could you describe for me what has to happen for this penalty to be called. In a game this weekend, the officials enforced this infraction but couldn't quite understand the reasoning for it. I'm not saying there wasn't a penalty on what I witnessed but just didn't think it was illgal participation. Here's what happened: Team A has 12 defensive players on the field, one rushes to the sideline and is about 2 feet from the sideline when the ball was snapped. the official who works with the chain crew dropped a flag as did another official who worked downfield on Team A's sideline (this was a 7-man crew). After quite a bit of discussion among the officials the 15-yard illegal participation penalty was enforced.
Illegal participation
- Thread starter NNDman
- Start date
The play you describe would not be flagged in my games. if a player is clearly trying to get off the field and he's close to the sideline, let it go. If he'd still at the numbers then I can see a flag but it's still illegal substitution, not illegal particiapation. IS is 5 yards.
To be IP, there have to be 12 players playing in the play, with no one trying to get off.
There are other ways to have IP, such as a player leaving the field and returning in the play or playing after his helmet comes off, but that's not what you described.
To be IP, there have to be 12 players playing in the play, with no one trying to get off.
There are other ways to have IP, such as a player leaving the field and returning in the play or playing after his helmet comes off, but that's not what you described.
Once the center has touched the ball and it is "live" can any substitutions be made? If the center is holding the ball but the team is looking towards the sideline and not in formation is this considered "live" and are substitutions allowed then?
A follow-up question to this question. How much ball movement/adjustment is allowable by the center?
The ball is not live until it is legally snapped. So yes, once he has his hand on it, substitutions, shifts, and other things are legal because he hasn't snapped it. he cannot remove his hand from the ball, but other players can move around.
The center is allowed to roll the ball so the laces are where he wants them. He's not supposed to flip it end-to-end but I don't know many people getting too worried about that -- no real advantage gained. He's not to move it, although sometimes the ball gets pushed forward a few inches. The officials might let that go, but the line of scrimmage doesn't change so if a defender is now over the ball. he should be excused. And if an offensive player crowds up to a ball that's been moved forward a bit, he's likely guilty od encroachment. so it's a risk you take, On an incomplete pass, the ball will be reset by the box so it will be back to ewhere it was.
The center is allowed to roll the ball so the laces are where he wants them. He's not supposed to flip it end-to-end but I don't know many people getting too worried about that -- no real advantage gained. He's not to move it, although sometimes the ball gets pushed forward a few inches. The officials might let that go, but the line of scrimmage doesn't change so if a defender is now over the ball. he should be excused. And if an offensive player crowds up to a ball that's been moved forward a bit, he's likely guilty od encroachment. so it's a risk you take, On an incomplete pass, the ball will be reset by the box so it will be back to ewhere it was.
