I was privileged to make a virtual presentation to all members of TASO-Football Division last Wednesday evening, 6/29, regarding three topics, one of which was the required Absolute Stop with a One-Second Pause following a huddle or shift by the offense before they can snap the ball. During that presentation, rules 7-1-2-a and 7-1-2-b-5 were discussed. 7-1-2-a is an Illegal Shift, which is a live-ball foul. 7-1-2-b-5 is an illegal shift that converts to a false start, and is a dead-ball foul.
During that discussion, I made the statement that, when Team A huddles and all players have come to an absolute stop and pause in the huddle for at least one second, that satisfies rule 7-1-2-b-5; so, if they subsequently fail to come to an absolute stop and pause one second before they snap they ball, that is a 7-1-2-a live-ball foul for an illegal shift. This statement appeared to cause much discussion, and disagreement, in the 'chat room.'
Strict reading of the rules in 7-1-2 (as they exist today, still) would support my understanding of the rules at that time. And I knew of no ARs or bulletins that offered a differing interpretation.
During subsequent off-line discussions of the related rules, I was made aware of an NCAA/CFO bulletin issued 7/15/13, which contains conclusive and authoritative direction regarding this action. The specific play situation that covers this issue is below. It clearly tells us that when a team breaks a huddle and players assume actual pre-snap positions, rule 7-1-2-b-5 applies, and this an illegal shift that coverts to a false start. When the snapper begins to move the ball for an apparent snap, the ball does not become alive, and the game officials are to stop all action, and complete the penalty for a False Start.
NCAA/CFO bulletin, "10-Second Runoff: Play Situations," issued July 15, 2013, was issued to cover a multitude of situations related to the 10-Second Subtraction (runoff). However, the following item from that bulleting, under the sub-heading, "Foul that Causes the Game Clock to Stop," coincidentally, offers conclusive direction regarding Team A breaking a huddle and assuming pre-snap positions:
3. As Team A breaks its huddle, A22 and A33 continue in motion laterally as their teammates all stop and set into their positions. A22 comes to a stop but A33 continues his motion at the snap. All eleven players are never set for one second before the ball is snapped.
RULING: The officials shut down the play at the snap: Dead-ball foul, illegal shift that converts to a false start. Five-yard penalty. Team B has the option of a 10-second runoff. Team A may avoid the runoff by being granted a team timeout. Play clock: 25 seconds. Game clock starts on the referee’s signal if there is a 10-second runoff and on the snap if there is no runoff.
Without this bulletin, as I previously stated, strict reading of the rule language, even today, does not truly support this ruling. I pride myself in maintaining and studying bulletins. However, in this case, I had 'retired' from officiating on December 26, 2012, had cleared my home office of most of my officiating materials, and stopped following current events in football officiating (at all levels). Then, when I grew to miss this avocation, I decided to return to officiating in 2017 (UIL HS football). I made a concerted effort to collect bulletins from 2013-2016. Unfortunately, somehow, this very important bulletin, issued 7/15/13, escaped my net.
So, I stand educated (and corrected). A huddle does NOT qualify as a stop and pause by Team A, for the purposes of rule 7-1-2-b-5. If they subsequently move to pre-snap positions and fail to stop and pause before the snap begins, that is a dead-ball illegal shift that coverts to a False Start.
Two lessons:
1) We must obtain and study all bulletins in their entirety, as they may contain information not directly related to the 'headline' subject matter, and
2) We never stop learning.
Have a great and safe 4th of July weekend. I love America.
