We will either have an ineligible down field or OPI- depending on whether the inside (ineligible) receiver touched the ball or not.

I need help in two places here
1. Which official should know if an ineligible touched the ball?
2. Should the R or the U drop the flag in this instance?

Ineligible/ OPI- the complete post
 

A lines up in a formation with two split receivers to the left side. Both split receivers are on the line- making the inside receiver inelligible.

As the R- I get the "four men on" signal from the wing. As soon as A's pass crosses the L.O.S., I drop a flag.

We will either have an ineligible down field or OPI- depending on whether the inside (ineligible) receiver touched the ball or not.

I need help in two places here
1. Which official should know if an ineligible touched the ball?
2. Should the R or the U drop the flag in this instance?

In our mechanic, the wing men know the ineligible as they had it, and are downfield and can see if he touches it. Flag out when it (the ball) crosses the NZ, or flag out when ineligible touches - both by wings.

I don't see this as R's call ever. Wing and U may work together on these, depending on whether Wing has to release (do you have a B?), and whether U made it to the line.

Are you talking 3-man mechanics by chance? What's the "four men on" signal?

4 men on the LOS on his side of the ball.

What is the signal?

If the IR goes downfield and crosses to the other side of the field, and touches the ball, then the LJ, HL, BJ must confer to see who the IR is.

Fed Handbook mechanic is hand to the side of the face.

First, which official is keying on which receiver should be covered in the pre-game. In our association the inside eligible number is keyed on by the Back Judge in five man mechanics and by the flank official in four man mechanics. The Referee should never flag this foul because he isn't the official who determines which players are covered and which are eligible. In four man, if the ineligible crosses to the opposite side of the field, the flank official on the ineligible's original side needs to confer with the opposite flank official to determine whether the ineligible was guilty of OPI or Ineligible Downfield. In five amn mechanics, the process is similar but with the flank official and the back judge. A late flag (after consultation) is better than no flag.

That's interesting, Bob. Our mechanic is the opposite - the BJ has the outside receiver if there are two or more eligibles outside the tackles. He has the inside receiver when there is just a TE and a flanker. If it is a balanced formation, he has the TE to the LJ's side.

Whenever there is a potential for an ineligible, it presents itself pretty conspicuously, in my opinion, and it's the wing who can identify it right off the bat. When he sees two 80 numbers break the huddle and come to his side (or at least when I do) I watch to see which one is on the line and which one is back. If they both line up on the line, I know either it's a mistake by one of them, or it's an obvious run coming up. If it is a pass, I keep track of Mr. Ineligible. The minute the ball crosses the NZ, I've got a flag. If he touches it, I don't throw another flag, though.