One of the great trick plays of High School Sports.
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From another blog:
As a former trainer for football officials, if the crew was ROUTINELY allowing something like this to pass as a legal snap, I know at least 4 (assuming a full youth crew) that would be reviewing and explaining a legal snap at the next officials meeting. Officials that legitimately miss a call can be forgiven, not knowing or enforcing rules because they don’t like them (vs making judicious calls based on ADVANTAGE / DISADVANTAGE) just doesn’t cut it.
Another poster:
Deadball unsportsmanlike conduct 15 yard penalty in HS and Pop Warner/Youth ball in every state that I’ve worked (IL, KY, AZ, CA, SC). If a team needs trick plays of this type, they generally aren’t very good. Trick plays that rely on the offense to deceive the defense after the snap (draws, statue of liberty, reverses, throwbacks) are LEGAL and based on execution and good coaching; pretending that the ball isn’t about to be snapped or that there is a problem that would keep the ball dead are nothing more than adult coaches looking for a chicken***t advantage because they can’t coach the team to run LEGAL trick plays. Second point after watching the play closer– dead ball illegal snap (5 yds) the snap must be a single continuous motion away from the line of scrimmage. The snapper (center) picks the ball up and turns around to sand the ball to the QB. A good umpire shuts this play down before the QB and coach can complete the intended “something’s wrong with the ball” deception. Poor coaching from a sportsmanships and execution perspective.
Among amateur refs there is some disagreement whether this is a legal snap. Clearly it is not legal in NCAA and NFL, but other leagues don’t have those specific snap rules. Lots of refs will call it, others will not. BTW, I agree with the second quote.
#26, Mr. Fusion, I’m not condoning violence in sports, but football is a violent sport. And high school football ain’t Pop Warner. I’ll just reference “Friday Night Lights” and let it go at that. If you’re a high school linebacker and don’t try to make the QB fumble, you’ll sit on the bench.
I’m not saying it’s right, but that’s the way it is — “that’s the game.” Just ask Lawrence Taylor, Mean Joe Green, Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary, et al. about “going for the quarterback.”
And today’s rules about “putting a skirt” on the QB are IMHO sometimes a good thing — who wants to run a business and lose the big star to injury?
But a trick play that’s legal at the time is part of “the game.” And the defense should have tackled the QB.
We’ll just agree to disagree.
31,
ITS NOT that you picked my pocket…
Its that I LEARNED that I put my wallet in my FRONT pocket, while in the MALL…
I have no choice if you pick my pocket, I have I choice IF I want to CATCH you at it.
It is preposterous to think this play was “unethical”. If the refs were aware (almost assuredly had to be notified) and no whistle is blown, then it is nothing more than a trick play. Is a play action pass unethical? Is a draw play unethical? The ancient art of war (and football) is deception. It happens all the time in sports.
However, let me tell you from personal experience, it can end ugly for the guy that tries this against someone (like me) that is not fooled. I bet that guy’s ears are still ringing.
#14
> This play is illegal in pro games, even I know that and I’m a brit.
The way the ball was snapped, yes this would not be allowed in the NFL. However, I have seen similar plays, in the NFL when the ball was snapped through the centers legs.
#26
> With young players the GOAL is to have fun and win playing football
> . It isn’t to see if you can “fool” the other team.
What a clueless statement. Clearly you never played organized football. Deception is as core a part of football as blocking, tackling, throwing and catching. Fakes, fake punts, play-action, reverses, double-reverses, flea-flickers etc are all meant to deceive the defense.
35. “It is preposterous to think this play was “unethical”.”
I totally agree. All is fair in love, war, and American sports. The point is to win folks, and lets face it, even the snap itself is intended to trick the other side. Is the snap unethical?! Should the offense tell the defense when they’re going to snap the ball and where they’re going to throw it?! God, what nonsense.