American Football NCAA Approved Ruling 9-2-2

I. After the ball is ready for play, Team A goes into a formation with two players split wide on both sides of the snapper and two other Team A linemen adjacent to the snapper. No more than four players are legally in the backfield. Team A sends in two substitutes, who take positions on the line of scrimmage adjacent to the two split offensive linemen on the opposite side of the field of play from their team bench. This leaves Team A with nine players on the line of scrimmage and four backfield players all legally in position. Immediately and before the snap, two Team A linemen nearest their team’s bench leave the field of play and are off at the snap. Seven players are on the line of scrimmage, five of whom are Team A linemen numbered 50 to 79. RULING: Penalty—15 yards from the previous spot. This is a simulated replacement of a player to confuse the opponents.

II. On fourth down at Team B’s 12-yard line, A1 enters the field of play with a kicking shoe while his 11 teammates are in the huddle. A1 kneels and measures the distance from the neutral zone to the kicking spot. While his teammates are leaving the huddle, A1 leaves the field of play with the shoe. Team A quickly runs a play from scrimmage. RULING: Team A foul for unsportsmanlike conduct. Penalty—15 yards from the previous spot. There shall be no simulated replacement of a player to confuse the opponents, and a player who communicates must remain in the game for one down.

III. A1 leaves the field of play during a down. Team A huddles with 10 players. Substitute A12 enters, and A2 simulates leaving the field but sets near the sideline for a “hide-out’’ pass. RULING: Penalty—15 yards from the previous spot. This is a simulated replacement of a player to confuse opponents.

IV. While a team is legally set to attempt a field goal, the potential holder for the kick goes toward his team area asking for a shoe. A shoe is thrown on the field and the player, in motion toward his team area, turns toward the goal line. The ball is snapped to the player in the kicking position, who throws a pass to the player who had turned up field after asking for a shoe. RULING: Penalty—15 yards from the previous spot.

V. Team A is lined up in scrimmage kick formation and has been set for one second. One of the offensive backs shouts to and motions to A40, the blocker on the right wing, to get off the field. At the snap, A40 is in legal motion toward his sideline. A40 turns downfield and becomes a pass receiver. RULING: Penalty—15 yards from the previous spot. This is a tactic associated with the substitution process to deceive opponents.

VI. After the down is over, Team A sends in three substitutes, and three players begin to leave the field. A88, who participated in the previous play, trails the three replaced players toward the Team A sideline. The three replaced players continue into the team area, but A88 stops and sets up on the line of scrimmage very close to the sideline. After the ball is snapped A88 runs down the sideline and catches a forward pass. RULING: Team A foul at the snap, unsportsmanlike conduct for unfair tactics: using the substitution process to deceive the opponents. Live-ball foul. Penalty: 15 yards at the previous spot.

VII. 4/10 @ A-35. As Team A begins substitutions for a potential punt, it is discovered that Team A has assigned three players wearing the number 2. RULING: Unsportsmanlike Conduct charged against the head coach. After enforcement, 4/25 @ A-20. This counts toward the two Unsportsmanlike Conduct fouls that leads to automatic ejection.

VIII. 4/1 @ B-40. QB A12 moves from shotgun formation to under center and barks signals in an unsuccessful attempt to draw Team B offside. With 10 seconds remaining on the play clock, A12 backs away from the center and jogs toward the sideline being very demonstrative with his arms and waiving to the bench. As A12 approaches the sideline, the ball is snapped directly to back A44 just before the play clock expires and A44 runs to the B-38. RULING: A, 4/16 @ A-45 – Unsportsmanlike Conduct by A12, penalize Team A 15 yards from the previous spot. The action by A12 is in violation of the spirit of Rule 9-2-2-b.