Snapper In The Swinging Gate- High School Football

[CoachRob]

The situation is a PAT or a fourth down.  The formation in question features a snapper wearing jersey #32.  Five yards to his left are 6 men, all "on the line". Four of these players are numbered 50-79.  The far left end is wearing #7, the lineman on the right edge of that 6 man group is wearing #44.  There is a player behind that set of 6 linemen wearing #11.  To the snapper's right is a player lined up off the line wearing #15.
Standing behind the snapper at a distance of 7.5 yards is the QB/Holder directly to the right of this player stands the Kicker.
If a two point conversion attempt or fake FG is run from this formation, is the formation legal?  Is the Snapper an eligible receiver?

[TXMike]

HS in what state?  Mass and TX use NCAA rules.  Others use NFHS rules.

[mishatx]

Under NCAA rules, assuming your formation looks something like this:

Code: [Select]

7 50 55 60 65 44                 32
 11                                                               15


                                 12
                                       3


#44 is your numbering exception, #s 7, 11, 32, 15, 12, 3 are all eligible receivers.
You don't get to use the numbering exception if it's not obvious you might kick, so make sure your kicker lines up in a kicking position, and not "directly to the right" of the QB/Holder. 

[Jackhammer]

ART. 5 . . . Player formation and numbering requirements include:

a. At the snap, at least seven A players shall be on their line of scrimmage.

b. At the snap, at least five A players on their line of scrimmage must be numbered 50 to 79.

EXCEPTIONS:

1. On first, second or third down, when A sets or shifts into a scrimmage-kick formation as in 2-14-2a, the snapper may be a player numbered 1 to 49 or 80 to 99. If Team A has the snapper in the game under this exception, Team A shall have at least four players wearing numbers 50 to 79 on its line of scrimmage. The snapper in the game under this exception must be between the ends and is an ineligible forward-pass receiver during that down unless the pass is touched by B (7-5-6b).

2. On fourth down or during a kick try, when A sets or shifts into a scrimmage-kick formation, any A player numbered 1 to 49 or 80 to 99 may take the position of any A player numbered 50 to 79. A player in the game under this exception must assume an initial position on his line of scrimmage between the ends and he remains an ineligible forward-pass receiver during that down unless the pass is touched by B (7-5-6b)........

You must also reference the definition of a scrimmage kick formation 2-14-2

[CoachRob]

The state is Wisconsin.  So, I'm thinking this formation meets all the NFHS requirements for the fourth down or kick try that Jackhammer posted, if the kicker is aligned as mishatx posted.
Based on this, it would seem to be a legal formation.  So my next question then is- is anyone aware of a specific rule that prohibits the center from being an eligible receiver in this formation? 

[tow]

He is not in the game under the numbering exception criteria,he is eligible by position,he is eligible by number, he is eligible.

[LarryW60]

There is no rule that says the snapper cannot be eligible.  As Tow stated, if he wears an eligible number, is uncovered, and did not use the numbering rule exception (i.e. was covered, then subsequently uncovered during a shift), then he is an eligible receiver who also just happens to be snapping the ball.  If he had been covered at any time prior to the snap, then he would be ineligible for the remainder of the down.

[azsteam]

The state is Wisconsin.  So, I'm thinking this formation meets all the NFHS requirements for the fourth down or kick try that Jackhammer posted, if the kicker is aligned as mishatx posted.
Based on this, it would seem to be a legal formation.  So my next question then is- is anyone aware of a specific rule that prohibits the center from being an eligible receiver in this formation? 

The only time this would not be legal would be 1st, 2nd or 3rd down.  On 4th or try the center can be eligible using the number exception.  As long as there are 4 players wearing numbers 50 to 79 on its line of scrimmage.

If the team shifts out of this play as in lineup from mishatx number 44 would then be on the end of the line he would still be ineligible.

[Jackhammer]

Hey coach, where in WI?....I was in Janesville for 4 years and just had to recently relocate.

[CoachRob]

Milwaukee Hamilton.  Thanks for your input on this question.  We had run this as our PAT formation the first two weeks with no problems and last week the crew told us at halftime it was illegal.  Was pretty sure we were right but didn't have much ammo to argue to the contrary.

[Jackhammer]

Looks like they got their exception confused.  Looks like that might be a pre-game discussion item with your officiating crews the rest of the season for odd formations and the like...

Good luck

[HLinNC]

On 4th or try the center can be eligible using the number exception.  As long as there are 4 players wearing numbers 50 to 79 on its line of scrimmage.

  If a snapper lined up using the exception on 4th down or try, he must line up between the ends and is INeligible.

If he lined up as an end, with an eligible number, and there were 5 other A players numbered 50-79 on the LOS, THEN he would be eligible as A would not be availing themselves of the exception. 

[CoachRob]

Thanks for your posts.  It all helped me to put together a little pre-game sheet to go over with our team of officials. They all agreed the formation was legal and the snapper is eligible.  Now we have to get him open!

[ras10jr]

What if the kicker goes in motion and the holder receives the snap, rises, and throws a TD pass to the center?

[bama_stripes]

What if the kicker goes in motion and the holder receives the snap, rises, and throws a TD pass to the center?

Careful.  If the holder’s knee is still on the ground when he receives the snap, the play is over, since there’s no longer a player in position to make a kick.  He’d have to rise first to make this legal.