Word from 'on high' regarding the "2 X 2" formation

[ElvisLives]

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...

[ElvisLives]

If you are on RefQuest, and get their quizzes, the most recent quiz included 2 questions directly related to 2026 SKFs and numbering exceptions (questions 1 and 2). Both questions started with the same fully set non-scrimmage kick formation, without a legal "2X2" sub-formation, but with the snapper in position, then followed by

Q1) two backs wearing numbers 50-79 moving onto the line, placing 5 linemen numbered 50-79 on the line, and

Q2) an existing lineman wearing an ‘eligible’ number, but positioned outside the tackle box, then moving to a position within the tackle box to, ostensibly, create a “2x2” sub-formation.

In both cases, the ruling was a live-ball Team A illegal formation foul. The rationale matches the information that I and a fellow official had each received, independently, from Shaw, which I referenced in the previous post. Once Team A establishes a formation without 5 linemen numbered 50-79, or a formation without a proper “2X2” sub-formation, Team A can not make any sort of a shift or player position change to create a legal formation.
 
In Q1), even though they ultimately had 5 linemen numbered 50-79, they didn’t start that way when the team first came fully set, which they must, if the formation otherwise appears to be a SKF. If they snap the ball from that formation 'adjusted' formation, they commit two illegal formation fouls - one for not have 5 linemen numbered 50-79, and one for not having a legal "2X2" sub-formation within a scrimmage kick formation.
 
In Q2), Team A may not add anybody within the tackle box to attempt to create a legal “2X2” sub-formation. If they snap from this 'adjusted' formation, they commit an illegal formation foul for not having a legal "2X2" sub-formation within a scrimmage kick formation.

While I was hoping Shaw would issue a bulletin expounding on these situations, he hasn’t done that yet. But the rulings in these questions certainly support the information previously received. I only wish he had included a scenario in which Team A attempted a substitution within a complete, and initially legal, “2X2” sub-formation. But, his previous information made it clear that making a substitution can’t ‘fix’ anything, either.

The bottom line is that, if Team A starts with 5 linemen numbered 50-79, all players may move or shift however they want (without committing a false start). But, once they have a fully set 'apparent' scrimmage kick formation (with the snapper in position) with fewer than 5 linemen they MUST have a legal "2X2" sub-formation, and they can't, thereafter, 'fix' the sub-formation by moving players into, or out of, the "2X2". They can only avoid a live-ball illegal formation foul by being granted a team time-out, or if the game is interrupted by a referee's time out (for some administrative task, like a pre-snap foul, problem with the clocks or chains, down number confusion, etc.).

It just gets easier and easier, eh?

[blindtxzebra]

Maybe we will get a bulletin soon.

[ElvisLives]

Maybe we will get a bulletin soon.

Yes, let’s hope.

I just got another piece of information, that is very different than what we had been hearing. This came from an FBS coordinator (indirectly to me, since I’m not in FBS any more, and not from an FBS official). But, from somebody at that level, I would hope that we could believe it to be authoritative.

———————————————————————

Upon further review, I am now thinking I misinterpreted what the source said. If I did, I take 50% blame, and assign 50% blame to the source, for not making clear what he was trying to say. But, for now, I will leave it at that, except to say that there is no doubt that once Team A has come to their initial team ‘set,’ and the snapper is in his position, the 2X2 ‘box’ (if it exists) is set and locked, there can be no position changes that affect the 2X2. If Team A has 5 linemen numbered 50-79, then there is no 2X2, even if there are interior linemen with ‘eligible’ numbers (they are ineligible), and Team A player(s) may move/shift all they want (if they don’t false start).

[FWREF]

Question for the following situation. Team A is in a legal SKF without 5 lineman numbered 50 - 79. When the center sets the formation by addressing the ball, Team A has a 2x1 formation instead of a 2x2 formation with only 10 players on the field. The 11th team A player runs onto the field late and lines up in the left tackle position, creating a 2x2 formation. No one shifted or moved into the 2x2 formation after the formation was set. Just one player missed his assignment and came on to the field late. Since the team A player comes into the 2x2 after the center is over the ball, is this a foul for an illegal formation? Or do we allow the "late" player to come in and make the formation legal 

[ElvisLives]

Question for the following situation. Team A is in a legal SKF without 5 lineman numbered 50 - 79. When the center sets the formation by addressing the ball, Team A has a 2x1 formation instead of a 2x2 formation with only 10 players on the field. The 11th team A player runs onto the field late and lines up in the left tackle position, creating a 2x2 formation. No one shifted or moved into the 2x2 formation after the formation was set. Just one player missed his assignment and came on to the field late. Since the team A player comes into the 2x2 after the center is over the ball, is this a foul for an illegal formation? Or do we allow the "late" player to come in and make the formation legal

I have it writing from Shaw that, once the numbering exceptions box is established (what is called the “2X2”), nothing can be changed about it. No movement within the box, no subtraction from the box, and no addition can be made (by any player(s) changing position or by a substitute entering the game to fill a vacancy). One the box is set, it is fixed and locked. The only way out of an illegal formation foul is a timeout (charged team time out, or an administrative time out).
The snapper does not need to “address” the ball. He only needs to be “in position,” which is not defined, but is generally agreed that he has stepped up onto the line and stopped.
The other thing that has to have happened is that Team A must all come to a complete stop and paused for a second. Anytime from that instant on, when the snapper is in position, the box is fixed and locked. They’d better be right at that point, or they will have an illegal formation foul at the snap, unless they take a time out.

[blindtxzebra]

Question for the following situation. Team A is in a legal SKF without 5 lineman numbered 50 - 79. When the center sets the formation by addressing the ball, Team A has a 2x1 formation instead of a 2x2 formation with only 10 players on the field. The 11th team A player runs onto the field late and lines up in the left tackle position, creating a 2x2 formation. No one shifted or moved into the 2x2 formation after the formation was set. Just one player missed his assignment and came on to the field late. Since the team A player comes into the 2x2 after the center is over the ball, is this a foul for an illegal formation? Or do we allow the "late" player to come in and make the formation legal

This is going to be legal as we treat this as a substitution, the C/U holds up the snap and the defense is allowed to match. There is no deception, legal.

[ElvisLives]

This is going to be legal as we treat this as a substitution, the C/U holds up the snap and the defense is allowed to match. There is no deception, legal.

From Steve Shaw:
"If the snapper is in place and the team is in formation and set, you can’t shift from a 2 X 1 into a 2 X 2.  If the team isn’t set or still in the huddle (or even a muddle huddle) you can move into a 2 X 2.  If the offense does not have 5 linemen numbered 50 – 79, when the snapper is in place and they first all come set, they must be in the 2 X 2."
"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. "

Now, I will admit that sending a substitute into the game to fill a player vacancy within the ‘numbering exceptions box’ (my term),’ isn’t necessarily specifically addressed with this ruling. But, if they can’t fix a 2x1 by moving a player into the ‘box,’ and they can’t replace a “2X2” player with a substitute, IMHO, it stands to reason they can’t fix a 2x1 by sending in a substitute. Shaw keeps telling us that, once the formation is officially established, it can’t be fixed without taking a time out. Officially established means two things: 1) the entire team on the field (even if less than 11 players) has fully stopped and paused for one full second, and 2) the snapper is in position. At the instant both are satisfied, the ‘numbering exceptions box’ is fixed and locked. No player(s) or substitute(s) may move into it; no player(s) may depart it; and no player(s) inside it can change positions inside it.
Shaw keeps insisting that Team A must get the “2X2” right the first time they present it. If that is the case, then a vacancy within the established ‘numbering exceptions box’ may not be filled.

I am hearing that Shaw is not responding to rule inquiries these days (lame duck syndrome). But, if someone else can get his attention specifically regarding a substitute entering the game to fill a vacancy within the established ‘numbering exceptions box,’ then, maybe the final gap in the rule will be filled.
Until then, I will rule a substitution into the established ‘numbering exceptions box’ as illegal, and a live-ball foul at the snap.

OK, with Matt Young’s bulletin today, we now know that a PLAYER VACANCY within the established numbering exceptions box is legal. Just know what a player vacancy is.

[blindtxzebra]

This is going to be legal as we treat this as a substitution, the C/U holds up the snap and the defense is allowed to match. There is no deception, legal.