Line of scrimmage

In gridiron football, a line of scrimmage is an imaginary transverse line (across the width of the field) beyond which a team cannot cross until the next play has begun. Its location is based on the spot where the ball is placed after the end of the most recent play and following the assessment of any penalty yards.

History

The line of scrimmage first came into use in 1880. Developed by Walter Camp (who introduced many innovations that are part of the modern game of American football), it replaced a contested scrimmage that had descended from the game's rugby roots. This uncontested line of scrimmage would set into motion many more rules that led to the formation of the modern form of gridiron football (although the Canadian rules were developed independently of the American game, despite their similarities).

Dimensions

A line of scrimmage is

. In American football, the set distance of the line of scrimmage between the offense and defense is 11 inches (28 cm), the length of the ball. In Canadian football, the set distance of the line of scrimmage is 1 yard (91 cm), more than three times as long as the American line.

Under

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Rules regarding the line of scrimmage

• Only the offensive player who snaps the ball (usually the
  center or long snapper
  ) is allowed to have any part of his body in the neutral zone.
• For there to be a legal beginning of a play, at least seven players on the
  offensive team, including two eligible receivers
  , must be at, on, or within a few inches of their line of scrimmage.
• Beginning in 2019, high school football will allow as few as five players on a line of scrimmage, but in practice, the limits will remain the same since teams will still be limited to four persons behind the line of scrimmage; the difference would only come into play if a team plays offense with fewer than 11 players.^[2]

Presentation during broadcasts

Modern video techniques

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Misnomers

Many fans and commentators refer

See also

• Scrummage
• Glossary of American football
• Comparison of Canadian and American football

Footnotes