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Football Officiating => NCAA Discussion => Topic started by: TXMike on December 15, 2013, 04:25:42 PM

Title: Mass. HS Exception ? Trick play
Post by: TXMike on December 15, 2013, 04:25:42 PM
Is there an exception in Mass. HS rules that makes this play legal?  This was one of the state championship games played recently


http://youtu.be/R8SIfGjzBCg
Title: Re: Mass. HS Exception ? Trick play
Post by: Etref on December 15, 2013, 06:29:53 PM
Wonder what he was saying?

If he says nothing he is just in motion,illegally!
Title: Re: Mass. HS Exception ? Trick play
Post by: Hawkeye on December 15, 2013, 06:36:38 PM
Is there an exception in Mass. HS rules that makes this play legal?  This was one of the state championship games played recently


http://youtu.be/R8SIfGjzBCg

No.
Title: Re: Mass. HS Exception ? Trick play
Post by: Legacy Zebra on December 15, 2013, 07:01:20 PM
Why would his motion be illegal?
Title: Re: Mass. HS Exception ? Trick play
Post by: Etref on December 15, 2013, 07:33:48 PM
Why would his motion be illegal?

He is under center and not on the line or in the backfield. If he stepped away and stopped then he could go in motion
Title: Re: Mass. HS Exception ? Trick play
Post by: TXMike on December 15, 2013, 07:40:17 PM
He was in a position to receive a hand-to-hand snap so that made him a back
Title: Re: Mass. HS Exception ? Trick play
Post by: dvasques on December 16, 2013, 08:07:14 AM
The motion is legal but the act deems the snap not imminent so not a legal play
Title: Re: Mass. HS Exception ? Trick play
Post by: psv on December 16, 2013, 08:30:20 AM
The motion is legal (right?), the centers hand is on the ball and the rest of the offense is lined up and  there IS someone back there to receive the snap, so I would say the snap is imminent. 

It is douchy, but what rules are actually being broken here.  Are we just saying that this just falls under Unfair Acts/Tactics, 9-2-2 and 9-2-3?

Title: Re: Mass. HS Exception ? Trick play
Post by: DallasLJ on December 16, 2013, 08:34:35 AM
The motion is legal (right?), the centers hand is on the ball and the rest of the offense is lined up and  there IS someone back there to receive the snap, so I would say the snap is imminent. 

It is douchy, but what rules are actually being broken here.  Are we just saying that this just falls under Unfair Acts/Tactics, 9-2-2 and 9-2-3?
  Yes. 
Title: Re: Mass. HS Exception ? Trick play
Post by: psv on December 16, 2013, 10:47:59 AM
Can we get this added then:

"All trick plays are illegal".  Lets say, 9-2-4 or -5 or something.

That would sure make our lives easier.  We (as in, the officiating community) seem to miss these a lot.
Title: Re: Mass. HS Exception ? Trick play
Post by: mwa on December 16, 2013, 11:15:15 AM
a similar play was in a  memo from November 13, 2009 from  RR.  It seems like this in not considered a "football act."

Second and 10 at the A-45. Quarterback A12 is in a “shotgun” formation. All players are stopped for a full second when A12 turns (no false start) and begins to trot toward his sideline in apparent confusion about what play is to be called or whether the coach wants to request a timeout. He is moving parallel to his end line and is almost to his sideline when the ball is snapped to A45 who is five yards behind the snapper. A45 then completes a forward pass to A12 for a long gain.

RULING: Unsportsmanlike conduct for an unfair act to deceive the opponents. The referee may impose any penalty he deems reasonable. In this case the penalty is for a live-ball foul, 15 yards at the previous spot and the down is repeated. Second and 25 at the A-30. (9-2-3-c)
Title: Re: Mass. HS Exception ? Trick play
Post by: Kalle on December 16, 2013, 03:21:57 PM
Can we get this added then:

"All trick plays are illegal".  Lets say, 9-2-4 or -5 or something.

That would sure make our lives easier.  We (as in, the officiating community) seem to miss these a lot.

Nah, legal trick plays are fun. What is missing from the rules is something to the effect that it is unsportsmanlike conduct to deceive the opponent that the snap is not imminent.
Title: Re: Mass. HS Exception ? Trick play
Post by: rickbridge on December 16, 2013, 03:36:42 PM
MWA is right.  As we all know MA uses NCAA rules in high school football.  This is a deception play and not in the spirit of fair play.  The play should have been shut down as soon as it was recognized as an illegal act.  Some trick plays are legal during live play, but this type of deception was pre-snap. The QBs action was an intentional act to distract the defense. You can see that he was holding his hand up near his head like he was asking for a play from the sideline. Team A should have been penalized 15yds for the UNS and re-try from the 18 yd. line.
Title: Re: Mass. HS Exception ? Trick play
Post by: Sumstine on December 16, 2013, 03:39:17 PM
a similar play was in a  memo from November 13, 2009 from  RR.  It seems like this in not considered a "football act."

Second and 10 at the A-45. Quarterback A12 is in a “shotgun” formation. All players are stopped for a full second when A12 turns (no false start) and begins to trot toward his sideline in apparent confusion about what play is to be called or whether the coach wants to request a timeout. He is moving parallel to his end line and is almost to his sideline when the ball is snapped to A45 who is five yards behind the snapper. A45 then completes a forward pass to A12 for a long gain.

RULING: Unsportsmanlike conduct for an unfair act to deceive the opponents. The referee may impose any penalty he deems reasonable. In this case the penalty is for a live-ball foul, 15 yards at the previous spot and the down is repeated. Second and 25 at the A-30. (9-2-3-c)

A hideout play is also not a football act, it should be officially included as a UNS. I like the idea of killing it at the snap and not having to go through the act of calling back the apparent game winning score.
Title: Re: Mass. HS Exception ? Trick play
Post by: NVFOA_Ump on December 16, 2013, 03:50:08 PM
Not any question that this one should have been shut down and drawn a flag.  As has been noted in RR's memos and here several times in the past, any pre-snap action intended to indicate that the snap is not imminent is illegal.  In the case here, there was also direct communication (or at least simulated communication) with the sideline, so we should have had a flag at the snap.
Title: Re: Mass. HS Exception ? Trick play
Post by: Rulesman on December 16, 2013, 03:54:35 PM
MWA is right.  As we all know MA uses NCAA rules in high school football.  This is a deception play and not in the spirit of fair play.  The play should have been shut down as soon as it was recognized as an illegal act.  Some trick plays are legal during live play, but this type of deception was pre-snap. The QBs action was an intentional act to distract the defense. You can see that he was holding his hand up near his head like he was asking for a play from the sideline. Team A should have been penalized 15yds for the UNS and re-try from the 18 yd. line.
NCAA rules; Fed rules. It doesn't matter. The "where's the tee?" play - the "we have the wrong ball!" play - the "what's the play?" play (which is what this was)... the interpretations are the same. These plays are illegal and should be penalized.
Title: Re: Mass. HS Exception ? Trick play
Post by: DallasLJ on December 16, 2013, 05:17:47 PM
NCAA rules; Fed rules. It doesn't matter. The "where's the tee?" play - the "we have the wrong ball!" play - the "what's the play?" play (which is what this was)... the interpretations are the same. These plays are illegal and should be penalized.
  Exactly.  Trick them with play design post snap.  Generally, if it happens before the snap and it seems "tricky" it is likely illegal.
Title: Re: Mass. HS Exception ? Trick play
Post by: Diablo on December 16, 2013, 06:06:06 PM
The "where's the tee?" play - the "we have the wrong ball!" play - the "what's the play?" play (which is what this was)... the interpretations are the same. These plays are illegal and should be penalized.

These sorts of pre-snap acts are more theatre than football.  And the players are actors rather than athletes.  Coaches who teach these should switch to coaching the thespian club.

If not caught, these "one act dramas" often end up having a significant impact on the outcome of the game.  Officials need to be diligent in sniffing them out.
Title: Re: Mass. HS Exception ? Trick play
Post by: Legacy Zebra on December 16, 2013, 08:45:43 PM
So does a specific person get "credit" for the UNS as one of their two for the game? Or is this like a sideline interference and such?
Title: Re: Mass. HS Exception ? Trick play
Post by: Kalle on December 17, 2013, 01:12:45 AM
So does a specific person get "credit" for the UNS as one of their two for the game? Or is this like a sideline interference and such?

In this case (and in the RR ruling) it would be the quarterback who gets hit with the penalty. The person doing the deception fouls.
Title: Re: Mass. HS Exception ? Trick play
Post by: Rulesman on December 17, 2013, 07:49:54 AM
So does a specific person get "credit" for the UNS as one of their two for the game?
You bet they do!  ^flag
Title: Re: Mass. HS Exception ? Trick play
Post by: Aussie-Zebra on December 17, 2013, 08:41:21 AM
idiot post deleted  pi1eOn
Title: Re: Mass. HS Exception ? Trick play
Post by: Kalle on December 17, 2013, 08:48:39 AM
Just thinking here >>>> What constitutes a legal snap ?

When in doubt, read rule 2: rule 2-23.
Title: Re: Mass. HS Exception ? Trick play
Post by: Aussie-Zebra on December 17, 2013, 08:51:31 AM
Thanks Kalle - I was looking for the definition.
Title: Re: Mass. HS Exception ? Trick play
Post by: JasonTX on December 17, 2013, 09:05:26 AM
In this play the ball was illegally snapped.
Unless I am missing something, what are you seeing that makes the snap itself illegal and not the play.
Title: Re: Mass. HS Exception ? Trick play
Post by: jg-me on December 17, 2013, 09:13:23 AM
While I do not see anything indicating an illegal snap, I do see a probable false start on the QB. Watch the action of his head just after he gets under center and prior to walking away.
Title: Re: Mass. HS Exception ? Trick play
Post by: Aussie-Zebra on December 17, 2013, 09:15:46 AM
sorry I missed it - I thought the centre took the ball over the line. - just caught it on another view - my bad.