College football fans, a question...

[sam_gordon]

I used to be a big football fan, but that has changed. However, I'm trying to understand something, specifically seen in college (and possibly HS, but haven't watched a lot of that).

A false start penalty USED to be any time the offense would get to the line, get set, then any movement (head bob, rocking forward or back, moving an arm, etc) would result in a flag.

But now, it seems many teams have to "check with the coach" before snapping the ball. So the offense breaks the huddle, gets to the line, pauses, then 3/4 of team get out of their stance and look back at the sideline to see if the coach wants to change the play. How is that NOT a "false start"? And no, it's not just players in the backfield or wide receivers. I see tight ends and even lineman break their stance and look up.

I'm probably not explaining it well and I can't find clips online because they get edited out. Hopefully those of you who watch know what I'm talking about.

 

[luv2cheer92]

I used to be a big football fan, but that has changed. However, I'm trying to understand something, specifically seen in college (and possibly HS, but haven't watched a lot of that).

A false start penalty USED to be any time the offense would get to the line, get set, then any movement (head bob, rocking forward or back, moving an arm, etc) would result in a flag.

But now, it seems many teams have to "check with the coach" before snapping the ball. So the offense breaks the huddle, gets to the line, pauses, then 3/4 of team get out of their stance and look back at the sideline to see if the coach wants to change the play. How is that NOT a "false start"? And no, it's not just players in the backfield or wide receivers. I see tight ends and even lineman break their stance and look up.

I'm probably not explaining it well and I can't find clips online because they get edited out. Hopefully those of you who watch know what I'm talking about.

The biggest key is that the movement must simulate the start of play for it to be a false start. So turning to look at the QB or coach, or similar movements, are allowed.

 

[NotUrsula]

There is also a major sign-stealing investigation now underway in the NCAA, and that plays into this, too. Attempts to deliberately obfuscate signs can end up confusing your own side so much that they need to step back and get the correct information. Crowd noise is up, and getting louder in many stadiums, now that there isn't a penalty assessed for the crowd noise itself unless it's artificial. If they can't get signs across clearly and they can't hear plays, either, it happens more and more. (A few weeks ago in the LSU v. Arkansas game, Arkansas was called for false starts 5 times out of their 11 penalties overall. Bama got 8 in the A&M game.)

Just as a general aside, research has shown that over the past two decades or so, the ability to be still for long periods has just deteriorated in most younger people. I think if they still called every head turn or knee twitch the games would last 6 hours due to all the time that setting for that many penalties would take.

 

[jimmymc]

I understand the question, where they are checking the play and all the linemen get out of their stance to look back or reassign blocks. The rule is that you can't move once you're set, but an offensive player is allowed to go from set to not set in the case of a check or audible. It's the same as when two receivers switch which one is on the line and which is off the line. The corollary to this is that all the players have to get set again for at least 1 second, otherwise it would be illegal motion.

How do the refs and defense know when the line is going from not set vs actually starting the play? It's a judgement call. If all the linemen look at the QB at the same time and that causes a defensive player to jump and make contact, then they could call a false start.

 

[Praying Colonel]

A lot depends on what is meant by "stance" (3-point? 2-point?), players in motion and the type of movement being made by the player in question. Generally, linemen in 2-point stances can move as long as it doesn't simulate the start of a play ("quick, jerky motion") and the team comes to a one-second stop prior to the snap.

The false start rules are on p. 76 of the NCAA rulebook at this link:

https://taso.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2023-NCAA-Football-Rule-Book.pdf

 

[bcla]

It's one of those rules where there have been a lot of interpretations over the years, and the important thing is that it's a judgement call as to whether or not a borderline movement is a false start. Centers seems to get the most room for interpretation, as often they're pointing out assignments and turn their heads often. There are obvious false starts, such as a player completely getting out of a stance or crossing the neutral zone before the snap.

 

[sam_gordon]

A lot depends on what is meant by "stance" (3-point? 2-point?), players in motion and the type of movement being made by the player in question. Generally, linemen in 2-point stances can move as long as it doesn't simulate the start of a play ("quick, jerky motion") and the team comes to a one-second stop prior to the snap.

The false start rules are on p. 76 of the NCAA rulebook at this link:

https://taso.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2023-NCAA-Football-Rule-Book.pdf

Thanks for posting the rules. So as long as the team (and lets be honest, it's linemen, WRs, QBs, RBs, pretty much everybody), looks SLOWLY toward the sideline, it's all good.

If one wants to get technical though, look at this rule...

3 A restricted lineman (Rule 2-27-4) moving their hand(s) or making any quick movement

So if they're in a three point stance, if they pick their hands up to look at the coach, there should be a flag.