What's with "reporting"?

[Rich]

I could just scream. I've had this come up 3 times in 2 weeks.

Subvarsity coach wants to use a noneligible number in the backfield. The player comes up to me and "reports as eligible." I say, sorry, can't be eligible.....by number. Coach calls a time out just to talk to me about this.

I explained the rule. The coach swears that another crew flagged him for "not reporting." This wouldn't surprise me around here, to be honest. After a while, the coach also finally learned that "eligible" is not the word to use when you want to hand the ball to the runner.

I swear, the next time this happens, I'm just going to pretend to turn on a microphone and report number 78 eligible. Then I'm going to start flexing like Ed Hochuli.

Oh, I almost forgot. Last night (before a varsity game) an assistant coach asked me if 52 could line up in the backfield. Then he asked if 52 could catch a screen pass behind the line of scrimmage.

Oy.