OPI on 4th down=LOD&yardage=turnover?

[buckrog64]

Seems to be a debate on this. If A commits OPI on 4th down, I would think the prescribed penalty would stand: Loss of down+yardage which would mean 1/10 for B. Appreciate comments.

[JDLJ]

I'm not sure what the debate would be. A looses the right to repeat the down so his series ends. Go back to the previous spot, mark of the yardage and then, because A did not reach the line to gain and he lost the right to replay the down, the ball goes over to B at that spot, first and ten.

[ljudge]

Some people have a difficult time understanding loss of down with loss of yardage coupled together.

I had a argument when I was a cadet over this with another official on the field. I had an illegal forward pass thrown into the stands about 8 yards behind the LOS.

He argued...."Joe, you got 'em for 3 things. You gave them 5 yards , you gave them loss of down, and you enforced the foul from where he passed the ball so they lost even more yards."

I simply said "correct, correct, and correct. And, you're still wrong!"

Then he got into loose-ball play vs. running play. Ugh, running. His reply "uh, loose ball" And it went back and forth.

He was livid (and never made it to the varsity level). I stuck with my guns and we enforced the way I mentioned.

[Theisey]

In your case OPI.. the line to gain would never have been reached since the yardage is marked off from the previous spot.
LOD mean just that, you don't get to repeat the down.


LOD would have no significance should as noted, the yardage penalty after the walk off for say an illegal pass leaves the ball beyond the LtoG.

got it?

[buckrog64]

I think what has thrown people is the phrase in the rule book, "No foul causes loss of ball...." or some such thing.

[RazorRef]

Originally posted by buckrog64
I think what has thrown people is the phrase in the rule book, "No foul causes loss of ball...." or some such thing.

That's exactly what causes a lot of problems in our younger groups...we always have to emphasize, it's not the foul that causes the loss of the ball, but the result of the down.

[BoBo]

Other possibilities:

Loss of Down situations
1. Offensive pass interference
2. Intentionally grounding
3. Illegal pass/forward handing
4. Illegal touching

Always fun to explain to a coach.