Trick play, middle school. Your take...

[Texas Aggie]

It must be backwards ADN leave the snapper's hand IMMEDIATELY.

There's no requirement that it leave the snapper's hand immediately (or you are unclear as to what you mean by that).

[ppaltice]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

There's no requirement that it leave the snapper's hand immediately (or you are unclear as to what you mean by that).

NFHS uses the verbiage "immediately leave the hands of the snapper."

NCAA requires the snap to be quick and continuous motions with the ball "actually leaving the hand or hands in this motion."

So the question under NCAA rules is: did the motion stop before the ball left the hand of the snapper?

[Rock Chalk]

do they only have 6 on the los? Would you count the WR on the right (top) on the line? he's nearly 2 yards behind the los.

[mbyron]

This play was shown ad nauseam on SportsCenter tonight (Monday) as well as on the MNF pre-game show.

Nobody pointed out that it's illegal.

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by mbyron

This play was shown ad nauseam on SportsCenter tonight (Monday) as well as on the MNF pre-game show.

As I was watching this "ad nauseum", I constantly thought, what would happen if a LB or safety absolutely cleaned this kids clock. I mean, the kid is so defenseless (good acting), but, how would mom and dad, coach, teammates, etc, react if this kid gets hammered? Legally. Not too funny then..... hypothetical of course.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by grunewar

As I was watching this "ad nauseum", I constantly thought, what would happen if a LB or safety absolutely cleaned this kids clock. I mean, the kid is so defenseless (good acting), but, how would mom and dad, coach, teammates, etc, react if this kid gets hammered? Legally. Not too funny then..... hypothetical of course.

I expect you'll have a chance to find out during your first peewee game next year, after the coaches have had a year to figure out how to run it and how to defend it. All without much thought to whether it's legal.

[bigjohn]

YouTube - Trick Play in football gone bad

Yeah, makes Coach look pretty stupid if it doesn't work!

[ajmc]

Originally Posted by mbyron

I expect you'll have a chance to find out during your first peewee game next year, after the coaches have had a year to figure out how to run it and how to defend it. All without much thought to whether it's legal.

An example of why it's so important to ask, what seems like such a basic question, "Any unusual plays you're thinkg of using today, Coach". Of course there's really no defense against a coach who chooses not to answer, but hopefully some who might be considering this type play will bring it up providing you with the opportunity to explain why it will be illegal, and help avoid the coach from embarrassing himself.

[csabatka1]

What about the illegal formation? Only 6 on the LOS. The wing and top WR are not on the LOS. The L touches the bill of his hat for 3 on the LOS on his side. LJ gives no signal.

[footballref]

What amazes me is the people that will still argue with me when I tell them

#1 - the definition of a legal snap. I think that the legality of the snap can be argued in this play.
#2 - To me what can't be argued is the case book scenario:

from the NFHS casebook - 9.9.1 SITUATION B: 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.

RULING: Unsportsmanlike conduct prior to snap. The ball should be declared
dead and the foul enforced as a dead-ball foul.

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.

But because is it on the news and they say it is legal, then it HAS to be legal

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by footballref

But because is it on the news and they say it is legal, then it HAS to be legal

I listened very closely to the various ESPN incarnations of this video, and the closest I heard to a claim of legality was an ex-player asking, "That can't be legal, can it?"

The answer was: "the refs allowed it!"

[jTheUmp]

Yes, the refs allowed it. But now this play is going to be a topic of conversation for every association meeting and every rules interpreter/clinician pretty much everywhere.

So it'll be much harder for any team to get away with next time.

[SamG]

Originally Posted by footballref

But because is it on the news and they say it is legal, then it HAS to be legal

Since the refs didn't flag it, why would news stations, websites, etc think the play is illegal? If I didn't hang out on this board, I wouldn't have known. Blame your brothers in stripes, NOT those showing the video.

[Eastshire]

Originally Posted by SamG

Since the refs didn't flag it, why would news stations, websites, etc think the play is illegal? If I didn't hang out on this board, I wouldn't have known. Blame your brothers in stripes, NOT those showing the video.

The issue isn't so much the NBC, CBS, and ABCs screwing it up (although they are supposed to be reporters too), it's ESPN screwing it up. ESPN is supposed to have a bunch of football journalists on staff. A journalist who is doing his job right would know enough about football to at the very least think "something's not right about this" and then call one of the 10 or so football referees his developed a relationship with to do a little research. A real journalist would already know the rule cold and wouldn't need the research.

It's just another sorry statement on the poor quality of sports journalism. All they require of them is the ability to look at a screen and go "Wow! Look at that!"

Edit: This of course doesn't excuse the referee crew for kicking it.

[BuckeyeRef]

Originally Posted by SamG

Since the refs didn't flag it, why would news stations, websites, etc think the play is illegal? If I didn't hang out on this board, I wouldn't have known. Blame your brothers in stripes, NOT those showing the video.

I know that is what I have told at least two dozen people since this play was seen. I tell them all it was illegal and should have been blown dead. I have told two junior high coaches and both of them said they had thought about trying to run this play next year. Every year one crew lets a play like this stand and all of us have to break the bad news to the 100 copycats.