NCAA Rule change on linemen

[FBullock]

If a team has 10, they don't want a bunch of cheap fouls. All the other requirements still apply.

[JasonTX]

As for the backfield players, nothing really changed there. In the past a team couldn't play with more than 4 in the backfield because they were required to have at least 7 on the line. Well oftentimes, as FBullock pointed out, teams would get caught in shuffling players in and out and only had 10 players on the field. They'd line up with 6 on the line and 4 in the backfield and then get tagged with a flag for the illegal formation. By having 1 less player that didn't seem fair since they haven't gained any advantage.

[TXMike]

Aggie - Try to get to a TASO clinic this Summer. The rule change presentation should have the "unhighlighted" changes as well as the major ones. The clinicians have a standard powerpoint and as long as they use it, you should get them all.

This formation change is long overdue and will not only make for less BS fouls, but will make the flank's job easier.

[Da Official]

We used the new rules for our Spring Game in April or May and the 4 in the backfield rule made it MUCH, MUCH easier on the wing officials. I believe it was a very good decision to change the rule for the officials, for the offense, and as a result for the betterment of the game.

Peace...

[Theisey]

It was never hard before to determine if the formation was legal or not given the R/U consistenly provided us wingmen with the "I got 11 signal".

There still is one little fact that remains.. Team-A can play with 10 players on offense but except for when in scrimmage kick formation, your line still has to have 5 players numbered 50-79, else this is an illegal formation.

[KWH]

The way I read the rule, it would be legal for A to snap the ball only five players on the field just so long as those five players were numbered 50-79 and the snap touched the ground before being recovered and advanced by a player of A.

Can you tell me where I am wrong?

[LDUB]

Originally Posted by KWH

The way I read the rule, it would be legal for A to snap the ball only five players on the field just so long as those five players were numbered 50-79 and the snap touched the ground before being recovered and advanced by a player of A.

Can you tell me where I am wrong?

If A only has 5 players on the field then an illegal formation foul really isn't their biggest problem.