What's with "reporting"?

[grantsrc]

Originally Posted by Smiley

In a Middle School playoff game last night, the visiting team had only 13 players. On their first offensive snap, I noticed they only had three players numbered 50-79 on the line. I flagged them and the defense declined the penalty. Then I went over to explain to the visiting coach who was hollering, "we don't have any more lineman numbers." As I approached his sideline, it was readily apparent he was correct, since the two on the sideline were 80 and 5. I then spoke to the home coach, who said he was OK with letting them play, so we just pretended the scrimmage kick numbering exception was in effect on all offensive plays by the visiting team.

The visiting coach claimed they had played all year that way, and nobody ever flagged them.

JMHO, I would let something like this slide for MS games, BUT I would certainly talk with the coach and remind him that this should be addressed. We have a hard enough time remember everything, let alone the numbers of the eligibles when wearing non-eligible numbers. Now when it gets to Sophomores and JV, they should be aware of this, should is the operative word. Heck, I've had a JV college game with a tackle wearing 90. Now that I think about it, same thing in a varsity college game. Heck, maybe they will never get it right.

[Smiley]

Yeah, I told the home coach we would do our best, but might miss an ineligible downfield. He was OK with it.

We have been told to enforce the rule even at the middle school level. This team is from outside our coverage area, but has played in our area before. I reported the occurrence to my assigner.

[ABoselli]

A coach last night in a college game had the F come in and ask me why we didn't have a 10 second runoff after a foul by A near the end of the 1st half.

Same coach wanted to know if 57 had reported as eligible for the opponents because he was on the end of the line during their last punt.