1. Region One Football Officials Association
Rule Topics:
Formation & Numbering Exceptions

2. Offense Formation & Numbering
When we talk about formation, it is mostly about player positioning and number. And it is important in determining eligibility during a down.

3. Rule Reference (7-2-5, 2-14)
‘A’ must have 7 players on LOS, 5 players #’s 50-79
Possible to have 6 eligible receivers (by # and position)
Can snapper ever be eligible?
Can a lineman receive a forward handing behind the LOS?
Exceptions Fundamentals:
#1: players in game under exception must always have initial position between the ends
#2: if start of down  ineligible throughout the down (unless ball touched by ‘B’)
1st-3rd Down, scrimmage kick formation (field goal), only snapper – must remain between the ends
4th Down or Try (punt or field goal), any ‘A’ exception – may become “uncovered” but remains ineligible
Swinging Gate & Numbering Video
Can snapper be eligible? Yes, if on end of LOS and numbered 1-49 or 80-99
Can lineman receive forward handing? Yes, (7-3-2) if lineman faces his end line, both feet in half-turn & at least 1 yard behind LOS when receiving ball (lineman defined in as any ‘A’ player whose head or foot breaks waist of the snapper)

4. BJ and WINGS - KNOW ELIGIBLES ON YOUR SIDE
U – KNOW NUMBERING EXCEPTIONS
2 5
2 5 5 R
2 0 12
2 0 22 42
1 5 15 50 60 65
1 5 70 79 80 HL U
1 0
1 0 G G BJ LJ

5. BJ and WINGS - KNOW ELIGIBLES ON YOUR SIDE
U – KNOW NUMBERING EXCEPTIONS
2 5
2 5 5 R
2 0 12
2 0 22 42
1 5 15 50 60 65
1 5 70 80 85 HL U
1 0
1 0
Key is the numbering exception is covered up by an End. G G BJ LJ

6. QUESTIONS

7. Definitions: Rule 2-14
Art. 1: Scrimmage formation requires at least 7 A players on LOS at the snap (see also 7-2-5)
Primary responsibility  HL & LJ
Art. 2: Scrimmage Kick formation has no player in position for hand-to-hand snap and;
Player in position with knee on ground 7 yds or more behind LOS as holder to receive long snap & a player 3 yds or less behind player in position to attempt kick; or,
Player 10 yds or more behind LOS in position to receive long snap
Art. 3: Free Kick formation
On a kickoff, does the receiving team have to have at least 5 players between their 45 and 50 yard lines?
Formation only applies to the team on Offense and to a scrimmage formation.
There are 3 types of formations.
Article 1: Scrimmage formation requires min of 7 A players on their LOS at the snap
Article 2: Scrimmage Kick formation has no player in position for hand-to-hand snap and;
(a ) Player in position with knee on ground 7 yds or more behind LOS as holder to receive long snap & a player 3 yds or less behind player in position to attempt kick; or,
(b) Player 10 yds or more behind LOS in position to receive long snap
Article 3: Free Kick formation is used for kickoff and kick after a fair catch (or awarded fair catch). The only requirement is that all R players must be behind their free-kick line & all K players (other than kicker and holder) must be behind their free-kick line.
Q: On a kickoff, does the receiving team have to have at least 5 players between their 45 and 50 yard lines? NO

8. Legal Formations: Rule 7-2
Illegal Formation is Live Ball foul at the snap
Art. 1: After ball is marked ready for play, all A players must be momentarily inside the 9-yard marks
Art. 2: Players next to snapper may lock legs w/ snapper - - other Linemen must have each foot outside the closest foot of player next to them
Can A players stand, crouch, or knell?
Art. 3: Only 1 backfield player may penetrate the vertical plane through the waistline of player on the line
Backfield player’s hands must be in position to receive the snap
All others must be in legal position as a Back
Rule defines Back; Rule defines Lineman
Illegal Formation is Live Ball foul at the snap
Article 1: After ball is marked ready for play, all members of Offensive Team must be momentarily inside the 9-yard marks (the numbers).
Primary responsibility is the HL and LJ. We have to use preventive officiating early in the game, especially on spread and hurry-up offenses.
Article 2: Players next to snapper may lock legs with snapper, but all other Offensive Linemen must have each foot outside the closest foot of the player next to them, until the ball is snapped.
Can A players stand, crouch, or knell? YES
Primary responsibility is the Umpire
Article 3: Only one backfield player (QB) may penetrate the vertical plane through the waistline of player on the line (Center). The backfield player’s hands must be in position to receive the snap. All others must be in legal position as a back (Rule ). Rule defines Lineman.
Primary responsibility is the HL and LJ.

9. Formation & Numbering: Art.5
5 players on the line must be numbered 50-79
Primary responsibility  Umpire
Numbering Exceptions apply to scrimmage kicks & kick try
FG/Try: during 1st, 2nd, & 3rd down, snapper may be the only numbering exception
Is A required to have 4 players who are numbered on its LOS?
Can A use this formation on a punt during 1st, 2nd, or 3rd down?
Under the exception rule, the snapper must be positioned between the ends & is an ineligible receiver during the down
Punt/FG/Try: during 4th down on, any numbering exception is legal
 Players under this exception must assume an initial position between the ends & remains ineligible receiver
Article 5: player formation & numbering requirements
5 players on the line must be numbered Primary responsibility is the Umpire.
Exceptions to the numbering apply to scrimmage kicks (punt or field-goal attempt) and on kick try. (Rule defines scrimmage kick formation). This is where it gets tricky.
FG/Try:
1st, 2nd, & 3rd down on FG or Try, only the snapper may be a numbering exception (center does NOT have to be numbered 50-79).
In this formation, is A required to have 4 players who are numbered on its line of scrimmage? YES
Can A use this formation on a punt during 1st, 2nd, or 3rd down? NO
Under the exception rule, the snapper must be positioned between the ends, and is an ineligible receiver during the down.
When position is established, it is established for the entire down, i.e. eligible numbers becoming ineligible are ineligible throughout the down.
Punt/FG/Try:
4th down on Punt, FG or Try, any numbering exception is legal.
Any player under this exception must assume an initial position must be between the ends and remains ineligible receiver.
Once the snapper places hands on the ball, the players between the ends become ineligible and remain ineligible throughout the down.

10. Case Study
On the try, A is in scrimmage kick formation, and the snapper is wearing jersey number 15 (A15) and takes an initial position on the end of the left end of the line of scrimmage (was never between the ends) and:
has five players numbered on the line of scrimmage with A80 on the line to the right; or
has four players numbered on the line of scrimmage with A80 being on the right side of the line of scrimmage and adjacent to the players numbered 50-79, and A85 lined up next to him as an end. A15 is adjacent to the four players on the line numbered 50-79
The ball is snapped cleanly to the holder who then rises and completes a pass to A15 in the end zone. Ruling?
SITUATION (will show diagram in moment): On the try, A is in scrimmage kick formation with a holder approximately seven yards behind the line of scrimmage and: (a) has five players numbered on the line of scrimmage with A80 on the line to the right; or (b) has four players numbered on the line of scrimmage with A80 being on the right side of the line of scrimmage and adjacent to the players numbered 50-79, and A85 lined up next to him as an end . The snapper is wearing jersey number 15 (A15) and takes an initial position on the end of the left end of the line of scrimmage (was never between the ends). A15 is adjacent to the four players on the line numbered The ball is snapped cleanly to the holder who then rises and completes a pass to A15 in the end zone. A80 does not go past the line of scrimmage. RULING: The try is successful in (a) and (b). A15 is eligible by position and number in both (a) and (b) and is an eligible pass receiver. Because A15 was lined up as the end, he is not considered to be a numbering exception. In (b) A80 would be considered to be the numbering exception in this formation and as such, by assuming a position between the ends as a player numbered 1-49 or 80 to 99, would be ineligible throughout the down. (7-2-5b, )