I think I would have let the flag stand. Is there any possibility that this substitution mess was by design and intended to confuse the defence? Did the oncoming player talk to more than one of his team mates? Was the oncoming player going to have been within 15 yards of the ball at some point? Too other ugly outcomes. Flag it, march it off, get on with the game. I think your WH's sentiment was to let the kids decide the game and to try to avoid a flagfest in a playoff game.
As officials we have enough judgement calls to concern ourselves with, why would we make something into a judgement call if it doesn't need to be? Having said that, if it were a regular season game I also don't think it's wrong to ask the QB if he's about to take a time out...
Quote:
|
12 players, perfectly legal.
|
I could be wrong but I think you probably would have had a substitution infraction ref18. The huddle had already broken and from the wording of the scenario I think the gates would have been up prior to this player stepping on the field.
Of course, on second reading it could be one of those where the side guys says, "he was on before the gates went up".
[Edited by cdnRef on Dec 20th, 2004 at 02:45 PM]