Subscribe to the NCSA BlogPoll of the Week: Should the A-11 be Legal?
October 23rd, 2008 - byThe high school football has been rocked recently by one of the biggest offensive innovations since the forward pass. The A-11 offense, standing for All 11 Eligible, uses players spread across the field in multiple formations. Two players line up at least 7 yards deep in the shotgun and anyone can catch a pass as long as they line up correctly. Sound confusing? Take a look:
But other’s feel the offense goes too far. The formation is only legal because it qualifies as a punt formation. In fact the supervisor of officials for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association has declared the offense illegal. He deems it, “An unsporting act in terms of deception which is not in accordance with rule code or the intent and spirit of the game.”
Some more A-11 links from College Football Talk
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:01 am
As an ex-high school football official, the offense is clearly against the spirit of the rules of high school football. It is designed to fool the officials as much as the opponent.
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:04 am
I think that it’s something else that the defense might have to adjust to. Look at the college game now, everyone is almost running the spread offense, which is some what similar to this. I mean it doesn’t have 3 offensive linemen, but you get the gist of it.
This is actually somewhat comical! It’s like watching an Arena Football team. Which for me is not entertaining at all. I don’t like arena football so this offense is not appealing what so ever. If anything, this formation might hurt some of the kids ability to adjust to the college game. Possibility.
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:08 am
As a former lineman, I would have loved the opportunity to go out and catch a pass. However, the larger athletes that always flocked to football as “their” sport, don’t seem to have a place.
That being said, if its legal within the rules, bring it on! Remember the forward pass was once deemed foolish!
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:10 am
While we’re are on this kick, lets outlaw the play action pass, fake reverse, and halfback pass because they are all aimed at deception. Heck, lets ban passing and have high schoolers run the I-formation up the middle 50 times a game just to make sure they do not trick any defenders. Better yet, the offense should just share their paly with the defense right before they snap the ball.
This is a joke. Innovation and creativity are what lead to winning. The entire object of the offense is to deceive the defense by running the play they are least expecting in order to advance the ball and ultimately score. This offense seems to highly successful at that. Maybe the supervisor of the officials for the High School Athletic Association should use his “brilliant, yet steeped in open and honest play calling” mind to help defenses come up with a way to stop this offense rather than make the game boring.
October 23rd, 2008 at 10:19 am
1) I don’t think the A-11 formation should be made illegal. I agree with previous posts that innovation and deception are part of the game, and always will be.
2) I don’t foresee this formation catching on and spreading across the nation anyway. Formations like this may work as “trick plays” a couple times a game or when unexpected, but if a good defense game plans and practices for it, I don’t see it being all that effective.
October 23rd, 2008 at 11:58 am
The A-11 allows a team, through ingenuity, discipline, and skill, to overcome weaknesses and compete in football games that it otherwise would not be able to. From what I understand, the team the developed the strategy was constantly undersized and had difficulty in the trenches against their opponents. They innovated a way to compete and should be allowed to do so. After all, the team running the A-11 didn’t cry about fairness when other teams with 300 pound lineman rammed the ball down their skinny throats for years uninterrupted.
October 24th, 2008 at 10:49 am
I saw Piedmont play three weeks ago and I was very skeptical, but now that I have seen this wide open offense in person, I have become a believer. This offense is not only great for the kids, it is by far the most exciting offense I have ever seen in nearly 50 years of watching football at all levels.
A wonderful innovation!
Joseph
October 28th, 2008 at 9:36 am
If the formation is legal (7 men on the line of scrimmage) then why would it not be legal? It does not matter where the players line up as long as it is a legal formation and that those that are covered are called if they go down field.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:27 am
Legalizing this play would drastically change the way the game is played. Conventional football would be destroyed. It is entertaining, but so is traditional football. The question to ask yourself is “Am I willing to sacrafice the game I grew up with and love or do I want to watch a new game?”
October 28th, 2008 at 11:03 am
we used this in the late 1960s, how is this innovative? call it innovative if you want, go ahead and use it! bring it on! why not! makes the game more interesting!
October 28th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Football has become so burdened with rules that it becomes almost unwatchable at times. Flags and litigation on nearly every play in some games with overzealous officials. The last thing we need is one more “illegal” item to litigate about on the field. In fact, I’m in favor of eliminating holding and pass interference penalties.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
I am a player who has played against this offense and it is by fare and cheapest offense ever half the time in the game the referees can’t even tell who’s eligible or not. This game I had 10 tackles and I’m in most of the highlights in this youtube video they beat us 14 to 20 last year……..#6 st.marys
October 29th, 2008 at 10:51 am
As a current high school football official, If you can not determine who is an eligible reciever then you do not need to be officiating football at this or any higher level. Just another variarion of the spread offense. Bring it on !!!
November 18th, 2008 at 11:40 am
Nothing wrong with innovation
November 30th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
i dont understand how all 11 people can be eligible can someone explain please
December 1st, 2008 at 9:43 am
The formation qualifies as a punt formation, therefore making all players eligible.
March 31st, 2009 at 10:47 am
This offense is not very difficult to officiate or defend. Just a super spread set.
Let it be.
Yary.