Tom Dunleavy CACPFO Rules Interpreter 25 August 2016
Prior to the Snap Bench Requirements Substitutions Snapper Requirements Encroachment False Start Action @ the Snap Formations & Numbering Requirements Shift Motion Illegal Participation Penalty Summary Mechanics & Rules Questions from Scrimmages 2
Bench Restrictions: Between downs, team may have up to 3 coaches in the restricted area. Nobody else in restricted area (unless becoming a player, or returning to bench as a replaced player). Escalation Penalty Applies Nobody may be on the field (other than players, entering substitutes & replaced players). USC Foul Non-players may not be outside of the team box (other than the 3 coaches in the restricted area, entering substitutes and replaced players). Escalation Penalty Applies 3
Bench Penalties: Escalation Foul First Offense: Warning Second Offense: 5 yd, succeeding spot Third Offense: 15yd, USC (charged to head coach) USC Non-player on the field. 15yd, succeeding spot (charged to individual). 4
Substitution Requirements: Any number of substitutions may be made between downs. DBF - A substitute shall not become a player and then withdraw (unless a penalty is accepted, a dead ball foul occurs, a charged TO occurs, or the period ends). DBF - A player shall not withdraw, and then re-enter as a substitute (unless a penalty is accepted, a dead ball foul occurs, a charged TO occurs, or the period ends). 5
Substitution Requirements: DBF - Replaced players shall begin to leave the field within 3 seconds (breaking the huddle with 12 is NOT necessarily a foul). DBF - Replaced players/substitutes must leave the field on their own side of the field, and go directly to the team box. 6
Snapper Requirements (Ball Adjustment): May be over the ball. Feet must be behind the NZ. Only his hand on the ball may be beyond the NZ. May lift the ball for adjustment & lateral rotation. Snapper shall NOT: Rotate the ball end for end. Fail to keep the long axis perpendicular to the LOS. 7
Snapper Requirements: After RFP and Touching the Ball, Snapper Shall Not: Take his hands off the ball, after touching the ball. Make any movements that simulate a snap. Fail to pause prior to the snap. Lift or move the ball, after adjustment (other than a legal snap). All snap infractions are DBF. 8
Encroachment (after the RFP): Prior to Snapper Touching the Ball: No player (other than snapper) shall touch the ball, touch an opponent, or be in the neutral zone to give defensive signals. DBF 9
Encroachment (after the RFP): After the Snapper Touches the Ball: No player shall break the plane of the neutral zone. DBF Exception: Entering Substitutes & Exiting Replaced Players; however, they must be on their side of the NZ at the snap (Live Ball, Previous Spot). 10
False Start (Offensive Restriction): After the RFP & Before the Snap Begins: Shift or feigned charge simulates action at the snap. Any act clearly intended to make B encroach. Any A player on the line between the snapper and the end, after placing a hand(s) on the ground, moves his hand(s) or makes any quick movement. 11
Other Defensive Restriction: USC: Using disconcerting acts or words prior to the snap in an attempt to interfere with A s signals or movements. 12
Snap Requirements: Snapper must clearly pause after adjustment. Snap must immediately leave the hand(s) of the snapper, and touch touch a back or the ground before it touches and A lineman. Snap infraction will result in a dead ball foul. 13
Formation Requirements: Offense & Defense: All players must be on their side of the NZ. (Encroachment or Illegal Substitution) 14
Formation Requirements: Offense: All players and entering substitutes must have been between the nines after the RFP, and before the snap. (IF) Lineman must have their feet outside the feet of the lineman next to him, i.e. cannot lock legs (except the snapper and player next to the snapper). (IF) 15
Formation Requirements: Offense: At least 7 players must be on the line (IF): Head or foot must penetrate imaginary plane made by the waist of the snapper. Facing the opponents goal line with shoulders approximately parallel to LOS. All players who are NOT on the line, must be in the backfield, except for the QB whose hands are in position to take a direct snap. (IF) Backfield no part of player can penetrate the imaginary plane made by waist of the nearest lineman. 16
Numbering Requirements: Offense: At least 5 of the 7 lineman must be numbered 50-79, unless the numbering exception applies. (IN) Players of the same team shall not participate during the same down while wearing the same number. (IN) 17
Rule 2-32-9 A lineman is any Team A player who is facing his opponent's goal line with the line of his shoulders approximately parallel thereto and with his head or foot breaking the plane of an imaginary line drawn parallel to the line of scrimmage through the waist of the snapper when the ball is snapped. Snapper 54 88 73 60 65 77 82 25 16 on the line 36 Legal Position at the Snap - on the line - in the backfield Rule 2-32-3 in "limbo" i.e. Illegal Position in the backfield A back is any Team A player, except for the player under the snapper, who has no part of his body breaking the plane of an imaginary line drawn parallel to the line of scrimmage through the waist of the nearest teammate who is legally on the line except for the player under the snapper, who is also considered a back. Bob Masucci 18 July, 2000
Back Requirements: no more than 11 players, 7 on line, 5 numbered 50-79 19
Numbering Exceptions (7-2-5b): At the snap, at least 5 of the 7 lineman must be numbered 50-79, unless: Exception #1 On 1 st, 2 nd or 3 rd Down With A in a Field-Goal Type Scrimmage-Kick Formation.. Snapper is exempt, and may be a player numbered 1-49 or 80-99. Under this exception, team must have at least 4 players numbered 50-79 on the line. Snapper must be between the ends, and is ineligible. 20
Can replace long snapper in field goal formation on any down
Can only replace long snapper in punt formation on 4 th down
Numbering Exceptions (7-2-5b): At the snap, at least 5 of the 7 lineman must be numbered 50-79, unless: Exception #2 On 4 th Down, or During a PAT, and A is in either scrimmage kick formation: Any number of players numbered 1-49 or 80-99 may take the place of a player number 50-79. Player under this exception must take an initial position between the ends. Player remains ineligible. 23
4 th Down 34,17, 21 & 30 Are using the numbering exception
4 th Down: 37, 44, 18 & 20 Are using the numbering exception
Questions on Numbering?? 26
Shifting: No restrictions on the defense, as long as their movement is not disconcerting to A. Shift Action of one or more offensive players, who, after a huddle or taking a set position, move to another set position prior to the snap. After a huddle or shift, all A players must come to an absolutely stop, and remain motionless for 1 second prior to the snap. Most common shift fouls: Motion-man going into motion prior to the entire team being set. Player shifts while a man is in motion. Illegal Shift Live ball foul, simultaneous w/snap. 27
Motion: No restrictions on the defense, as long as their movement is not disconcerting to A. Only 1 A player may be in motion at the snap. Motion cannot be forward, or towards the opponents goal line. Motion-Man (except for the QB in position to take a direct snap) must be at least 5 yards behind the LOS at the snap, unless he started his motion as a back, or he later establishes himself as a back by setting in a back position. 28
Illegal Participation (9.6.4): 12 or more players participating at the snap. (15 Yd, Prev Spot) If an injured player was not replaced for a down. (15 Yd, Prev Spot) Using anyone in a substitution or pretended substitution to deceive an opponent. (15 Yd, Prev Spot) Player lieing on the ground. (15 Yd, Prev Spot) 29
Prior to the Snap (Dead-Ball) Sideline Fouls (Escalation Penalty, Wrn/5/15) Non-coach in Restraining Area >3 Coaches in Restraining Area Non-Player out of the team box (not on the field) Substitution (5 Yd) USC (Non-Player on Field, 15 Yd) USC (Defense-Disconcerting Words/Acts, 15 Yd) Snap Infraction (5 Yd) Encroachment (5 Yd) False Start (5 Yd) 30
Action at the Snap (Simultaneous w/snap) Substitution (5 Yd) Illegal Formation (5 Yd) Illegal Numbering (5 Yd) Illegal Shift (5 Yd) Illegal Motion (5 Yd) Illegal Participation (15 Yd) 31
Snapper comes to the LOS and adjusts the ball. Lineman take their position, and all players are set with QB in shotgun formation. QB sends the slot back into motion, then QB moves up under the snapper to take a direct snap. QB throws a touchdown pass to the motion man. a. Touchdown b. Illegal Participation, 15 Yd from Previous Spot. c. Illegal Shift, 5 Yd from Previous Spot. RULING: - c. 32
QB is in shotgun formation. While attempting to snap the ball, the ball slips from the snapper s hands, and the ball hits the snapper s leg, rolls on the ground, and B recovers the fumble. a. B ball b. Snap Infraction. B must decline the penalty to keep the ball. c. Snap Infraction, 5 Yd from Previous Spot. RULING: - c. 33
QB is in shotgun formation. While attempting to snap the ball, the ball slips from the snapper s hands, and the ball hits the snapper s leg, rolls on the ground, and B recovers the fumble. a. B ball b. Snap Infraction. B must decline the penalty to keep the ball. c. Snap Infraction, 5 Yd from Previous Spot. RULING: - c. 34
Team A runs a legal play with 10 players. They send in 2 substitutes. 2 players start running off the field to complete the substitution, but 1 player stops short of the sideline and gets set. QB throws a touchdown. a. Touchdown stands b. Illegal Participation, 15 Yd Prev Spot c. Illegal Substitution, 5 Yd Prev Spot RULING: - b. 35
Team A lines up with 7 on the line, a slot back and split end to the right, and QB under the snapper. Slot back shifts to the line (8 th on the line). After he is set, the split end goes into motion and the ball is snapped right after the motion man taps the QB on the hip. QB throughs a touchdown. a. Touchdown stands b. Illegal Motion, 5 Yd Prev Spot c. Illegal Participation, 15 Yd Prev Spot RULING: - b. 36
As long as Team A lines up a legal scrimmage kick formation, numbering requirements on the line do NOT apply. a. True b. False RULING: - b. 37
On 3 rd Down, with Team A lined up for a field goal at the end of the game, in a legal scrimmage kick formation, only the snapper is exempt from the numbering requirements.and even then, a minimum of 4 lineman must be 50-79. a. True b. False RULING: - a. 38
On 4th Down, with Team A lined up for a field goal at the end of the game, in a legal scrimmage kick formation, only the snapper is exempt from the numbering requirements.and even then, a minimum of 4 lineman must be 50-79. a. True b. False RULING: - b. 39
40