left hand against some part of their body. When they do this they become tense and they do not move forward properly.

3. Keep your neck firm. Your head must be up so that your eyes are looking straight ahead. You should have some bend in your knees, but not so much that your back is arched too much. Your shoulders should be square and parallel to the line of scrimmage. Your hips are at a slightly lower level than your shoulders. When you move forward, you should not have to raise your hips. All that should take place is a driving motion of your legs.

4. You may be required to move forward quickly, or laterally to either side. You can do this successfully only from a well-balanced position. If you lean forward in your stance, or shift your weight more to one spot than another, you will find your movement in any direction awkward and difficult. 5. Practice your stance by posing yourself in front of a full-length mirror. Face yourself head-on and also view yourself from the side. A note of caution! If the fellow in the mirror is looking mean, don't forget yourself and throw a block at him!

1. The situation is that you have an opponent in front of you. It is your job to "bowl him over." On a designated number count, or on the snap of the ball, you get an explosive forward action by "uncoiling" the relaxed muscles of your legs and hips. You push forward off your left foot, if you are blocking with your left shoulder. (If you block with your right shoulder, then your first step is with your right foot.)

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN assume a "three-point stance," feet comfortably spread, right foot slightly farther back than the left foot, right hand directly in front of the right foot. The left forearm should be across the left thigh. This lineman's left hand should be more relaxed, hanging down loosely.

In this instance, having made your first step with your left foot, your second step is with your right foot. Move your right foot forward in a straight line. It may help you in your practice sessions to deliberately take a wider step with your right foot. That is, rather than stepping directly forward, step a few inches to the right. This will help emphasize and develop the necessary spread of your feet for the making of the shoulder-block. Also practice making the first step off your right foot, then a wide step with the left foot. With your second step, you add to the power and drive of your first step. Both steps are made with a hard push from the toes and the balls of your feet.

2. With this forward movement, your blocking shoulder makes contact with the opponent. This causes a slight arching of your back, directing the major portion of your power upward and into your opponent. This automatically keeps your hips below the level of your shoulders.

3. At the instant of contact with your shoulder, the arm on that side immediately flexes (bends) itself and folds the hand into a fist. The fist is brought up quickly so that it is in front of the shoulder joint. The elbow is raised so that it is pointing straight out to the side. This provides you with more blocking surface against the opponent's body.

4. Have your eyes on the mid-section of the opponent. It will appear that your forehead is going to contact his mid section. However, at the last moment your head slides to the side opposite the shoulder you are blocking with.

5. Remember that the shoulder-block is used whenever you need to move your opponent backward or to either side. Do not indicate to him just which shoulder you intend to use until the very last second before contact. You must be extremely aggressive in making this block.

COACH KUHARICH (above) shows this lineman how to position himself properly in the "three-point stance" used by offensive players. The shoulder-block (below) requires a hard upward drive into your opponent. 

 
A BODY-BLOCK is used to enable you to "get in the way" of an opponent and delay him or keep him from getting to your team's ball carrier. You contact the defensive man with your hip and your thigh. You dig hard with your feet, driving into your opponent, keeping your balance and making an upward push with your hands, which are on the ground.

1. The main purpose of the body-block is to prevent an opponent from advancing to the area your team's ball carrier intends to be in, or your passer is throwing from. It is not necessary to move your opponent or put him on the ground. You just want to be "in his way" so he cannot get around you, or over you, into your backfield. You continue to stay in his way until your runner is safely on his running route, or your passer has tossed the ball.

2. As you charge toward the opponent from your "three point stance," you whip both hands forward and extend them past the opponent either to the right side or to the left side. Your head and shoulders move to the same side as your hands. You contact the opponent with your hip and thigh. Now, your hands contact the ground to the side of the opponent. You now have a four-point contact with the ground, since you also keep your feet on the ground. You keep forcing your hip and thigh into the opponent with short, hard, driving steps of your legs and a continuous upward pressure from your hands on the ground.

3. Do not indicate to the opponent until the last possible second which side you intend to block with. It also helps to confuse him and adds to your advantage if he does not know whether you will use a shoulder-block or a body-block. He should know that you are a good man with either block!

As a lineman, you not only need to have the ability to throw effective close blocks on the line of scrimmage — you also need to know how to move downfield and block opponents in the defensive secondary.

This is a tougher assignment. In the line of scrimmage your opponent is directly opposite you, standing still. Downfield, your opponent is almost always moving and taking any one of a number of defensive actions.

1. The block you throw downfield will be done while moving, rather than from the "three-point stance." You run in a normal, well-balanced position. When you make your block you go into a slight crouch, but not as deep as for a line block. Therefore, your block is made from a higher angle.

2. You use both the shoulder-block and the body-block on downfield targets. The shoulder-block is most effective when the opponent is playing a delaying action, waiting for the ball carrier or pass receiver to reach a certain area. It is also effective when the opponent is coming at such an angle that you can "entertain" him or screen him off from the ball carrier.

3. To body-block a downfield opponent, your body should make a whip-like, rolling action as you contact him.

You must go into and "through" the opponent because he is making a concentrated, forceful effort to go after your ball carrier. He will be attempting to charge through you, or to either side. The addition of a rolling action to your body-block will increase your power and blocking range.

The fundamental blocking movements for backfield players are quite similar to those used by the linemen. However, the backfield men are usually considerably smaller than the linemen. This makes it more difficult for a back to make proper blocks against opposing linemen, who may outweigh him by thirty or forty pounds.

The back must make up for this weight disadvantage by moving quickly, cleverly, and without any mistakes. As a back making a block, you must get into the defensive opponent rapidly, before he can shift his body into full speed and power.
1. On both running and passing plays, the backfield man's best weapon is the body-block. Do not wait for the defensive opponent to come to you. Instead, make the initial contact with him. You do not attempt to actually move the defensive opponent, but rather to "pin" him in his own immediate area. The idea is to keep him away from your ball carrier or your passer. However, there will be those plays in which you definitely will be expected to move your defensive opponent out of the way. Then you will need to use a shoulder-block.

A D0WNF1ELD BLOCK Is made by coming into your opponent from a higher angle. The shoulder-block is most effective when you want to delay or "entertain" the defensive man. You should bring up both arms, hands into fists, elbows pointing outward, to give you more blocking surface.

2. You must not reveal to the defense that you are to become a blocker on any particular play. You make it appear to them by your actions that you may run with the ball, or that you may receive it on a pass play. If you can "trick" your opponents into defending against you on this basis, then your blocking will come as a complete surprise to them. Your block will be easier to make, and if you are successful, the play will most likely be successful.

3. On most pass patterns, one or more backfield men will usually be called on to protect the passer. This is certainly one of the toughest assignments for a back. You can handle it if you work hard to develop your blocking ability. When you have this job and the defensive opponent is rushing your passer, use a combination shoulder-block and body-block. Position yourself quickly to make immediate contact with the rusher. Do not give him a chance to develop too much speed and power in an attempt to "run over" you. When you are ready to make contact with the opponent, give him a shoulder-block to slow him up. Then make a quick pivot to the side that is away from your passer's position and slide right into a body-block. With this second block, hold the opponent away from your passer until he has thrown the ball.

4. A backfield man has to "use his head" in his blocking. That is, mentally! He must out think the opponents. You will constantly vary your blocking maneuvers. Sometimes use the straight shoulder-block . . . sometimes the straight body-block . . . sometimes the shoulder-and-body-block. Keep your opponents guessing . . . keep them nervous!

5. There are also times when you will be assigned to make a "momentary" block on an opponent. You will move into him, delay him for a few seconds, then withdraw from your contact with him and go into the defensive secondary for a screen pass.

6. As a back, you will often be carrying the ball, or possibly passing it. You will learn to appreciate good blocking on the part of your teammates so that you can make long gains. When you are called on to block for another teammate, remember how much good blocks have meant to you! Give it all you have!

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