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REPLY: I said this on another board. I might as well say it here too. (Fed only)
If the player is not within the 9-yard marks but does draw coverage, please don't flag it. This should take care of no-huddle, two-minute, run-n-shoot offenses. The purpose of the rule is to cut out the nonsense where a team attempts to use a 'hideout' but not in violation of rule 9-6-4d. A good example: Team runs a pass play. After the down ends, WR comes back toward the LOS but stays close to the sideline while his team huddles. He's not participating in a substitution or even a pretended substitution so NF 9-6-4d can't apply. He just doesn't go to the huddle. Nothing says he has to. But clearly he's acting as a 'sleeper' on the sideline, and is also not making it obvious to the defense that he's part of the game. The principle behind the rule is this: If he comes inside the nine-yard marks, it's now the defense's responsibility to know he's there. Outside the nine-yard marks, it's the offense's responsibility that the defense knows he's there. As long as the defense is aware of him, let it go. "Don't trouble trouble until trouble troubles you."
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Bob M.
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