Sleeper Play

[Grey Hare]

Not only could this be considered an illegal snap, but look at all of the "movement" by the other team members once the QB goes "in motion"! At the very least this is a penalty for illegal shift, not to mention the obvious unsportsmanlike situation. Also, I sure hope the wings were anticipating the QB taking a knee, but even so, the wing at the top of the screen was WAY TOO CLOSE.

GH

[waltjp]

Originally Posted by Grey Hare

Not only could this be considered an illegal snap, but look at all of the "movement" by the other team members once the QB goes "in motion"! At the very least this is a penalty for illegal shift, not to mention the obvious unsportsmanlike situation. Also, I sure hope the wings were anticipating the QB taking a knee, but even so, the wing at the top of the screen was WAY TOO CLOSE.

GH

The QB was not in motion. He had the ball.

[waltjp]

From Redding (Pg 104) -

Unfair Acts

Unfair acts may include sideline personnel or others subject to the rules interfering with the ball or a player during play, acts which make a travesty of the game, repeated half-the-distance fouls to prevent a score or other deliberated delays, or any other such act not specifically covered by the rules. The referee has broad authority to enforce any equitable penalty, including awarding a score, for unfair acts. He may also declare a forfeit for repeated delays (9-9 Pen).

(clipped)

Football has traditionally been a game of deception and trickery. There is both legal deception, e.g., faking a kick, and illegal deception e.g., hiding a ball under a jersey. Also, multiple shifts, unusual formations and creative plays are accepted practices. However, actions or verbiage designed to confuse the defense into believing there is a problem and a snap is not imminent, are not legal. This includes pretending to have a problem with the play that has been called, an equipment problem with a shoe, the ball or kicking tee, etc. and feigning an injury. A good rule of thumb to follow is that if an act appears to be unfair, it probably is contrary to the rules.



(Emphasis added)

[Grey Hare]

Rats..............
I guess you are right about that. I was looking too hard for something other than USC.

GH

[Jim D]

Because it clearly is an unfair act under rule 9.9.3, it can be called unsportsmanlike but penalized from the previous spot since this would be the equitable ruling. Reddings points this out.

[mcrowder]

I have no audio on the thing for some reason... so I'm assuming there was some sort of, "Coach, this is the wrong ball" or something of the sort. If not, this is no more illegal than the play where Andre Ware walked away from under center hollering at the WR, and the ball was snapped directly to "RB" David Klingler, with Ware sprinting down the field uncovered.

So assuming something verbal, I also have USC.

But those calling this snap illegal are WRONG in both codes. In fact, there is a team that snaps the ball like this quite often (usually to a shotgun QB though). The snap must be continuous, and backward - this snap was exactly that, and was actually quite common long ago.

[Jim D]

9.9.3 Situation B talks about the difference between creative plays and illegal acts. It says "...actions or verbiage designed to confuse the defense into believing there is a problem and a snap isn't imminent is beyond the scope of sportsmanship and is illegal."

To me, that tells me the Andre Ware play you describe would be illegal under NFHS rules.

PS - I didn't have audio either but watch the coach on the sideline holding up the "correct" ball for everyone to see.

[waltjp]

Originally Posted by mcrowder

I have no audio on the thing for some reason... so I'm assuming there was some sort of, "Coach, this is the wrong ball" or something of the sort. If not, this is no more illegal than the play where Andre Ware walked away from under center hollering at the WR, and the ball was snapped directly to "RB" David Klingler, with Ware sprinting down the field uncovered.

So assuming something verbal, I also have USC.

But those calling this snap illegal are WRONG in both codes. In fact, there is a team that snaps the ball like this quite often (usually to a shotgun QB though). The snap must be continuous, and backward - this snap was exactly that, and was actually quite common long ago.

You could clearly hear someone, the narrator said it was the center, yelling that they had the wrong ball.