Center Elligible

[maven]

Originally Posted by scrounge

The second exception for 4th down or try does not make this distinction or bar the snapper from being on the end or, by inference, ineligible. It seems that since care was taken to note that on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd down that there are restrictions on the snapper, the omission of said restrictions in the exception for 4th down and tries would make it legal.

Indeed. Exception 2 basically suspends the requirement that interior linemen wear ineligible numbers. You could have all 11 wearing eligible numbers, and if the snapper is on the end of the line, he's eligible.

[whitehat]

Here is where I am having a problem with exception 2:

If all 11 players are numbered 1-11 (eligible #s) which players are in the game according to the part of the exception that says "a player in the game under this exception must assume an initial postion on his line of scrimmage between the ends..."?

...do we just assume #11 player on the end of the line, who may or may not be the snapper, is not replacing one of the 5 50-79 guys?

[HLin NC]

The 5 of them that assume the position normally numbered 50-79.

[maven]

Originally Posted by whitehat

Here is where I am having a problem with exception 2:

If all 11 players are numbered 1-11 (eligible #s) which players are in the game according to the part of the exception that says "a player in the game under this exception must assume an initial postion on his line of scrimmage between the ends..."?

...do we just assume #11 player on the end of the line, who may or may not be the snapper, is not replacing one of the 5 50-79 guys?

If he's on the end of the line, he's not replacing one of the ineligibles.

[whitehat]

Scrounge, I went back and re-read your post and that made a lot of sense (and maven and HL as well). I see what you are saying and generally agree. However, we all, from time to time, see players numbered 50-79 legally lined up on the end of line.

Surehands, back to your OP. Did we answer your question? "Can the center be eligible for a pass on the swing gate if he has the correct number and is the end player on one end of the line? Where is this covered in High School rulebook?"

According to 7-2-5b I would say yes he is eligible as long as...
1. snapper has an eligible number and is on the end of the line...and...
2. it is done on 4th down or a try ...and...
3. its not done on 1st, second or 3rd down...and...
4. the snapper is not replacing one of the #50-79 guys. (But, we have all seen #50-79 guys legally line up on the end of the line and..the clincher...it may be hard to convince a coach that the opppents normal snapper is not usually a #50-79 guy who was replaced by #22 who caught the pass and scored the winning point(s)).


I am truly not trying to be difficult Just seems like they could clarify and simplify this one a little more.

[HLin NC]

As my state supervisor said, "don't make this any harder than it actually is".

The exception applies only to scrimmage kicks. Downs 1-3, only the snapper can have an otherwise eligble number. Down 4 and try- any/all K players can have eligible numbers. The phrase "normally numbered" applies to normal non-scrimmage kick offensive formations being applied to the scrimmage kick.

The end is still the end, a back is still a back. They are still required to be eligible by number and position.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by HLin NC

As my state supervisor said, "don't make this any harder than it actually is".

The exception applies only to scrimmage kicks. Downs 1-3, only the snapper can have an otherwise eligble number. Down 4 and try- any/all K players can have eligible numbers. The phrase "normally numbered" applies to normal non-scrimmage kick offensive formations being applied to the scrimmage kick.

The end is still the end, a back is still a back. They are still required to be eligible by number and position.

So, the snapper can only be eligible if he is on the end, and if he's wearing an eligible number. That's it, that's the list. NO need to worry about what down it is, or what the formation is (other than the fact that the snapper must be an uncovered end.)

??

[jTheUmp]

Originally Posted by Adam

So, the snapper can only be eligible if he is on the end, and if he's wearing an eligible number. That's it, that's the list.

Yep.

NO need to worry about what down it is, or what the formation is (other than the fact that the snapper must be an uncovered end.)
??

An end is "uncovered" by definition. If there's another player on the LOS between the sideline and the "end"... then that other player is the end.

[maven]

Originally Posted by Adam

So, the snapper can only be eligible if he is on the end, and if he's wearing an eligible number. That's it, that's the list. NO need to worry about what down it is, or what the formation is (other than the fact that the snapper must be an uncovered end.)

??

Here's another possibility: ignore the numbering exception.

Put 5 ineligible numbers on the line, and put the snapper wearing an eligible number on one end. Put somebody else on the other end.

Legal formation, snapper eligible, any down or scrimmage formation.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by whitehat

Here is where I am having a problem with exception 2:

If all 11 players are numbered 1-11 (eligible #s) which players are in the game according to the part of the exception that says "a player in the game under this exception must assume an initial postion on his line of scrimmage between the ends..."?

...do we just assume #11 player on the end of the line, who may or may not be the snapper, is not replacing one of the 5 50-79 guys?

The 5 players on the LOS between the ends are the 5 players that are in the game under the numbering exception