Numbering Exceptions

[ElvisLives]

Answer this for me:

How do I know if end is a numbering exception?

[dammitbobby]

We have to know their numbers. If he is part of the 2x2, and any of his or his fellow linemen's numbers are not 50-79, they all all locked in as exceptions. Unless I'm missing something?

[ElvisLives]

Oh, I’m mostly just expressing my annoyance with the language regarding numbering exceptions, which goes back a long way. Although better than the current language, the original language (1985) wasn’t as good as it could have been.

The current language says that an exception “…may not be on the end of the line.” That makes it seem like Team A has to, somehow, designate which players are the exceptions. They might send out numbers 80 through 86 as linemen. How do I know which of those were put into the game as ‘exceptions’? For all I know, they want 80 and 86 to be the two ends, and the other 5 are to be exceptions. Then 81, who was put into the game as an exception, takes a position on the end. Then what?

Yeah. I know. The intent is that, “When Team A is in a scrimmage kick formation, all linemen numbered OTHER than 50-79 who are in positions between the ends when the snapper is established are exceptions to mandatory numbering.”
Gee, that was hard to write.
Then, quite properly, all the rest of the language specifies that, once a player becomes an exception, he must remain an exception, i.e., he must be on the line and between the ends when the ball is snapped, and is ineligible per 7-3-3.

And now, we have a good addition to the rule that requires that there be two linemen on EACH side of the snapper, and within/touching the tackle box, when Team A establishes a SKF. Apparently, all five of those players are ineligible - even if one of those “2x2” players is in an end position on that side of the line and wearing a number other than 50-79. So, say that. Geez.
It just ain’t that difficult.

[bossman72]

Answer this for me:

How do I know if end is a numbering exception?

You touched on this in your other post. I know the rule talks about replacing ineligible numbers with eligible numbers and those people are "numbering exceptions", but I've always found it easier to interpret the rule as "Just ignore the numbering rules on this play".  lol

[Morningrise]

You touched on this in your other post. I know the rule talks about replacing ineligible numbers with eligible numbers and those people are "numbering exceptions", but I've always found it easier to interpret the rule as "Just ignore the numbering rules on this play".  lol

Formation-wise, yes.
If you have a 2x2 in the tackle box, then your formation is legal, always.* Numbers don't matter. So that's easy.
If you don't, then you get no numbering exceptions at all, you better have five 50-79. So that's easy too.
* as long as nobody in the 2x2 shifts

Eligibility-wise, though, there's one tricky part of the new rule, and it happens when the tackle is on the end. Suppose you have 2x2 but the left tackle is the end and you instead have two gunners on the right, both on the line so one is covered up. And suppose the left tackle's number is 4. Is he eligible?

It depends on the other linemen's numbers.
(1) If you have five 50-79 then there are no numbering exceptions, normal eligibility applies, and the tackle #4 is eligible because he's an end.
(2) If you don't, then you're using numbering exceptions, and everyone in the 2x2 is ineligible by rule, even if the tackle is an end.

Presumably teams would trot out (1) only rarely because their punt team has fast guys instead of big guys with 50-79... except for the fact that, by using the jersey switch technique, they could make tackle #4 eligible if they wanted.

[ElvisLives]

Somebody get authoritative answers to these questions:

4/10, A-40, 6:00 (1) and running, A=7, B=0. After the ball is ready for play, Team A assumes the following formation (^ = ball, A12 is at least 10 yards behind the NZ):
STEP 1
                           ^
89              87 85 99 84 82                80
                 

                      39      38  36


                           12

After all team A players have fully stopped for at least one full second, A36 moves onto the line:
STEP 2
                           ^
89              87 85 99 84 82      36      80
                 

                      39      38


                           12

After all team A players have fully stopped for at least one full second, A36 moves to the right end of the line, and, again all players stop for one full second and the ball is snapped:
STEP 3A
                           ^
89              87 85 99 84 82               80    36
                 

                      39      38


                           12

Legal formation?

By strict reading of the new rule language, and by text in the 2026 Redding Guide, the ONLY players that are allowed to be exceptions to mandatory numbering are the five "2x2" linemen. However, there is no rule that prohibits more than seven linemen. So, when A36 moves onto the line in Step 2, we know he is ineligible by position (interior lineman). But, is he a "exception to mandatory numbering?" By the new language, no. So, when he moves to the end of the line in Step 3A, is he now eligible?

Or, since he isn't an exception to mandatory numbering, is he allowed to do this (STEP 3B, move from the right slot to the left slot)?:
STEP 3B

                          ^
89      36   87 85 99 84 82                 80
                 

                      39      38


                          12

Or, is every lineman wearing a number other than 50-79 who is positioned between the ends an exception to mandatory numbering, but only the five "2x2" linemen are prohibited from changing positions on the line?