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.