Football: Could A-11 offense’s days be numbered?
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The A-11 offense used by Saddleback Valley Christian and a handful of other schools across the country is expected to be a hotbutton issue during the National Federation of High Schools rules meeting Jan. 24-25 in Indianapolis.
Officials could vote to essentially ban the offense by modifying language in the scrimmage-kick formation that allows the wacky formation to be legal in most states, including California. So long as linemen avoid wearing jersey Nos. 50-79, they are eligible to receive a pass, making all 11 players potentially eligible.
Steve Stearns, who is scheduled to represent California as the state’s rules interpreter at the meeting, said California had no official stance on the A-11.
‘Politically, it’s a little better if California didn’t take a stand one way or the other,’ Stearns said. ‘There’s plenty of people across the nation who have opinions on this. ... It’s really caused quite a commotion as far as the folks who are for and against it.’
Any changes to the A-11 would require a two-thirds vote by the rules committee. Stearns said it was unlikely California would unilaterally ban the A-11 if the NFHS continued to deem it legal because such an act would cause the state to lose its spot on the rules committee.
But California has already vacated its spot on the basketball rules committee, Stearns said, because it uses a shot clock, which is not approved by the NFHS.
Piedmont coaches Kurt Bryan and Steve Humphries, the co-creators of the offense, have already launched a public-relations campaign in support of the formation. Bryan and Humphries have distributed what they called an A-11 ‘position paper’ that cites the offense’s innovative nature and its ability to reduce major injuries, among other selling points.
Bryan and Humphries will not be allowed to plead their case in person at the rules meeting. Saddleback Valley Christian had plenty of success running the A-11--until the first round of the Northeast Division playoffs. The Warriors won their first 10 games and averaged more than 30 points per game until Mojave upset them, 35-14, in the playoffs.
--Ben Bolch