By ERIC VICCARO

sports@bowienewsonline.com

Clipping is considered one of the most dangerous penalties in football.

And the National Federation of High Schools rules committee has now deemed the act illegal everywhere on the field. It had been legal to clip in the free-blocking zone from tackle to tackle.

The rule was adopted at NFHS meetings this past winter, and will be enforced during the 2016 season.

The University Interscholastic League adopts most all rules changes that were made on the national level through the NFHS – including this one.

Clipping occurs when a player rolls up on the legs of an opponent after a block or “falling into the back of an opponent below the waist after approaching him from behind.”

Bowie head football coach Dylan Stark said he doesn’t expect the change to impact the Jackrabbits much.

“We don’t teach our guys to hit in the back,” he said.

Stark said even though offensive linemen block in different ways, it’s all about making sure they do it the right way.

Bowie High School’s graduated, all-state nominated offensive lineman Josh Monkres shows the proper blocking technique during a 2015 playoff game versus Shallowater. Offensive lineman will no longer be able to clip anywhere in the free-blocking zone. (News file photo by Eric Viccaro)