ineligible downfied

[zebraken]

under what cicumstances would an ineligble player downfield be guilty of offensive pass interference?

[srhendon]

That would not  happen often but if he is blocking a person in the area of the pass. Basing that on the restrictions start for A on the snap.IF a LB has a chance to intercept and A64 hits him would be an example.

[Curious]

Based on the 2012 FED Rules Clarification:if the ineligible player commits what the official deems to be OPI beyond the expanded neutral zone, it's OPI - not Illegal Touching.

(7-5-10a,b; 7.5.13; Table in pg 63 of the 2012 Rule Book)

[110]

Note: usually this sort of thing arises when you have a blown screen pass.

[Roscoe]

If an ineligible receiver goes downfield and then catches a forward pass beyond the neutral zone, we have OPI.

[NorCalMike]

If an ineligible receiver goes downfield and then catches a forward pass beyond the neutral zone, we have OPI.

7-5-13  An ineligible A player has illegally touched a forward pass if he bats, muffs or catches a legal forward pass, unless the pass has first been touched by B.

Case 7-5-13 Situation A

This was change several years ago.

[Bob M.]

7-5-13  An ineligible A player has illegally touched a forward pass if he bats, muffs or catches a legal forward pass, unless the pass has first been touched by B.

Case 7-5-13 Situation A

This was change several years ago.

REPLY: Mike...you're right. This is, and should be flagged as, illegal touching--not OPI. It was changed several years ago. However, the Fed created confusion last year when they issued a case play that once again mistakenly called it OPI. When brought to their attention, the Fed attempted to soft-peddle the error attempting to show how it could be OPI if the ineligible interfered with a defender's play on the ball. But that isn't what the play said. So between their initial error last season, and their "politician's" attempt to not admit a mistake, it's no wonder people are confused.

[Rulesman]

...But that isn't what the play said. So between their initial error last season, and their "politician's" attempt to not admit a mistake, it's no wonder people are confused.

We have the same problem this year with the definition of "catch" in the rule book and a play interpretation or two in the Case Book. 

[bama_stripes]

If an ineligible receiver goes downfield and then catches a forward pass beyond the neutral zone, we have OPI.

See the 2012 Interpretations on the NFHS web site.

[BIG UMP]

Tennessee just put out a NFHS correction that strikes through the OPI portion of this.

[Bob M.]

We have the same problem this year with the definition of "catch" in the rule book and a play interpretation or two in the Case Book. 

REPLY: There has been an inherent problem with the definition of "catch" for many years. According to the definition, you can't have a catch till player possession is established, but according to the definition of player possession, you can't have player possession of a live ball until the player catches it. Huh?? Which is it? The football version of "chicken and egg."

There's a simple way to fix it, though it has been proposed and rejected:

ART. 1 . . . A catch is the act of establishing player possession control of a live ball which is in flight, and first contacting the ground inbounds while maintaining possession control of the ball.

[Rulesman]

REPLY: There has been an inherent problem with the definition of "catch" for many years. According to the definition, you can't have a catch till player possession is established, but according to the definition of player possession, you can't have player possession of a live ball until the player catches it. Huh?? Which is it? The football version of "chicken and egg."

There's a simple way to fix it, though it has been proposed and rejected:

ART. 1 . . . A catch is the act of establishing player possession control of a live ball which is in flight, and first contacting the ground inbounds while maintaining possession control of the ball.

I'm also of the opinion if the rule makers will place a comma here and there it will also help to solve some of the ambiguity.