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Football Officiating => NCAA Discussion => Topic started by: ElvisLives on June 29, 2026, 10:22:17 AM
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One hole in the SKF and numbering exceptions rule change was substitutions. Once a player was established as one of the "2 X 2" formation, we did not know for certain if he could be substituted (i.e., "2 X 2" player A88 is replaced by substitute A10, and A88 leaves the field).
I wrote to Shaw and received this answer (Note: In my question to him, A88 was a player in the established "2 X 2"):
"If Team A was set and the 2 X 2 established, then A88 cannot shift out of the 2 X 2 or he commits a foul. Team A may call Timeout and then reset the 2 X 2."
Steve Shaw
CFO National Coordinator of Football Officials
Secretary-Rules Editor, NCAA Football Rules Committee
AND
A fellow official received a similar reply from Shaw regarding this, which is below:
"And yes, once the 2 X 2 is set, those 5 players are ineligible by position, and they cannot shift or be substituted for. The only option to move or replace the players in a 2 X 2 is to call a timeout. "
So, there you have it. With these interpretations, the "2 X 2" players truly are locked in, once they are established (which means they and the snapper are on the line and within the TB). To my way of thinking, instead of "2 X 2", I will call them the "Fixed Five."
I hope your coordinators are aware of this, and pass this along to the coaches.
In full disclosure, I don't particularly like this interpretation, but I don't have to. We have it in writing (x 2). OK by me, if that's what they put in writing. And, with these, they did.
Now, about the Fair Catch Kick... hEaDbAnG