What is the foul?

[bigjohn]

I can tell you that my crew will not flag this if the kid is properly covered.

We'll talk with the coach after and remind him to get the player inside the marks, but we're simply not going to flag the first one.

Normally this happens during a hurry-up where they get lined up before I can hit the RFP and the defense is ready, the offense is ready and everyone's waiting on the line to set and for the umpire to spot the ball and for me to blow the RFP. Why should they have to wait inside and then shift into their formation?

It's a rule that was written to combat deceptive substitutions and shifts and I would rather work with the intent of the rule rather than the strict letter of it, regardless of how many case plays someone posts.

That is how you are supposed to look at this situation?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by bigjohn

I can tell you that my crew will not flag this if the kid is properly covered.

We'll talk with the coach after and remind him to get the player inside the marks, but we're simply not going to flag the first one.

Normally this happens during a hurry-up where they get lined up before I can hit the RFP and the defense is ready, the offense is ready and everyone's waiting on the line to set and for the umpire to spot the ball and for me to blow the RFP. Why should they have to wait inside and then shift into their formation?

It's a rule that was written to combat deceptive substitutions and shifts and I would rather work with the intent of the rule rather than the strict letter of it, regardless of how many case plays someone posts.

That is how you are supposed to look at this situation?

Did I write that? I'm too lazy to look it up, but it sounds like what I'd say and how I'd say it.

If I didn't write it, it's one helluva a smart guy who did.

And I guarantee you this: I'm certainly not timid. If you asked me about this rule and even if you wasted a timeout for a conference, I would tell you exactly what I (or some intelligent, probably quite dashing official) wrote in the post you quoted. What will you do about it? The NFHS and my state do not accept protests and I feel I have the spirit and intent of the rule on my side.