COLLEGE FOOTBALL OFFICIATING, LLC
INTERPRETATION: INSTANT REPLAY
MORE THAN ELEVEN PLAYERS ON THE FIELD
Beginning in 2011 there is no longer a foul for “illegal participation” which carried a 15-yard penalty. All fouls pertaining to more than eleven players on the field are substitution infractions with a five-yard penalty (Rule 3-5-3, FR-54). Accompanying this change in the playing rules is a modification to Rule 12-3-5-a, which now cites as a situation that may be addressed by the Instant Replay Official “The number of players on the field for either team during a live ball.” The intent is to allow a review when excess players are involved or have the potential to be involved in the play. It is not intended to apply when a player is attempting to get off the field and at the snap is essentially at the sideline.
By interpretation: When a team has more than eleven players on the field and the player(s) in excess of eleven is (are) attempting to leave the field, if at the snap the player’s next step will take him out of bounds, there is no violation of Rule 3-5-3 and the play is not reviewable.
EXAMPLES
1. Team B has 12 players in the defensive formation. The officials do not detect the extra player and do not stop the action. Realizing his mistake the 12th player tries to run off the field, and at the snap he is inside the numbers and at least two steps from the sideline. RULING: Reviewable play.
2. Team B has 12 players in the defensive formation. The officials do not detect the extra player and do not stop the action. Realizing his mistake the 12th player tries to run off the field, and at the snap he is so close to the sideline that his next step takes him out of bounds. RULING: The play is not reviewable.
Rogers Redding
Secretary-Rules Editor
NCAA Football Rules Committee
