Wrong Ball Play

[MrUmpire]

Remember the video of the play where the center yells, “Coach this is the wrong ball”. He then hands the ball to the QB with a legal snap. The QB then walks to the sideline under the guise of getting the right ball. Once he gets outside all the Team B players he turns up field and runs for a touchdown?

If I remember correctgly, it was decided that the play was not legal because of 9-5-1b which stated that, “Any action or verbiage used to deceive the defense into thinking that the ball is not about to become live”, is an unsportsmanlike foul.

I can’t find that language in this year’s rule book. Would that make the play legal?

[BktBallRef]

It's in the Case Book, not the Rule Book. Look under Unfair Acts.

[DesertZebra]

I saw this in a game last year in the playoffs of a pee-wee league. I was working LJ on the side of the team running the play. We, as officials, had no prior knowledge of the play before it was run. I recognized it as it was going on. The play ran (for a touchdown) and then all hell broke loose. I threw a flag, for USC, but in the huddle the R overruled me. He allowed the TD to count. That team went on to lose the game, and deservingly so I feel. I'm still mad that I let the play go when I 'read' it. Had I blown it dead the R could have still overruled me, but the team wouldn't be rewarded with a touchdown.

[BktBallRef]

I hope you sent him a copy of the case play.

[mbyron]

Would any of you opt for killing it (with an officials' time out to "change the ball" (and scold the coach)) rather than flagging it for USC? Would it make a difference if the kids were 10? 14? 18?

[daggo66]

That video you refer to is clearly an illegal snap. It must be one quick continuous motion in a backward direction. As soon as the center stood up with the ball it was a snap infraction.

[trocared]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Would any of you opt for killing it (with an officials' time out to "change the ball" (and scold the coach)) rather than flagging it for USC? Would it make a difference if the kids were 10? 14? 18?

Again, if I could be so bold, the next time a coach uses this play, I vote he gets strung up in the town square with a sign that reads, "I AM AN IDIOT".
cheers,
tro

[Jim D]

Originally Posted by DesertZebra

I saw this in a game last year in the playoffs of a pee-wee league. I was working LJ on the side of the team running the play. We, as officials, had no prior knowledge of the play before it was run. I recognized it as it was going on. The play ran (for a touchdown) and then all hell broke loose. I threw a flag, for USC, but in the huddle the R overruled me. He allowed the TD to count. That team went on to lose the game, and deservingly so I feel. I'm still mad that I let the play go when I 'read' it. Had I blown it dead the R could have still overruled me, but the team wouldn't be rewarded with a touchdown.

According to the case book you should have blown it dead right away and then penalized USC. You can't let this play continue.

[DesertZebra]

Originally Posted by Jim D

According to the case book you should have blown it dead right away and then penalized USC. You can't let this play continue.

I know. I kicked myself in the *** for weeks for letting it go off. One of the other 3 officials should have blown it dead, too. I am still upset with the white hat for not correcting it though.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by Jim D

According to the case book you should have blown it dead right away and then penalized USC. You can't let this play continue.

It doesn't matter. The foul occurs prior to the snap. So even if you fail to kill it, the play never happened.

[JugglingReferee]

Does anyone have a Fed citation for the "wrong ball" play being illegal?