Clarification on Center in Shotgun

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by Coachwith???

Simple question, but I can't remember the answer and can't find my rule book: Can a D lineman be over the center when the QB is in the shotgun? I know they cannot on a kicking play, not sure about a non-kicking play.

The restrictions adopted by Fed & NCAA regarding play from "scrimmage kick formation" (regardless of whether it turns out to be a kicking play) have nothing to do with where players of team B line up (unless you get into pyramiding), but only with their action once play begins. The canard has gotten around widely that players of B are forbidden to line up in the vicinity of the snapper, when it's not about that at all, but only whether they charge directly into the snapper.

There are many youth football circuits in which lining up within a certain distance of the snapper is forbidden to the defense.