Secondly, simply changing a rule to read that a team must have 5 on the LoS and no more than 4 in the backfield, also changes the number of participants a team may play with if fewer than 11 (which used to be 8, including a back to snap to, now this number is 6.) Technically, rewriting this rule cleared nothing up and did not make anything easier in identifying legal or illegal formations. The rules committee tried to fix what was not broken. However, I would like an example of how it was broken, in their opinion.
If they only have 6 or 8 players we have much bigger issues than formations. I don't think the minimum number of players is or should be a concern of the rules committee. What they fixed here was a situation where a team only sent out 10 players (usually on a scrimmage kick but occasionally on a regular scrimmage play) and the missing player was a lineman (could be a receiver who was supposed to be on the line). They are already playing at a disadvantage because they are short a player, but they also commit a foul for an illegal formation because they didn't have 7 on the line. Most crews counted backs anyway because it's much easier to see them and quicker to count so this rule change was perfectly logical. Trying to turn it into a minimum number of players before forfeiting is digging into weeds that don't need to be touched.
Then we run into the situation of having "at least 4 on each side of the kicker for a free kick." While I understand that this rule is intended to avoid an unbalanced side for an onside kick, it now means that a team cannot continue to participate with fewer than 9 players for its kickoff. This rule should have been rewritten to say that "at the time of the kick, no more than 6 players may be on either side of the kicker." Stating it this way, in no way changes how few players a team may participate with, if fewer than 11 as well as keeps one side from being overloaded. It is obvious that if 6 on one side, there must be a kicker and 4 on the other side of the kicker making 11 and also allows for 5 and 5.
Every good crew I've ever talked with will not start a free kick if there aren't exactly 11 players on both sides. If they have fewer than 11 available to play I'm not likely allowing the game to continue unless everyone agrees to continue under somewhat modified rules (i.e. numbering could be an issue depending on what they have left). Again, the important criteria here isn't what is the minimum number of players you can get away playing with.
So, as written, a team may play with 6 (new) until they have to kickoff. At that point, the game is forfeited.[/quote]
SMH at the rules committee for the past 3 years. Seemingly, they have no concept of the game of football, much less how to properly implement rule changes and everything affected by them. Rules should be black and white, like the shirts we wear. However, it is easy to get 3 different interpretations out of veteran officials because of the way the rule book is now written. I am also guessing these guys never had to study these rules for an exam or to go out and actually work a game. If they had, they would/should know.
Mike
It's really easy to be critical of the rules committee, But like us officials on the field, they are human and it's not easy to be perfect. Adding the statement about the minimum of 5 on the line was unnecessary and has created a lot of confusion, but they didn't put it there because they are idiots or were trying to be difficult. They thought it would help clarify and support the rule. They strive to make the rules black and white but that is also impossible.
I hope your post was somewhat satirical and mocking some of the things people post on discussion forums. But if not I hope you take my words as common sense approaches to understanding the rules rather than just knowing the rules. That's what separates really good officials from excellent officials.
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