1)Tackle A72 is not covered on the end of his line, ball is on A's 30. A) A72 goes downfield to the 35 during a pass play. B) A72 catches a pass on his 29.

2)Tight End A82 is covered by the wideout on A's 30. A) A82 goes downfield to the 35 during a pass play. B) A82 catches a pass on his 29.

1) ineligible by number
2) ineligible by position

Ineligble in both cases under NFHS rules. 1st by number and 2nd by position.

Can A72 report to an official as an eligible then?

Not in Federation rules.

1)A) Ineligible downfield (by number), 5 yards from previous spot. B) Pass interference, 15 yards from previous spot and loss of down.

2)A) Ineligible (by position) downfield, 5 yards from previous spot. B) Pass interference, 15 yards from previous spot and loss of down.

Players must be eligible by both position and number to catch a forward pass.

[Edited by Ed Hickland on Oct 20th, 2004 at 11:08 AM]

The passes caught by A72 & A82 are behind the LOS, making the foul an illegal touch (5 yards and loss of down) not OPI.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but......
 

.....if the pass is completed behind the line of scrimmage there is no foul in either of the "A" scenarios right?

Re: Correct me if I'm wrong, but......
 

That would be right

partially true... The completed pass would have to be a BACKWARDs pass.

No, you can have ineligibles downfield as long as the pass (forward or backwards) is completed behind the LOS.

A72 can not catch a forward pass on either side of the LOS.

Ineligibles cannot catch a forward pass anywhere but I stand corrected on OPI behind the LOS, that is an illegal touch, only 5 yards and loss of down.

Ineligibles can be downfield on a forward pass if the forward pass does not cross the LOS.

Sorry if I misread the additonal question, but I thought (and still do) that the person was asking about if those "ineligibles" in the original post in (a) and (b) can catch a pass if it was behind the LOS.

That's why I answered partially true if it were a backwards pass.

We all know that a pass called a screen pass, is a pass that does not cross the NZ. Therefore any numbered player can be downfield blocking without breaking the pass rules.

Re: Re: Correct me if I'm wrong, but......
 

No, that's not correct. If a forward pass is caught by an ineligible behind the LOS, it's illegal touching.

Re: Re: Re: Correct me if I'm wrong, but......
 

Yes that is correct. A scenario had both downfield neither one catching the pass. But you are also correct. If a forward pass is touched/caught by an ineligible behind the line it is illegal touching.

[Edited by Bob Mc on Oct 21st, 2004 at 11:29 AM]

clarification..
 

so, is it my understanding that an ineligible that catches a ball downfield has comitted OPI, and behind the LOS it is illegal touching. or did I miss something.

You are correct. Ill touch if behind NZ, OPI if beyond.

Re: clarification..
 

Fed rules.

The ineligible just needs to touch (and it can be totally unintentional) the pass downfield for it to be OPI.

For it to be illegal touching, the ineligible must make some sort of intentional effort to touch the ball (if the ball hits a blocking lineman in the back, and he is totally clueless as to what is going on with the pass, there is no illegal touching).

Both cases are correct. By number and by position.