Quote:
Originally posted by Topshelf
Please review this play, and let me know your thoughts on the ruling:
A time out is called. Team A comes over to the sideline to confer with the coaches. A11, the QB, steps off the field and is handed the head sets to communicate with the coaches in the press box. When the time out is ended, A11 returns to the field with his teammates. RULING: Illegal substitution.
My theory is this:
Rule 2-30-1 states, "A player continues to be a player until a substitute enters the field and indicates to the player that he is replaced, or when the substitute otherwise becomes a player."
>
According to our scenerio, we have a player that is standing in his team box during a dead ball period (time out). I know a player cannot withdraw and reenter as a substitute during the same dead ball period, but that is
not what we have here. Case Book play *3.7.3 Situation A comes close to this scenerio. A player withdraws thinking that he is the 12th man, and he returns upon discovering his error. This play is legal as the person is a player, not a replaced player nor a substitute. Using this logic, I conclude that our scenerio is not illegal substitution.
>
>What is it? I would say that it is either an unauthorized conference (9-8-1f), as it does not conform with the requirements of an authorized conference, or it is a player using illegal communication equipment (1-6-2), or it is leaving the field between downs to gain an advantage (9-5-1f). Either way it is unsportsmanlike conduct. The only difference would be that the unauthorized conference penalty would have to be charged to the coach, and the other two options would be charged to the player.
Am I totally misguided? Please comment.
|
I think it is illegal, and a USC foul, violating 1-6-2. Here is why I think that. Rule 1-6-2 states "phone and headsets may be used by coaches and other nonplayers, but not players." He is still a player, even though he is off the field during the TO. I know he cannot during at TO on the field, and by stepping into the team box during a TO does not make him a removed player, so he may not use the headphones.
Casebook 1-6-2 says "the QB of A: (a) after leaving the game and while in the team box, uses a headset to talk to a coach in the scouting booth; or (b) during a charged TO, comes to the sideline to confer with coaches who are wearing headphones." In both cases, these are legal.
In (a), by them saying "after leaving the game" tells us that he must be removed from the game before he can legally use the headphones. Also, in (b) it says during the TO he confers with coaches who have headphones - again illustrating that he can confer with them, but cannot put them on himself.
The foul for using field equipment illegally is USC.