The reason many are against it is because it takes advantage of the numbering exception in an unintended way. How exciting the games are or how difficult it is to officiate has nothing to do with it.

I have officiated a team that ran that offense and I was not impressed. It was interesting, but it did not make the game more exciting. Actually the team that ran the offense lost big time. The reason is because they figured out the basics of the offense and stopped it. And because of the lack of success of the offense, the defensive side of the team was on the field a long time. The team that ran a conventional offense scored 69 points. Part of the reason is that they kept the defense on the field and the offense (that ran the A-11) only has success in the first half. Granted it might have been exciting, but it was not affective. And it was not really difficult to officiate. But I still see the NF changing the rule because at its core, this offense is taking advantage of a rule that was not intended to be used for this purpose. Who cares how entertaining it is, there are other offenses that are exciting without the A-11.

Peace

JRut,

You mention that the winning team scored 69 points and that the losing team lost big time. You did not mention how many points they scored.

I think that the real reason that this team lost was not becaase the A-11 is a poor offense; I think its's because the winning team is vastly a superior team.

We all know that offense wins games; defense wins championships. It seems that the defensive players on the winning team properly adapted to the A-11. They're probably better coached, too.

A whopping 21 points. Whoopie!!!!

That might be true, but you cannot advertise and offense as the next coming and have similar results as before. If the claim is that the game is more wide open, I think you should be able to score more than 21 points in a high school football game. That is just my opinion of course.

Peace

Why all the RANDOM use of CAPITALIZATION and BOLD type?

touching base after few weeks of the season
 

Hello Officials:

It has been interesting to see the various teams using the A-11, and there are others out there using various packages of it that we have not seen video of, etc.

Just a sampling of teams to note below using the offense:

Horizon Christian, OR
Riverside Brookfield, IL
Saddleback Valley, CA
Toullahoma, TN
LA Jordan, CA
Trimble County, KY
Saguaro High, AZ...I am friends with their OC and he is installing packages of it to use over the next several weeks.

* What is more important than what teams are using it, is the simple fact that some teams are having success with it, Saddleback is undefeated for example, while other teams are struggling trying to learn the system. It's football and those things happen with every system, and of course the level of talent that particular season makes a big difference too.

It is true the A-11 does Not give the offense an unfair advantage, and it is true that the A-11 is able to be officiated properly. Both of those facts have been well documented by teams losing games and also the testimonies of Officials now over several parts of the USA making it very clear the games involving teams using the A-11 are very workable indeed.

This past week, NPR did its second feature on the A-11, and the fact that it gives the smaller to mid-size schools a tad bit better of a fighting chance, etc. It was interesting to note however...respectfully, the counter argument put forth by the North Carolina State Rules Interpreter, and Appalachian State Alum used the example of Appalachian State defeating Michigan last year using the spread offense. And he thought it was a better example of how teams should compete on offense, and that it can lead to upsets.

OK...that is fine but there are some Major Holes in that type of reasoning put forth by the NC guy:

a. Appalachian State is a University, and they can Legally Recruit kids from all over the USA to fit their system.

b. However, the thousands of schools like Piedmont High School nationwide are Coed, PUBLIC schools and they Cannot recruit kids from anywhere.

Comparing college vs. high school is totally missing the point of helping to keep the game of high school football somewhat equitable and competitve, giving all teams, small, medium and big a fighting chance.

Not only is the A-11 Not hurting anybody, it offers teams who might need it a tad bit more of a fighting chance.

Sincerely,

KB

I think it is pretty much an accepted fact that the A-11 gives the offense an unfair advantage by not having 5 players numbed 50-79. I know you try to ignore that as you never answer the question asked of you multiple times of what is the purpose of the numbering exception.

Small teams do not get a fighting chance against big teams. If your school is to small to hang with the big schools then stop playing them.

How about getting stronger and faster or better executing your strategies instead of resorting to trickery and exploiting loopholes in the rules to get more of a fighting chance?

What exactly is a "fighting chance," and where in the rules does it say that each team shall have one?

What is the purpose of the player numbering rule which is so fundamental that it is included in the HS, college, and NFL rulebooks??

You must really think we are ignorant. Do you honestly (assuming you know what that means) believe that any of us for a second thinks that is a "sample" instead of the entire list??? If you had more schools suckered in you would have listed them.

You can say it is a "fact" that the A-11 does not give an unfair advantage but that does not make it a fact. It goes back to the fundamental question which you continue to ignore because to address it you would have to concede your "fact" is bogus.

NPR...now there is a source for good, reliable, info on football. Most of the weenies there hate organized sports because organized sports have winners and losers.

Have you given any thought to what you will be doing next year at this time when you are a piece of forgotten history?

Sit Tight TX Mike...more coming, and thank you
 

TX Mike:

Appreciate the nasty words and immature and repetitive statements and mistruths you make without skipping a beat.

Lots of fun and interesting teams putting their own spin on the A-11 offense, some winning games and others losing games. It happens.

We are stockpiling various videos and DVD's from coaches who have sent us their videos and clips, and we are getting ready to launch our first version of Top Ten A-11 Plays of the Week nationwide next week...but again, keep up the good work on your end.

KB

Enjoy your year exploiting a loophole in the rules. It will be closed. Haven't seen it yet on the field, but I've told my crew to be super-sticklers on formation/shift/motion rules if we ever do. In other words, if you wish to exploit this loophole, you better do it PERFECTLY.

While I appreciate things that simplify the officiating experience, if you're asking, I'd just as soon have you do nothing but run all game and never kick because there's less running. :D

RichMSN,
that's the way it's going to be around our parts as well. The play, as described by Hawk65, will generate a formation foul here because initial positioning of everyone but the center is in the backfield.
We have one school down here running it. So far they are 1-3.

Please go pitch your little silly offense somewhere else. Honestly no one here cares what you think the offense is going to do in the future. Actually, it is likely not to have much future. For one I have not seen much success with teams that have used it. The team I had earlier this year got killed when they played good non-conference teams. They might only make the playoffs because they are members of a conference that plays everyone twice. They probably are in the worst conference in their division in the state. I would not be surprised if they get rid of the offense next year not only as a team, but the rules committee. But Kurt it is time to go away. Your stay is becoming less and less welcome if all you are going to do is pitch a silly loophole in the rules.

Peace

I think, as I've said, that it's more probable than not that FED will rewrite the numbering exception this off-season. If they do not, however, expect more and more states to simply ban the A-11 outright.

My sense is that about a dozen do so now, and I wouldn't be surprised to see that number double next season (including Ohio). But, as I say, I expect that FED will be in front on this issue, despite lobbying from the Friends of the A-11™, and make further action by state associations unnecessary.