Through the years since the numbering exception rules were redone to get rid of the A11-offense I think high school officiating, on average, has slipped in regards to the swinging gate type of formations in regards to the numbering exception. In a section playoff semi-final last season I called a team our unit regularly covers for an Illegal Formation because they had 4-players numbered 50-79 in a swinging gate formation and the snapper was an eligible number with the QB in a shot-gun formation which they ran a play from on a 2-point Try attempt. When I called it the Head Coach was irate and said he had done it all year. In this case, he was probably telling the truth. Other schools from out of my area who come into my area have done this with a QB in shot-gun using the eligible-numbered snapper and less than 5-player 50-79 and I caught it which left their heads spinning because it wasn't ever called by their regular officials where they're from.
For the numbering exception to be used the snapper must be covered up so he is ineligible by position AND the holder and kicker must be in their normal scrimmage kick positions. I saw one team legally take advantage of this by having 5 linemen 50-79 but the long snapper was an eligible number. So this particular swinging gate formation with a QB in a shot-gun formation was made legal by NOT using the numbering exception on a long snap. Often many Umpires forget to count their 5-players numbered 50-79, it is particularly important on scrimmage kicks to do this and to know when the numbering exception is being used, thusly, it is important for the U to master the numbering exception rule.
Two things:
1) Yes, to legally use the numbering except, a snapper, wearing an eligible number, has to be covered up and remains ineligible during the down, but, only on a down less than 4. (7-2-5b EXCEPTION 1)
2) On 4th Down or during a Try, the snapper may wear an eligible AND may be in an eligible position.
3) Team A/K can shift all they want, as, all of the fouls listed in 7-2-5 may only occur:
At the snap...Watching a lot of (
this means too much) video, I have noticed a common situation that gets missed:
During a Try they line up in a swinging gate formation, pause, and then shift back into a regular (non-kicking) formation!
They snap the football (going for 2) with only 4 lineman numbered 50-79. This is
Illegal Numbering for a violation of
7-2-5aNow when they were in the Swinging Gate formation, just as long as they ALSO meet either of the formation requirements described in 2-14-2a or 2-14-2b,
they could legally run a play as per 7-2-5b EXCEPTION 2.
Remember, while some will argue this is a whole hell of a lot of wording, (and I agree) since there is no foul until the snap the football (exception DOG)... so
when the shift back into a regular scrimmage play with on FOUR 50-79 lineman, your radar should go up and that one foul should not get missed.