Illegal?

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by asdf

This fake trip is outside the realm of accepted deception.

How do you know? How many times have you seen it attempted, and how many times flagged? So far we have only one data point: one attempt, no flag. So I don't see how you concluded that type of deception was outside the realm of what's accepted, because what little evidence we have says it is accepted.

Usually this sort of thing requires a definitive rule or ruling in order to be illegal. That's how it was, for instance, with feigning injury. It was legal because nobody said it was illegal until one day they did.

There are forms of football deception that one's intuition may say should be illegal but to my knowledge aren't. One is to disguise the identity of players by switching uniforms during a game; AFAIK that's legal if neither of them are disqualified, but it strikes me as contrary to the original intent of having the players have to wear numbered uniforms.

[HLin NC]

No, it would however, be incredibly assinine.

But that is what we've come to expect.

[asdf]

Originally Posted by HLin NC

But that is what we've come to expect.

Indeed.....

[asdf]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

Usually this sort of thing requires a definitive rule or ruling in order to be illegal.

Wrong. I don't need an addendum to the unsporting conduct rule for every hair-brained, bush league, juvenile tactic that some coach comes us with.

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

That's how it was, for instance, with feigning injury. It was legal because nobody said it was illegal until one day they did.

It was "legal" because the rules committee didn't foresee some coach using this as a way to teach his young men how to win.

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

There are forms of football deception that one's intuition may say should be illegal but to my knowledge aren't. One is to disguise the identity of players by switching uniforms during a game; AFAIK that's legal if neither of them are disqualified, but it strikes me as contrary to the original intent of having the players have to wear numbered uniforms.

.

The only acceptable reason for a player to change uniform numbers during a game is because that particular jersey no longer meets the requirements set by rule. If that happens, the team should have the integrity to notify their opponents of the change. If that doesn't happen the officials should have the guts to penalize this tactic.

It's sad to see that there are more and more out there that have no problem looking at themselves in the mirror every day after employing these tactics.

Just as sad is the fact that there are folks willing to justify their actions.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by asdf

[Feigning injury] was "legal" because the rules committee didn't foresee some coach using this as a way to teach his young men how to win.

It was done for many years, so it wasn't as if the first time it was known the rules committee decided to act against it. It was apparently broadly accepted for a good while. Don't imagine that if you were the first to see it, you'd've instantly "known" to penalize it, because many referees did, and didn't. Same with hiding the ball under a shirt.

[ump33]

9-6-4 ... It is illegal participation:
e. For a player to be lying on the ground to deceive opponents at or immediately before the snap or free kick.