INDOOR BULLET

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INDOOR BULLET 3THE CONCEPT OF DAYLIGHT

• December 30, 2008
• Illegal formation calls will not be missed in
  2009!

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• Rule H, in part, discusses Player Alignment.

• In 2009, Rule H will state there must be
  Daylight between the back and all offensive
  linemen. Likewise, there must be Daylight
  between the linebackers and all defensive linemen.

• Official will interpret daylight by utilizing
  the concept we use when discussing breaking the
  plane of the goal line.

• That is, if any portion of the backs or
  linebackers body breaks the plane of the rear
  most portion of the linemen, there is no
  daylight and thus, we have an illegal formation.

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The linebackers in this cut DO NOT break the
plane of the rear most defensive lineman.
This is the plane at the rear most portion of the
deepest defensive lineman.
This is a LEGAL FORMATION.
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This is the plane at the rear most portion of the
deepest offensive lineman.
The back in this cut DOES NOT break the plane of
the rear most part of the offensive lineman.
This is a LEGAL FORMATION.
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There is no daylight between the right guard and
the running back.
This is an ILLEGAL FORMATION.
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Therefore, our interpretation will be that this
is an ILLEGAL FORMATION.
This is simply too close to call.
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There is daylight between the right guard and the
running back.
This is a LEGAL FORMATION.
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There is no daylight between the left guard and
the running back.
This is an ILLEGAL FORMATION.
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There is daylight between the center and the
linebackers.
This is a LEGAL FORMATION.
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There is daylight on both sides of the ball.
These are LEGAL FORMATIONS.
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This is too close to call.
Therefore, our interpretation will be that this
is an ILLEGAL FORMATION.
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There is just about enough daylight between the
right guard and the linebackers foot.
This is a LEGAL FORMATION, but it is about as
close as you can get to having daylight and being
legal.
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There is daylight between the right guard and the
running back.
This is a LEGAL FORMATION.
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• Officiating Staff, Coaches, and Players
  Daylight is a simple concept. NO PART OF A
  RUNNING BACK OR LINEBACKER MAY BREAK THE PLANE
  OF THE LINE DRAWN THROUGH THE REAR MOST PORTION
  OF THE REAR MOST DOWN LINEMAN.

• It is the backs or linebackers responsibility
  to make sure there is daylight, as interpreted
  herein, between him and the deepest linemans
  body part, be it the linemans foot or his
  rear-end. This player must ensure there is
  daylight between himself and ALL DOWN LINEMAN

• not just the lineman in front of him!

• An illegal formation is a 5-yard live ball foul.

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• Wing Officials will follow this guideline If you
  must think more than a split second about whether
  daylight exists, it does not exist! Flag it!

• If in doubt, the running back or linebacker
  should take a step back, because if it is too
  close for the official to determine in an
  instant, the formation will be ruled as illegal.

• Officials and Players be especially wary of
  this concept near the goal line, where running
  backs and linebackers have a natural tendency to
  scoot up towards the line of scrimmage.

• If you are too close, your team will be
  penalized.

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This formation falls into the category of too
close to call. If it is too close to call, we
will rule we have no daylight, therefore it is a
foul.
The left side linebacker's head breaks the plane
of the rear most portion of the right guard's
foot. Thus, this formation is illegal.
This is a live ball foul. If accepted, it is a
5-yard penalty from the previous spot.
Look at the defensive formation.
Is the defensive formation legal or illegal?
Your answer is?
This is an illegal formation.
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Look at the defensive formation.
This is ridiculous! The linebacker is in the
gap! This better be flagged as illegal!!!!
This is a live ball foul. If accepted, it is a
5-yard penalty from the previous spot.
Your answer is?
This formation falls into the category of
ridiculous or You gotta be kidding me!!!
This must be flagged!!
This is an illegal formation.
Is the defensive formation legal or illegal?
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The running back has ensured there is daylight
between him and the rear most portion of the
deepest lineman which in this case, happens to be
the right guard. Thus, this formation is legal.
Look at the offensive formation.
Is the offensive formation legal or illegal?
Your answer is?
This is a legal formation.
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PLAYERS REMEMBER If the official has to think
for more than a split second as to whether there
is daylight or not, YOU ARE TOO CLOSE AND YOU
WILL BE FLAGGED!
BE ESPECIALLY AWARE OF THIS NEAR THE GOAL LINE,
WHEN YOUR NATURAL TENDENCY WILL BE TO "SCOOT UP
TO THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE
Look at both the offensive and defensive
formations.
PLAYERS ENSURE YOU DO NOT BREAK THE PLANE OF
THE REAR MOST PORTION OF THE DEEPEST LINEMAN!
Is the offensive formation legal or illegal?
What about the defense? Is the defensive
formation legal or illegal?
The offense is in a legal formation.
Your answer is?
The defense is in a legal formation.
Your answer is?
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This was an easy one. The official doesn't have
to think about it at all. Players, if you want to
play games by scooting up very close, and you end
up making the official have to think about it for
a split second, then you are too close and you
will be the cause of an illegal formation.
Neither linebacker breaks the plane of the rear
most portion of the deepest defensive lineman
which in this case appears to be the right guard.
Thus, this formation is LEGAL.
Look at the defensive formation.
Is the defensive formation legal or illegal?
This is a legal formation.
Your answer is?
Players, make it easy on yourself. GET BACK!
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This is a LEGAL FORMATION, but barely. (and we
are looking at this formation from a poor angle
the wing on the line of scrimmage probably will
see that there is daylight.)
If both linebackers are any closer, this would be
illegal. We get the point, correct?
Look at the defensive formation.
Is the defensive formation legal or illegal?
Your answer is?
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Theres no daylight. The left linebacker is not
only too close to the center and guard he breaks
the plane of the right foot of the right guard.
Look at the defensive formation.
Is the defensive formation legal or illegal?
Your answer is?
This is an ILLEGAL FORMATION.
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The left linebacker is clearly breaking the plane
of the right guards foot. It also appears as if
the right linebackers left leg breaks the plane
of the right guards foot.
Look at the defensive formation.
Is the defensive formation legal or illegal?
Your answer is?
This is an ILLEGAL FORMATION.
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Look at the defensive formation.
Is the defensive formation legal or illegal?
Your answer is?
This is a LEGAL FORMATION.
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This is a LEGAL FORMATION. An easy one to
determine.
Look at the offensive formation.
Your answer is?
Is the offensive formation legal or illegal?
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This is an ILLEGAL FORMATION. This one is easy
and needs no explanation.
Look at the defensive formation.
Is the defensive formation legal or illegal?
Your answer is?
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This is a LEGAL FORMATION. Too bad all formations
cant be this simple!
Look at the defensive formation.
Is the defensive formation legal or illegal?
Your answer is?
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Look at the offensive formation.
Your answer is?
Is the offensive formation legal or illegal?
This is a LEGAL FORMATION.
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This is an ILLEGAL FORMATION. The left
linebackers right foot breaks the plane of the
right guards right foot.
Look at the defensive formation.
Your answer is?
Is the defensive formation legal or illegal?
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This is an ILLEGAL FORMATION. This is simply too
obvious, and this call will not be missed.
Look at the defensive formation.
Your answer is?
Is the defensive formation legal or illegal?
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• In closing, daylight is a simple concept to
  understand and comprehend.

• Simply think of the age-old concept in football
  known as breaking the plane.

• If any portion (any portion means any portion
  including helmet, foot, hand) breaks the plane of
  the rear most portion of the rear most portion of
  the rear most lineman (usually his foot), we have
  an illegal formation. PLAYERS? GET BACK!

• If daylight is enforced correctly in the first
  game of the season, and enforced in EVERY ARENA
  IN THIS MANNER, we should have no issues with
  this call.