Illegal Participation

[Kevin Durst]

While running his pass pattern across the back of the end zone, A80 runs across the back of the end zone and steps behind the end line.  Defender B1 who is covering A80 follows him out across the back end line.  Both then cut back into the end zone in an attempt to catch the pass.  Based on 9-6-2, which states that "No player shall intentionally go out of bounds during the down and (a) Return to the field, (b) Intentionally touch the ball, (c) Influence the play, or (d) Otherwise participate", are both A80 and B1 guilty of Illegal Participation, resulting in a double foul and necessitating a replay of the down?

[prab]

9-6-2 has "intent' as an element of the foul.  9-6-1 does not have "intent" as an element of the foul and deals only with players of A or K.  It seems to me that you need more evidence of intent than is included in the OP to use 9-6-2.  I think you should use 9-6-1 and therefore only A80 is guilty of IP.

If, on the other hand, you are convinced that B1 went out and returned intentionally, (you don't need intent for A80) then I guess that offsetting IP fouls would be the correct call.  This is going to be a HARD sell.

[JKinGA29]

I would be hard-pressed to have two flags here.  IP on A80 for sure (insert standard wish for adapting the NCAA rule here) but if the defender is simply covering the player then I'd be disinclined to judge intent there.  He may or may not even know he stepped out of bounds.  For the 9-6-2 variety of IP, I'd have to see that the player knowingly and willingly went out of bounds then returned to participate.  Accidentally going out of bounds while participating is the 9-6-1 variety and as mentioned, that only applies to A or K.

[wvoref]

I would be hard-pressed to have two flags here.  IP on A80 for sure (insert standard wish for adapting the NCAA rule here) but if the defender is simply covering the player then I'd be disinclined to judge intent there.  He may or may not even know he stepped out of bounds.  For the 9-6-2 variety of IP, I'd have to see that the player knowingly and willingly went out of bounds then returned to participate.  Accidentally going out of bounds while participating is the 9-6-1 variety and as mentioned, that only applies to A or K.

Coming up on my 34th and final season of trying to change that rule. Never can get any traction so I leave to you to keep up the good fight. And while your at it fight for the 5 in backfield instead of 7 online change also. 

[Ralph Damren]

Accidentally going OOB by B may occur more than we might think. Consider the player attempting to tackle, missing, landing on the sideline, but scrambling up and remaining in pursuit. I would assume (and give benefit of doubt) that chasing a potential receiver that was OOB could accidental hit OOB, too.