Hands vs. Shoulder

We teach the same thing here in South Carolina. The first thing people think is "they're gonna get called for holding". I've been coaching for 10 yrs., and I can recall about maybe 3 to 4 holding penalties.

I was talking to one of the local high school coaches about this. They teach hands punch leading on the drive block for all the reasons previously mentioned. What was really interesting is that on pass blocking they teach grabbing cloth and even the breast plate if you can. I asked about holding, and the answer was the guy who might call that holding is 8 yds in the backfield, and he really, really doesn't want to get close enough to get nit-picky about it. As long as you stay within the framework of the torso, it won't get called.

Since then I've been paying more attention in video that features pass blocking and darned if I don't see the colleges and pros doing the same thing, even wide receivers blocking outside. Now the ethical dilema: teach it and give it a shot, or call it holding and don't teach it? Right now I'm thinking the refs interpret the rules, not me, and if they don't think it's a problem, I misread the rule and it ain't a problem.

Thoughts on this?

Most holding calls made by officials when using extended hands and arms occurs because offensive linemen don't move their feet thus, exposing the hands. Coach Campbell

i have to say the the "grab cloth" technique should be taught at the youth level. it is important to teach young linemen this because, as was mentioned before, they will be asked to do it as they get older and advance in the game. i know that i've taught it before, and it really helps linemen later on if they know how to do this at a very young age, simply because they get enough practice so they learn how to do it right.