Illegal Substitution

[The Roamin' Umpire]

Originally posted by Illini_Ref
I went to a rules interp. meeting last night and I am now totally confused!

Can a PLAYER, leave the field on the wrong side or through the end zone? Consider a player who thinks he is the 12th, but is not, so he runs off on the wrong side. Legal? Does it matter if he returns?

The case book says that he can (3.7.3 Situation A page 27). The NFHS Football Guide 2005 says he can't (play 2 page 4).

I need help! The case book says legal if not done to gain an advantage. They say that he is not a replaced player or substitute. However, PLAYER has been added to rule 3.7.2 now. The Football Guide says that it is illegal. Anybody received a clarification. Even our interpreter wasn't clear.

We were told last night that this case book play is an error. It is illegal for a player to exit over the wrong sideline. It is legal for a player to exit from the end zone on his sideline, but not over the end line.