7’ 0”

6’ 8”

6’ 4”

7’ 0”

6’ 8”

7’ 0”

6’ 8”

3rd Police Precinct

6’ 4” 6’ 4”

(Very) Offensive Lineups

OFFENSIVE PLAYER POSITIONS

REGARDLESS OF NUMBERING

LINEMAN & BACKSNOTE: VIOLATIONS OF THE FOLLOWING RULES OCCUR AT THE SNAP

What Is A Lineman?

Rule 2.25.2

An offensive player is on his line of scrimmage when he complies with position requirements of a lineman

Rule 2.32.9

A lineman is any A player who is facing his opponent’s goal line with the line of his shoulders approximately parallel

thereto and with his head or foot breaking an imaginary plane drawn parallel to the line of scrimmage through the waist of

the snapper when the ball is snapped.

YES

YES

NO

Plane through the waist line of

the Snapper

The Snapper Is A Lineman

Rule 2.32.14A snapper is the player who is facing his opponents goal line with his shoulders approximately parallel thereto and who snaps the ball….

2.32.14 Violation

Not Facing Opponents

Goal

The snapper is required to face his opponents goal line. No ‘side-swipe’

snaps of the ball.

What Is A “Back”?

Rule 2.32.3A back is any A player who has no part of his body

breaking the plane of an imaginary line drawn parallel to the line of scrimmage through the waist of the nearest teammate who is legally on the line, except for the

player under the snapper, who is also considered a back

NO

NO

YES

Not breaking this plane

Plane through the waist line of

the Snapper

Plane through the waist line of the

nearest teammate NOT

on the line

THERE ARE ONLY TWO TYPES OF OFFENSIVE TEAM PLAYER;

LINEMAN OR BACK

BOTH TYPES ARE REQUIRED TO CONFORM TO

Rule 7.2.3

Of the players who are not on their line at the snap only one may penetrate the vertical plane through the waistline of his nearest

teammate who is on his line. He must have his hands in position to receive the ball if it is snapped between the snapper’s legs but he is not

required to receive the snap. Any other player(s) must be in a legal position as a back.

Allowed by 2.32.3 & 7.2.3 Player

under the snapper is a back

A minimum of 7 players need to break the plane of the Snapper.

Rule 7.2.5a

At the snap, at least seven A players shall be on their line of scrimmage

Rule 2.25.2

An offensive player is on his line of scrimmage when he complies with position requirements of a lineman.

(Refers to Rule 2.32.9)

Allowed by 2.32.3 & 7.2.3 Player

under the snapper is a back

There may be more than 7 players on the line`

Rule 7.5.6a

All A players eligible by position and number include those who, at the time of the , are on the ends of their scrimmage line or legally

behind the line…

There are only 3

eligible receivers

in this formation

Legal Line Formation

Enough Lineman are breaking the plane of the SnapperAnd the other A players are positioned as backs..

Not Legal Line Formation

Even though he is on the line his direction is a violation

Allowed by 2.32.3 & 7.2.3

ViolationNot Facing Opponents

Goal

Legal Formation?

Allowed by 2.32.3 & 7.2.3

Enough Lineman are breaking the plane of the Snapper.The other players are positioned legally as backs.

YES!

Legal Formation?

Allowed by 2.32.3 & 7.2.3

2.32.2No Violation This Plane

Is Used

Enough Lineman are breaking the plane of the Snapper.Even though the back is breaking the plane of the

waistline of the opposite side lineman….The plane of the waistline of the nearest lineman is used

to determine position.

Legal Formation?Allowed by

2.32.3 & 7.2.3

2.32.2 & 7.2.3

Violation

Enough Lineman are breaking the plane of the Snapper.The Back is breaking the plane of the waistline of the nearest player on the line.

Legal Formation?Scrimmage Kick

With Holder

Enough players are breaking the plane of the waistline of the snapper. The backs are clearly in the backfield and

are not restricted in which direction they face.

Legal Formation?

Note:Only 4 Eligible

Receivers

Define“Roughly Parallel”

Define“Roughly Parallel”

Scrimmage Kick With Holder

Enough players are breaking the plane of the waistline of the snapper.

The officials will need to judge whether the oblique angle of the outside lineman is enough to violate the rules.

If it is a fake kick or broken play with a pass, watch these two. They are liable to be downfield illegally.

“Encroachment”Snapper Has Different Rules From Other Lineman

Rule 7.1.6Following the ready-for-play signal and after the snapper has placed his hand(s) on the ball, encroachment occurs if any other player breaks the plane of the neutral zone.

Rule 7.1.1

The snapper may be over the ball but his feet must be behind the neutral zone and no part of his person, other than the hand(s) on the ball, may be beyond the foremost point of the ball.

Rule 7.1.5

No player, other than the snapper, shall encroach on the neutral zone after the ball is marked ready for play…

If the snapper stands over the ball then reaches down to snap it he will probably break the forward plane of the ball

with his helmet. This is encroachment.

The Rules Do Not Have A Definition Of Distance From The Scrimmage Line For A “Back” To Be Legally

Positioned The Only Measurements Defined Are:

7 And 10 Yards Concerning Scrimmage Kick Formations

5 Yards Concerning A Player In Motion Who Was Not Positioned As A “Back”

1 Yard Concerning A Lineman To Legally Accept A Forward Handing Of The Ball

1 Yard Defining A Defensive Lineman

Average Height Of A High School Player Is 5’ 10”

Length Of Player From Top Of Helmet To Waist Is About 1 Yard

Since The Snapper’ Waistline Position Starts The Definition Of Position Of A

“Back” A Player Will Be At Least 1 Yard Behind The Line Of Scrimmage To Be

Legally In The Backfield

All The Lineman Are Standing Upright…

It may be possible for a back to be less than one yard from the scrimmage line and still be legally in the backfield if all the

Lineman are standing up, (except the snapper).

And the Snapper is a

3rd Grader Who is 4’ Tall