Player Designations

[younggun]

4th Q :03 on game clock. A losing 14-17 2/3 @ B-40. A22 takes the hand off and is running for the game winning TD. At the B-5 he starts ‘Primetiming’ in to the EZ. During the play B78’s helmet comes off after he hits the ground. Ruling:

After the events of previous question, Team A’s coach calls a time out wanting to talk to the R. After the conversation, the next play is blown ready.  A snaps the ball for a FG attempt. The kick is blocked by B78 behind the NZ and is later downed by B99 at the B-20. Ruling:

[BNE-Ref]

A22's action is a live ball USC, assessed from B-5.  If accepted (which it will be), the TD does not count, and the next play is from B-20.  We do not know the down or distance, so I can't say which down it will be, but we do know that it remains A's ball as the USC does not include a loss of down provision.  Edit: I've just realised that the 2/3 means 2nd down 3 yards to go.  As the enforced USC penalty still leaves the ball in advance of the Line-to-Gain, the next play will be 1st and 10 for Team A.  We assume time as expired, as there was 35 yards gained, and only 0:03 on the clock at the snap.  Thus, this will be a period extension for an untimed down.

As no foul was described, B78's helmet coming off is the responsibility of B78, and thus, B78 must sit out the next play.  The 2013 rule changes still do not allow B78 to re-enter the game, as the timeout was taken by Team A, and not Team B.

So, the officials should not have allowed B78 to participate in the next (FG attempt) play.  But since someone missed this (probably due to the Team A coaches' conference  ), we need to decide what to do next.

Assuming the participation by the temporarily excluded B78 was detected after the play, we have to determine what the status of B78 is.  9-2-1-b provides for a dead ball unsportsmanlike conduct foul if a substitute (which B78 technically will be) is on the field of play.  But, the spirit of 9-2-1-b to me, is more directed towards a non-participating substitute.  B78 participated and influenced the play.  Thus, I'd go more by 9-2-3-a "While the ball is in play, any person other than a player ... interferes in any way..." - and rule an unfair act.  In that case, I'd disqualify B78, and impose a 15 yard (converting to half distance, since the previous spot was on the B-20) automatic first down, and extend the down once more for A's ball on B-10, 1st and goal.

[younggun]

I guess what I am getting at is there is no Player Designation for this player that looses his helmet.  The only thing I could draw from this situation is its a ooopsie on the crew and beg for forgivness.

Substitutes who become players must remain in the game for one play and
replaced players must remain out of the game for one play, except during
the interval between periods, after a score, or when a timeout is charged to
a team or to the referee with the exception of a live-ball out of bounds or an
incomplete forward pass (A.R. 3-5-2-III).

Replaced Player
ARTICLE 10. A replaced player is one who participated during the previous down,
has been replaced by a substitute and has left the field of play and the end zones.

Substitute
ARTICLE 9. a. A legal substitute is a replacement for a player or a player vacancy
during the interval between downs.
b. A legal incoming substitute becomes a player when he enters the field of play or
end zones and communicates with a teammate or an official, enters the huddle,
is positioned in an offensive or a defensive formation, or participates in a play.

Player
ARTICLE 6. a. A player is any one of the participants in the game who is not a
substitute or a replaced player and is subject to the rules when inbounds or out of
bounds.
b. An airborne player is a player not in contact with the ground.
c. A departing player is a player leaving the field, having been replaced by a
substitute.

Disqualified Player
ARTICLE 12. a. A disqualified player is one who is declared ineligible for further
participation in the game.
b. A disqualified player must leave the playing enclosure within a reasonable
amount of time after his disqualification. He must remain out of view of the
field of play under team supervision for the duration of the game.

[Kalle]

We really need some official guidance here. I don't like calling this an officiating error, but penalizing as an unfair act seems too excessive, too. I might go with a live-ball substitution infraction, if this happened in my game.

[BNE-Ref]

We really need some official guidance here. I don't like calling this an officiating error, but penalizing as an unfair act seems too excessive, too. I might go with a live-ball substitution infraction, if this happened in my game.

Substitution infraction did occur to me, but my feeling is that a substitution infraction should be called when a player who is legally permitted to play participates.  In this scenario, B78 is not legally permitted to play as a result of losing his helmet on the previous play, and therefore seems to be to be closer in designation to a disqualified player, hence my sense of an unfair act.  Also, the unfair act clause 9-2-3-d gives us our global out of any situation not specifically covered in the rules; I believe it is B78 and B's coach are primarily responsible for ensuring B78 stays out for a play, and thus, a severe penalty is warranted.

There's an awful lot of "feeling" and "seems" though, and I agree that we need to seek an authoritative answer, as the rule book doesn't appear to cover the scenario of a temporarily suspended player participating.

[Diablo]

Would your deliberations be altered if B78 participated in the extension of the period, but did not block the FG attempt, i.e. played a more passive role during the down?

[younggun]

I guess what I am getting at is by rule there is nothing we can do about this, and we need a ruling on what player designation he falls under. Maybe add to a disqualified player call him a temp disqualified player?

[Kalle]

I guess what I am getting at is by rule there is nothing we can do about this,

Well, he did break the rules, so the Unfair Act rule might apply, if this is obviously unfair.

[younggun]

I have always been told that the unfair act rule would apply only if they intentually broke the rules. You never know. During the TO he was in the huddle with the team, and with the extended break in action he forgot he was to sit out. I just dont think you can get him with the unfair act rule.

[NVFOA_Ump]

I'm thinking this is a learning moment and right now I don't see much recourse based on the rules.  We made a mistake and need to focus on how to make sure we don't repeat it.  Maybe we discuss in post game, and pregame at the next game who has the primary "make sure that no. nn" sits out the next down responsibility.  The line official on the side where the player has to sit for a down?

[scl-man]

9-2-1-b-3 - No person or mascot subject to the rules, except players, officials and eligible substitutes, shall be on the field of play or end zones during any period without permission from the referee.  PENALTY - Dead Ball foul. 15 yards from the succeeding spot.

In this scenario, B78 is not an eligible substitute, so he fouls as soon as he comes on the field without the permission of the referee.  The officials did not catch it, but their failure does not change the status of the foul to a live-ball foul.  There is no condition that allows the period to be extended, so the game is over.  There is no succeeding spot, so this penalty cannot be enforced. 

[Kalle]

In this scenario, B78 is not an eligible substitute, so he fouls as soon as he comes on the field without the permission of the referee.  The officials did not catch it, but their failure does not change the status of the foul to a live-ball foul.  There is no condition that allows the period to be extended, so the game is over.  There is no succeeding spot, so this penalty cannot be enforced.

If you want to treat B78 as a non-player/substitute, then you can't apply 9-2-1-b-3 here, as B78 did interfere with the ball. You have to use 9-2-3-a: "While the ball is in play any person other than a player or an official interferes in any way with the ball, player or an official."