UC 9-5-1d
 

A defensive player cannot use....."disconcerting acts or words prior to the snap in an attempt to interfere with A's signals or movements.

I think it's pretty clear when the defense is trying to confuse things when they use their voice. But what are some of the things that you've seen or called which would fall under the category of "disconcerting acts?"

Barking like a dog.
Yelling "Hut, Hut, Hut."

B is free to call their own signals, yell instruction to ecah other, stomp their feet, etc. They are under no obligation to maintain silence for A's cadence. However, if B is calling Hut! Hut! or anything that that mimics A's cadence, then they are guilty of USC.

You can usually stop this with a warning to the defense.

I think sj is looking for disconcerting "acts" specifically, not "words".

Although the rule mentions a diconcerting act, I really don't think there is such a thing. I've been officiating a lot time and I've never seen act that would interfere with A's signal calling. I mean if Team B is doing the wave, A might find that annoying (as would I) but it should not bother their cadence. Team A's signal are verbal so how can an act affect that?

The "act" is in there to prevent the lawyer-coaches from saying, but my noseguard was BARKING - that's not a word!

I believe there was a high school basketball game a few years ago where a member of the offensive team got on all fours and started barking like a dog. When the defense turned to look the ball was inbounded for an easy layup. I'd rule that a disconcerting act but I'm not sure how it would help the defense in football. :cool:

If it drew a lineman offside or caused the center to flinch the ball, it would help the defense (if it was not illegal under this rule).

I beleive that somewhere in there is also includes players laying on the ground before the snap

REPLY: That's actually an illegal participation foul if done for the purpose of deceiveing opponenets.

Ah, thanks Bob, I knew it was something illegal... speaking of Illegel participation... actually I'll post a new thread on it.