Illegal Participation & Kick Off Out of Bounds

[AlUpstateNY]

EXAMPLE:  A88 goes out for a pass, steps on the sideline while leaping to catch a high pass, catches the ball, and falls to the ground OOB.  Any official with any sense simply calls this an incomplete pass.  If we consider him as "accidently" going OOB, this play becomes nothing but an incomplete pass. 

Time out, are you actually endorsing that an official apply personal common sense, fueled by experience and a thorough understanding of the intent of the rule, rather than blindly following, a sometimes less than eloquent, wording of the rule that may cause obvious and unnecessary confusion with interpretation ?

The NFHS "Official's Guide" reminds us, "Officials must have a football sense which supercedes the technical application of the rules so that the game goes smoothly"

[mbyron]

If I'm not mistaken, AB is merely pointing out an inconsistency in the rules concerning the concept of "intentionally going out of bounds." His play points up half of that inconsistency (the other half is the new IP ruling for free kicks).

He's not advocating for an obviously unfair enforcement.

[KDJBBBJ]

The plays that AB is talking about have a different rule for them than the intentionally going out.  9-6-1 says
"ART. 1 . . . Prior to a change of possession, or when there is no change of possession, no player of A or K shall go out of bounds and return to the field during the down unless blocked out of bounds by an opponent. If a player is blocked out of bounds by an opponent and returns to the field during the down, he shall return at the first opportunity"

so R by this can accidentally step on the sideline and touch the ball without being called for IP since he did not intentionally go out of bounds.

9-6-2 says
"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"

In my opinion going OOB intentionally requires intent to leave the field of play to gain an advantage not just stepping on the sidline trying to make a taclke or catching a kick etc.  It is our job as officials to determine if a foul is committed or not on almost every single play of the game.  We all should know what intentional vs accidental is determine how or why the player went out of bounds and apply the rules. 

[bama_stripes]

In my opinion going OOB intentionally requires intent to leave the field of play to gain an advantage not just stepping on the sidline trying to make a taclke or catching a kick etc.  It is our job as officials to determine if a foul is committed or not on almost every single play of the game.  We all should know what intentional vs accidental is determine how or why the player went out of bounds and apply the rules.

FED evidently disagrees, at least in some situations:

"When A1 goes out of bounds voluntarily or by accident, or delays his return after being blocked out by an opponent, he commits an illegal participation foul when he returns inbounds. The spot of the foul is where he returns inbounds."

CB 9.6.1 SIT A (Comment)

[takemeaway10]

FED evidently disagrees, at least in some situations:

"When A1 goes out of bounds voluntarily or by accident, or delays his return after being blocked out by an opponent, he commits an illegal participation foul when he returns inbounds. The spot of the foul is where he returns inbounds."

CB 9.6.1 SIT A (Comment)

That's A, not R.

[Mike L]

FED evidently disagrees, at least in some situations:

"When A1 goes out of bounds voluntarily or by accident, or delays his return after being blocked out by an opponent, he commits an illegal participation foul when he returns inbounds. The spot of the foul is where he returns inbounds."

CB 9.6.1 SIT A (Comment)

Actually NFHS does not disagree at all.
9-6-1 deals with A & K only regarding leaving the field and returning. Accidentally or intentionally does not matter, all that matters is did he leave with an exception if he was blocked out.
9-6-2 deals with all players intentionally leaving the field only and doing anything to influence the play which may or may not involve returning.
These should not be hard concepts to grasp. The only difficulty for 9-6-2 should be gauging the player's "intent".