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Football Officiating => National Federation Discussion => Topic started by: NAUmp on October 03, 2010, 06:06:47 PM

Title: 4th Down Shift From Shotgun Into Punt Formation
Post by: NAUmp on October 03, 2010, 06:06:47 PM
4th & 4, A lines up in shotgun formation.  After RFP, QB shifts back to about 15 yards deep and linemen who had been out wide move into punt protection positions (no, none of their hands were "on or near the ground before they shifted).  35 year B/R coach comes unglued claiming that it's in both the rule book and case book that if they didn't shift during the prior series like this, then they can't do so now.  (A had not shifted like this their prior series when they punted with 4th & 10 to go.)  After second half choices, this coach called me over and even said he had gotten a National Federation ruling that it was illegal for them to shift into kick formation if they hadn't done so the previous series.  (We believe his "ruling" came from a guy on his sideline that told our chain crew he was a State evaluator from South Ala. whose grandson was playing on that coach's team and was watching the game from the sideline.)

Has ANYONE ever heard of a rule like this?  ??? ???
Title: Re: 4th Down Shift From Shotgun Into Punt Formation
Post by: AlUpstateNY on October 03, 2010, 10:00:22 PM
Sounds like someone was trying to pull your leg.  Might have been the coach, or it could have been the phantom "State evaluator".
Title: Re: 4th Down Shift From Shotgun Into Punt Formation
Post by: LarryW60 on October 04, 2010, 08:08:51 AM
Just another one of those "Good ol' boy" rules that appear out of the ether when it will benefit a coach.  We need to start compiling a list of rules "quoted" by coaches that have no relation to rules at ANY level of play.  LOL
Title: Re: 4th Down Shift From Shotgun Into Punt Formation
Post by: busman on October 04, 2010, 10:09:02 AM
AL - I'm sorry, but you are wrong.  The observer was from Alabama.  Just ask your southern friends.  Anyone from Alabama knows everything there is to know about football.  Maybe that word hasn't made it up to Up-State New York yet.
Title: Re: 4th Down Shift From Shotgun Into Punt Formation
Post by: LAZebra on October 05, 2010, 02:20:55 PM
Hey! Hey! Hey! Why all the venom for Alabama?  We are not so bad; and many of us are not even fans of that school in Tuscalooser.  That is where the know it all, pain in the butt, types can be found. >:D
Title: Re: 4th Down Shift From Shotgun Into Punt Formation
Post by: busman on October 05, 2010, 02:38:04 PM
Where's all the venom coming from?

Working five years in the GSC.
Title: Re: 4th Down Shift From Shotgun Into Punt Formation
Post by: bama_stripes on October 05, 2010, 04:03:02 PM
Quote from: LAZebra on October 05, 2010, 02:20:55 PM
Hey! Hey! Hey! Why all the venom for Alabama?  We are not so bad; and many of us are not even fans of that school in Tuscalooser.  That is where the know it all, pain in the butt, types can be found. >:D

You meant "the know it all, pain in the butt, defending National Champion & currently Number One in the country" types, right?   >:D
Title: Re: 4th Down Shift From Shotgun Into Punt Formation
Post by: RMR on October 06, 2010, 09:23:17 AM
Let's think about this for a second.

If, in order to be legal, it must be done on the previous series, then how can it be done for the first time in a game?

Do they need game film from last week to prove they did it then?  And how did they get to do it for the first time, having never done it previously, thus not being able to meet the previous series requirement?