Expert: Vic Winnek - 11/23/2009

Question
What is intent to deceive penalty? And isn't that the point of a trick play?

Answer
Jane
Where there is a tactic by one team that is intended to deceive opponents and confuse opponents, such acts are in violation of the rules.  In the Air Force vs. BYU game, the QB had been under center then pulled back and began to walk away from his position and began calling out. This is not a normal or routine act. While the QB did this the snapper snapped the ball to another player. The conduct by the QB was intented to deceive and confuse opponents. This type of non-football act is an unfair tactic.  A player who runs a reverse or runs a draw play or some other trickery is done by means of a football playing act.  The QB walking away from his normal position is not a football playing act.  It is intended to take advantage of the defense who may take their guard down under such a situation.  Hence the unfair act.  This play is very similar to the play the NCAA warned officials about in the most recent NCAA Bulletin of 11/13/09.  Below is a partial copy of the buletin and the NCAA Rules.

"MEMORANDUM
November 13, 2009
TO: Divisions I, II and III Supervisors of Football Officials,
Conference Commissioners and Head Football Coaches.
FROM: Rogers Redding, secretary-rules editor
NCAA Football Rules Committee.
SUBJECT: NCAA Football Clarification and Play Situations Bulletin No. 3.

Enclosed with this memorandum are the third set of play situations for the 2009
season. The committee hopes these examples assist in the understanding of
NCAA Football rules. Each play includes the ruling and a rule reference to assist...

2. Second and 10 at the A-45. Quarterback A12 is in a “shotgun” formation. All players are
stopped for a full second when A12 turns (no false start) and begins to trot toward his
sideline in apparent confusion about what play is to be called or whether the coach wants to
request a timeout. He is moving parallel to his end line and is almost to his sideline when the
ball is snapped to A45 who is five yards behind the snapper. A45 then completes a forward
pass to A12 for a long gain.
RULING: Unsportsmanlike conduct for an unfair act to deceive the opponents. The referee
may impose any penalty he deems reasonable. In this case the penalty is for a live-ball foul,
15 yards at the previous spot and the down is repeated. Second and 25 at the A-30. (9-2-3-c)"


From the 2009 NCAA Football Rule Book:

Unfair Tactics Rule 9-2-2
ARTICLE 2. a. No player shall conceal the ball in or beneath his clothing or equipment or substitute any other article for the ball.
b. No simulated replacements or substitutions may be used to confuse opponents. No tactic associated with substitutes or the substitution process may be used to confuse opponents (Rule 3-5-2-e) (A.R. 9-2-2-IVII).
c. No equipment may be used to confuse opponents (Rule 1-4-2-e).
PENALTY [a-c] 15 yards from the previous spot [S27]. Flagrant offenders shall be disqualified

EXAMPLES of Unfair tactics:  Unfair Tactics—ARTICLE 2

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. 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. Between scrimmage downs, one or more Team B substitutes enter the field of play. Before the snap for the next down, more than 11 Team B players intentionally stay on the field of play as long as possible (more than three seconds) to disguise the defensive personnel, the type of defense and the pass coverage. RULING: Dead-ball foul on Team B, illegal substitution. Penalty—Five yards from the succeeding spot (Rule 3-5-2-c).

V. 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.

VI. Team A, with 12 players in the vicinity of the huddle (within 10 yards), breaks the huddle and two players start toward the sideline and Team A’s bench. RULING: Dead-ball foul. Penalty—Five yards from the succeeding spot.

VII. 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.

SECTION 2. Unsportsmanlike Conduct Fouls
Unsportsmanlike Acts
ARTICLE 1. There shall be no unsportsmanlike conduct or any act that interferes with orderly game administration on the part of players, substitutes, coaches, authorized attendants or any other persons subject to the rules, before the game, during the game or between periods.
a. Specifically prohibited acts and conduct include:
1. No player, substitute, coach or other person subject to the rules shall use abusive, threatening or obscene language or gestures, or engage in such acts that provoke ill will or are demeaning to an opponent to game officials or to the image of the game, including but not limited
to:
(a) Pointing the finger(s), hand(s), arm(s) or ball at an opponent, or imitating the slashing of the throat.
(b) Taunting, baiting or ridiculing an opponent verbally.
(c) Inciting an opponent or spectators in any other way, such as simulating the firing of a weapon or placing a hand by the ear to request recognition.
(d) Any delayed, excessive, prolonged or choreographed act by which a player (or players) attempts to focus attention upon himself (or themselves).
(e) An unopposed ball carrier obviously altering stride as he approaches the opponent’s goal line or diving into the end zone.
(f) Removal of a player’s helmet before he is in the team area (Exceptions: Team, media or injury timeouts; equipment adjustment; through play; between periods; and during a
measurement for a first down).
(g) Punching one’s own chest or crossing one’s arms in front of the chest while standing over a prone player.
(h) Going into the stands to interact with spectators, or bowing at the waist after a good play.
If committed while the ball is alive, these fouls are treated as dead-ball fouls.
2. After a score or any other play, the player in possession immediately must return the ball to an official or leave it near the dead-ball spot.
This prohibits:
(a) Kicking, throwing, spinning or carrying (including off of the field) the ball any distance that requires an official to retrieve it.
(b) Spiking the ball to the ground [Exception: A forward pass to conserve time (Rule 7-3-2-d)].
(c) Throwing the ball high into the air.
(d) Any other unsportsmanlike act or actions that delay the game.
PENALTY—Dead-ball foul or live-ball foul treated as dead-ball foul. 15 yards [S7 and S27] from the succeeding spot. Flagrant offenders, if players or substitutes, shall be disqualified
[S47]. If a player or an identified squad member in uniform commits two unsportsmanlike fouls in the same game, he shall be disqualified