"Sleeper" Play

[scrounge]

Originally Posted by maven

Unfair act. Kill it, UNS prior to the snap, 15 yards.

These plays run afoul of the principle in (NFHS) 9.9.1B 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."

At first I thought that was what happened, but I wonder if the defense just fell asleep while the offense was acting like they were doing one of those "stop and look at the sidelines to see what play we're calling" things. If it was that, then shame on them.

[maven]

Originally Posted by scrounge

At first I thought that was what happened, but I wonder if the defense just fell asleep while the offense was acting like they were doing one of those "stop and look at the sidelines to see what play we're calling" things. If it was that, then shame on them.

I'd be more inclined to accept that explanation if the linemen weren't all standing up and standing still at the snap after having been "down" in a 2-point stance.

[bigjohn]

Man, I have always been opposed to trick plays that were unethical or flat out illegal but this one does not seem to fit even in my book.

Why is it illegal?