Couple questions please and I hope it will turn out correctly so it easy to understand
Original Formation
#25 is the center
21 34 66 25 64 86 11
10 20 5
1
By rule once 25 the center puts his hands on the football numbers 34, 25, 86 become ineligible numbers by the fourth down numbering exception
First, let's assume you are talking about a 4th down (or try), and that #1 is at least 10 yards behind the line.
And 25 is a "snapper". He may or may not be the "center", but that doesn't matter.
As for "once the center puts his hands on the ball, the others become ineligible", his hands on the ball mean nothing. Suppose the snapper breaks the huddle early, runs to the line, adjusts the ball and gets set before anyone else gets there. Who is eligible now? The determining factor in their eligibility is where they are when they take their initial positions. That has notng to do wth the snapper putting his hands on the ball.
But I agree, once the assume the positions you have shown, they are in the game under the numbering exception, and are ineligible.
Now before the ball is snapped #20 shifts to be on the line to the right of number 86. He sets for the one second count.
Legal, and since his INITIAL position was not as an "excepted" number, he is currently ineligible by position, but not by number.
After all of Ks players are set #11 steps backwards and then goes in motion across the backfield and the ball is snapped.
#11 must step back and pause, establishing himself as a back. Otherwise, he must be 5 yards behind the line when the ball is snapped, or we have an illegal shift.
My question is when #20 places himself in a covered up position on the line has he now deemed himself ineligible under the 4th down numbering exception rule?
No, because he did not assume an INITIAL position under the exception, so he's not in the game as an exception.
Once a player becomes ineligible they remain ineligible throughout the play?
No. A player that starts as an ineligible remains ineligible. That's different than temporarily being inelgible during shifts.