The eligible receivers are always the two players on the end of the line, and any player who lines up in the backfield (at least one yard off the line of scrimmage). That makes five players eligible to catch a pass on any given play. (Or technically six, since the QB is also eligible to go out for a pass.)
The players on the end of the line are usually called tight ends if they are next to the tackles, split ends if they leave space between themselves and the tackles, or wide receivers if they line up far away from the others on the line.
The exception is if the player on the end of the line is a tackle wearing a number between 50-79. In the NFL, such a player must report to the referee that he is lining up as eligible. In college or high school, such players are never eligible.
Seven, of which two are eligible receivers. All other offensive players must be at least one yard behind the line of scrimmage (the exception being the quarterback) for one second before the ball is snapped.
there must be 7 men on the line of scrimmage, no more no less
No, the tackle does not need to be covered up. As long as there are 7 people on the line of scrimmage, it does not matter where they are at. Only the non-lineman players on the line farthest from the ball are eligible. Anyone not on the line is eligible.
The offense is allowed up to ten players on the line of scrimmage, need one to receive the ball from the center. But the offensive is required to have a minimum of seven players on the line of scrimmage. Defensively all eleven can play on the line of scrimmage.
The offense must have 7 players on the line of scrimmage.
False.This question is not asked very well as it only applies to the offense. The offense must have at least 7 players on the line of scrimmage. These can include receivers. It does not mean that the offense must have 7 linemen. Offensive players not on the line of scrimmage must be at least one yard back. The defense, on the other hand, is not required to have any players on the line of scrimmage.
If a quarterback and the entire ball are in front of the line of scrimmage then a forward pass can no longer be thrown but a lateral is still a legal play. However, by the act of crossing the line of scrimmage, the quarterback does not lose the right to throw a forward pass as long as after crossing the line scrimmage, the ball returns behind and is thrown from behind the line scrimmage.
On the offensive side, nobody has to be in a down position on the line of scrimmage, but there must be six men on the line. The defense does not have any regulations as to where they must line up on the line of scrimmage.
"Legal" receivers are elligable to catch a pass. Players who start a play on the end of the line or in the backfield are elligable. Linemen can't cross the line of scrimmage before a foreward pass crosses the line or they are considered to be downfield illegally unless the pass is caught behind the line of scrimmage.
There has to be 11 players on offense and Defence for every play. There has to be at least 7 players on the line of scrimmage prior to the snap of the ball. This applies to both offense and defence
In American football, the only players who cannot catch a pass are the interior offensive linemen. They are considered "ineligible." Tight ends, split ends and everyone behind the line of scrimmage (including the quarter back, punter and kicker) are eligible receivers. Ineligible receivers may not cross the line of scrimmage on a pass play until the ball is thrown. They also may not be the first player to touch a pass, but they may catch a pass that has already touched another player.Of course, any defensive player can intercept a pass at any time.
Six. The only players on the offensive that cannot be eligible receivers are the linemen, the two tackles, two guards, and the center. However, should a pass be deflected by a defensive player the linemen then become eligible receivers and can catch the deflected ball without penalty.