Football Illegal Block Above the Waist

What is an Illegal Block Above the Waist Penalty in Football?

An illegal block above the waist is a penalty in Football that is called on a team when a player blocks an opposing player, who does not have the ball, from behind and above the waist. This penalty is the same as an illegal block in the back. This penalty is enforced due to the risk of injury, usually to a defenseless player. This penalty most often occurs on kickoffs, especially when the returner gets around the defense and the defenders must turn around. Blockers for the returner then block the defenseless defenders, which results in this penalty. This penalty results in a 10 yard loss for the offending team.