From: SCHMIDT@LSTC2VM.stortek.com (Jon Schmidt)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college
Subject: Re: Crazy & Fake Plays
Date: 10 Nov 92 22:30:12 GMT
Organization: StorageTek SW Engineering

In article <1dmbcsINN15v@hpsdlss3.sdd.hp.com>
laura@sdd.hp.com (Laura Mansfield) writes:
>
>2 things:
>
>1.  What was the rule the NCAA (or NFL?) made against fake plays?
>
>2.  Yesterday in the NFL in the Tampa Bay(?) game, the quarterback
>    pretended to be arguing with the Coach (Sam Wyche ?) and started
>    walking toward the sideline, and the ball was snapped to the
>    running back while the defense's attention was diverted.  If it
>    had succeeded, it would have been great, but would it have been
>    legal?
>
>Laura "really sketchy on the details" Mansfield
 
I don't think that the NCAA has any particular rule about fake plays.
Deception is OK with the NCAA as long as it's done within the rules
governing play.  If you want to design your own trick play, here are
some rules to keep in mind:
 
2-23-1 Snapping the Ball
 
a) Legally snapping the ball (a snap) is handing or passing it backward
   from its position on the ground with a quick and continuous motion
   of the hand or hands, the ball actually leaving the hand or hands in
   this motion.
c) If, during any backward motion of a legal snap, the ball slips from
   the snapper's hand, it becomes a backward pass and is in play,
   provided the ball had been declared "ready."
g) The snap need not be between the snapper's legs;  but to be legal,
   it must be a quick and continuous backward motion.
 
7-1-3-b Offensive Team Requirements/When the snap starts:
 
The offensive team must be in a formation that meets these requirements:
1) At least seven players on their scrimmage line, not less than five of
   whom shall be numbered 50 through 79.  The remaining players must be
   either on their scrimmage line or behind their backfield line.
   Exceptions:
   2) One player may be between his scrimmage line and his backfield
      line if in a position to receive a hand-to-hand snap from between
      the snapper's legs.  When in such position, that player may
      receive the snap himself or it may go directly to any player
      legally in the backfield.
3) All players must be inbounds, and only the snapper may be encroaching
   on the neutral zone;  but no part of his person may be beyond the
   neutral zone, and his feet must be stationary behind the ball.
4) One player may be in motion, but not in motion toward his opponents'
   goal line.  A lineman may not be in motion at the snap.  Other
   players must be stationary in their positions without movement of
   the feet, body, head or arms.
 
7-1-6 Handing the Ball Forward
 
No player may hand the ball forward except during a scrimmage down as
follows:
a) A Team A player who is behind his scrimmage line may hand the ball
   forward to a backfield teammate who is also behind that line.
b) A Team A player who is behind his scrimmage line may hand the ball
   forward to a teammate who was on his scrimmage line when the ball was
   snapped, provided that teammate left his line position by a movement
   of both feet that faced him toward his own end line and was at least
   two yards behind his scrimmage line when he received the ball.
 
7-1-7 Planned Loose Ball
 
a) A Team A player on his line of scrimmage may not advance a planned
   loose ball in the vicinity of the snapper unless the referee is
   notified before the snap that the play will be run on that down.
b) There is no foul if the referee is notified and the planned loose-
   ball play is not run.
 
7-2-3 After the Ball is Snapped
No offensive lineman may receive a hand-to-hand snap.
 
9-2-2 Unfair Tactics
 
a) No player shall conceal the ball in or beneath his clothing or
   equipment or substitute any other article for the ball.
b) No simulated replacements or substitutions may be used to confuse
   opponents.
c) No equipment may be used to confuse opponents.
PENALTY -- 15 yards from the most advantageous spot to the offended
           team.  Flagrant offenders shall be disqualified.
 
-- 
Jon_Schmidt@stortek.com  Storage Technology Corporation
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(303) 673-6039 - fax     Louisville, Colorado 80028-5209
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college