Illegal Formation?

[tomes1978]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

We use a formation like that, but our QB doesn't quite break the plane of the snapper's waist. If he held his hands forward far enough, he would. Was the QB in the case you saw holding his hands under the guard's crotch past his waist? Was part of his head beyond that plane? A foot? Whether the snap goes to another back is immaterial, it's only whether he could receive a snap that goes between the snapper's legs.

I've heard of single wing teams being flagged for having their QB (blocking back) breaking the plane. It can happen if his feet are too far forward and he sticks his head into one of the gaps on the line. More commonly it's wingbacks who draw the flag. Sometimes you see it in punt formations where it's hard to tell whether those are blocking backs in the A gaps or guards. I'd hate to have to rule in such a case on whether the snapper or a player to one side of him is the nearest player on A's line to a player in doubtful position. I don't know where the benefit of the doubt is supposed to go.

In this situation he was under the guard like the guard was the snapper. It when then be shotgun snap to another back. It was meant to be deciept the other defense is some way. Being a middle school game I probably would have talked to their coach first before I flagged it anyway. I asked the other officials and cited this rule and they had never heard of the rule...