If you overhear something...
 

I had NF in mind, but anyone can answer. This did not happen, just a little something I thought up (nothing too great by I hope it sparks some discussion)...

We all know the "wrong ball" ("where's the tee?", etc.) play is illegal. We all know this, there should be no debate. If a coach asked the R/U about the play during their pregame conference with him they would tell him it is an illegal play.

Here's the question: While near the sideline you hear a coach tell a player something to the effect of "take the snap, walk towards the sideline yelling 'wrong ball,' once you are outside the defenders, take off toward the end zone." At that point do you say anything to the coach about the blatant illegality of the play? How else might you approach it?

Just like a foul that's not a foul until the snap, I'd wait until they ran it and then call it back. They could always change their minds or the defense could call time out. Any number of things could happen.

What O&B said.

Peace

Preventive officiating, let him know before he goes that you are going to flag it if they do what he has directed. He will likely have to call a timeout or go ahead and run the play which will be flagged but at least he was warned.

I agree with mike
 

I see this as no different than telling him before the game.

This past Saturday in a 9-10 year old pee wee game pregame the coach told us about a trick play he was going to run. You know which one it is! I told him it was a 15 yard USC. I asked him if he had seen it on Utube, he said he saw it on Real TV. I also told it would not work because the league supplies the game ball. He walked back to the sidelines, head down like we took away his favorite toy.

As Mike says, tell him he cannot do it, why, and what the penalty would be. Prevent something like that "if" you can.

I agree. It's best not to go looking for trouble. By saying something, you're likely to start an unnecessary argument with the Coach.

Like I tell my daughters, just because they do it on T.V. does not mean it's right.:p

You cannot have an argument if only 1 person is arguing. All you are doing is saying if it is run it is flagged. He can rant and rave all he wants but there is no further response required from you. Maybe the reason you fellas are so quick to think there will be a confrontation is because you are used to having confrontations. I have given warnings like that many times and never had an argument.

Pregame, we answer whatever questions the coach has and discuss plays like this. During the game, I'm not saying a word. Not my job to tell the coach what to run, or what is legal/illegal.

Heck, it even made it to Sports Illustrated this past week. I wonder how many letters they will receive about it because it made no mention that the play was illegal.

Mike
I know if you have had any degree of training in Texas you have heard "preventative officiating" over and over and over. That is what it is about.

I agree with all the ideas above on stopping an illegal play before they have any chance of running it. However the original question was not illegal.

It is illegal to deceive the defense into thinking the ball won't be snapped or that there is a problem prior to the snap. There is no rule about doing things after the snap that would make the defense think there was a problem. If the offense wants to snap the ball without having anyone move to block and just let the QB walk across the field then good luck to them. They are just asking for a loss on the play.

9-9-1 & 4
 

that type of deception has nothing to do with the game of football.....nothing at all, not even close. Warren if there really were a problem and the qb was walking to the sidelines, are you saying that the defense could blast him??? Because, if you don't allow the defense to blast him in the actual dead ball situation, how can you expect them to know that they can in this situation......SHUT IT DOWN....preferably before it makes it to the huddle :)

I'd be inclined to say nothing and let them run the play if they want. Coaches must know we can hear what they're saying, and sometimes they're looking for a reaction from us. I'd let it go. If he isn't smart enough to run something like that by the officials, then he probably shouldn't be the head coach.

This is a dead ball foul and as soon as the QB says, "Coach, wrong ball." You should kill, throw the flag, and mark off the 15 yard penalty.

See the following case play:
<TABLE cellSpacing=4 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=nfhsMainFtMdBld vAlign=top noWrap>9.9.3 Situation B:</TD><TD class=nfhsMainFtMd vAlign=top align=left colSpan=4>From a field goal formation, potential kicker A1 yells, “Where’s the tee?” A2 replies, “I’ll go get it” and goes legally in motion toward his team’s sideline. Ball is snapped to A1 who throws a touchdown pass to A2.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=nfhsMainFtMd vAlign=top align=right>Ruling:</TD><TD class=nfhsMainFtMd align=left colSpan=4>Unsportsmanlike conduct prior to snap. The ball should be declared dead and the foul enforced as a dead-ball foul.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=nfhsMainFtMd vAlign=top noWrap align=right>Comment:</TD><TD class=nfhsMainFtMd align=left colSpan=4>Football has been and always will be a game of deception and trickery involving multiple shifts, unusual formations and creative plays. However, actions or verbiage designed to confuse the defense into believing there is problem and a snap isn’t imminent is beyond the scope of sportsmanship and is illegal.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

You guys are missing the point. THERE WAS NO DECEPTION PRIOR TO THE SNAP. All indication of a problem happened after the ball was snapped. How are you going to justify killing a live ball seconds after the snap?

grantsrc even quoted the case book play.

Comment: Football has been and always will be a game of deception and trickery involving multiple shifts, unusual formations and creative plays. However, actions or verbiage designed to confuse the defense into believing there is problem and a snap isn’t imminent is beyond the scope of sportsmanship and is illegal.

This snap was made with no deception.

cmathews - If the QB has the ball and is walking toward the sideline and we haven't blown our whistles then guess what, he is fair game. If there is a problem then we will have stopped things. I am not going to let a play go if there is a problem. If a snapper or QB doesn't like the ball in the game then the umpire should stop things and correct it. If they snap the ball legally then game on.

Again, I am all for stopping this play prior to the snap if there is verbage prior to the snap. If things happen after the snap, I don't have rules support for shutting it down.

There's a difference between preventative officiating and incorrect preventative officiating. What this coach just whispered to his player is not illegal, nor is the play he's about to run.

"Where's the tee" is a verbal action prior to the snap designed to make the defense think a snap is not imminent... and is illegal.

Let's say you (properly) don't tell the coach the play in the OP is illegal and he runs it. First - at the snap, with no one blocking, QB is likely to get murdered. If he doesn't, what has he done at this point to make the defense think there's no play going on? So, for some reason the defense is NOT rushing, perhaps confused by the lack of blocking ... and the QB yells "wrong ball" - you're going to kill this play 3-4 seconds after it started?

You guys are misinterpreting this rule. Reread both the rule and the interp - both have to do with verbal cues that make the defense think there is no snap coming. In the OP, there's just a normal snap, and then verbal misdirection AFTER the snap - we can't (and shouldn't) shut this down.

Why in the heck would I tell him the play was illegal if it was not???? It is clearly illegal under NCAA rules.

The play never happened! They were just talking about it. The official probably should not say anything about this sideline discussion but call what is done. I am sure it was explained in pregame that if anything is said BEFORE the snap it is 9-9-4 violation!

You hear the coach tell a sub that he is to go into the game, and on the next play, "find #51 and try to take get him out of the game by clipping him as hard as you can". You are not saying anything to the coach?!?!?!!

You hear the coach tell a sub that he is to wait on the sideline until he tells him to move and then he is to step onto the field just inside the sideline and then run a streak pattern to catch a pass. You are not saying anything to the coach?!?!?!

You fellas that take that approach better be happy where you are cause you ain't going any higher.

big difference there Mike!

Inciting an injury? Not only am I saying something, I'm probably tossing this coach immediately. COMPLETELY different from the OP.

Heck no I'm not. Anyone with half a brain knows this is illegal. He wants to do that, let him. At least this one is similar to the OP.

Why don't you ask Walt Anderson, Byron Boston, Jim Blackwood, Ken Rivera, Gerald Austin, Bud Alexander, or Harold Mitchell if that is how they would like it called?