In 2007, two California high school football coaches developed the “A-11 offense,” which exploited a Rules Book loophole regarding the scrimmage kick formation. On each down, up to 10 Team A players numbered 0-49 or 80-99 would stand upright near the line of scrimmage, with one player 10 yards away from the line of scrimmage in position to receive a long snap.
Just before the center touched the ball, seven players stepped to the line to make the formation legal, and then the center snapped the ball. The players on the end of the line and in the backfield were eligible pass receivers.
Multiple formation variations made it difficult for the defense to pick out the eligible pass receivers and it was almost impossible for the game officials to note them before the snap.
Click on this Wikipedia Article link for a full description and explanation of the A-11 formation.
In 2009, the NFHS rules committee implemented Rule 7-2-5b EXCEPTION. Let’s break it down:
Rule 7-2-5b says, “At the snap, at least five A players on their line of scrimmage must be numbered 50-79.”
7-2-5b EXCEPTION 1: On first, second, or third down, and only for a place kick formation (2-14-2a), one player numbered 0-49 or 80-99 can replace one of the linemen numbered 50-79, and he must be the snapper. The snapper must be between the ends, so he is not an eligible pass receiver. This exception allows the snapper to enter the field without reducing the number of eligible pass receivers from six to five. This exception does not apply to punt formations.
7-2-5b EXCEPTION 2: On fourth down or during a kick try, all eleven Team A players can be numbered 0-49 or 80-99. By rule, up to five players can have “eligible” numbers but will be ineligible forward pass receivers by position. In this formation, the snapper can be an eligible receiver if he is on the end of the scrimmage line.
Teams can still employ “A-11 offense” strategies, but only on fourth down with a legal scrimmage kick formation with one player 10 yards or more behind the LOS and in position to receive the long snap or during a kick try. They cannot employ the “A-11 offense” strategy on first, second, or third down.
Look at this play. The ball is on the K-38. One Team K player (directly to the right of the snapper) is numbered 50-79. The head linesman indicates the two widest players on his side are in the backfield. The player directly to the left of the center is an eligible receiver by number and position (he is on the end of the scrimmage line at the snap). The four widest players on the line judge’s side are in the backfield (but he doesn’t signal). Freeze the video right before the snap. Only three players are legally on the line of scrimmage. Start the video.
The player directly to the left of the snapper catches a legal forward pass and runs for a big gain.
Trick plays must be perfect, and if a team executes a fake punt with the numbering exception, the formation must be perfect. The crew should have flagged this as an illegal formation (more than four players in the backfield).
Quiz
Read the quiz stem and then choose the best answer(s). (Choose all that apply.)
3/20 from the K-10. The game clock is stopped with 3 seconds remaining in the first quarter. There is a stiff wind at Team K’s back. Team K’s coach decides to punt on third down instead of having to possibly punt into the wind on fourth down after the quarter change. He sends his punt team onto the field. All Team K players are numbered 0-49 and 80-99. R33 fields the punt on the K-45 and is downed on the K-40.
- No foul
- Team K’s foul is a dead-ball foul
- Team K’s foul is a foul at the snap
- Team R must decline Team K’s foul to keep the ball
- Team R will enforce the foul from the previous spot
- Team R will enforce the foul from the end of the run (K-40)
- The period will be extended for one untimed down
Review Rules 3-3-3a, 7-2-5b EXCEPTION 1, 10-4-2 EXCEPTION