Federation rules A-11 as illegal

Supporters call the A-11 football offense innovative. Detractors decry the offense, saying it circumvents rules.

For now, the detractors have sacked the A-11. The National Federation of State High School Associations rendered the A-11 an illegal formation.

Hailed by some as the future of prep football, the A-11 uses 11 potentially eligible receivers on every down by lining up a quarterback at least 7 yards behind the line of scrimmage.

Lining up that way allows the offense to put 11 players on the field wearing receiver-eligible numbers.

The formation can look unusual: a center, two tight ends next to center, three wideouts to the right, three to the left and two backs behind the line. The A-11 can’t have more than six eligible receivers on one play, but it’s difficult for the defense to know which are eligible.

“The originators of the offense have taken a rule that was not meant for inclusion on all downs to put their offense in,” West Virginia high school supervisor of football officials Mike Webb said.

The NFL and college football have rules in place to prevent teams from running the A-11.

The approved rules revisions clarify which offensive numbers can be on the field on first, second and third downs and make it harder to line up in scrimmage-kick formation if it’s not obvious a kick may be attempted.