OPI on 4th Down
 

4th Down and 10. A has the ball on the B 40 Yard Line. A10 throws a pass to A88 at the B 10 YL. A88 Commits OPI at he 10 yard line, and the pass falls incomplete.

What are the options to give to B?

Please give rule references.

Decline the penalty and take the result of the play - which means a turnover on downs at the 40, first and ten for B.

The obvious choice is to take the penalty - 15 yards from the previous spot and the loss of down penalty. First and ten for B at A's 45.

Rule 5.2.5g

OK, we actually had this happen in a JV game today. One of the officials didn't think that B should be given the option of the yardage, and the line he kept saying was, "A penalty should not result in a change of possession." I kept saying it wasn't the penalty that caused the COP, it was the fact that A didn't make the first down yardage, they committed a Loss of DOwn penalty, and therefore, the next down after the play was 1st down for B, but that B was still entitled to the 15 yard penalty being enforced before the ball is turned over on downs.

Captain - you can let them have the ball and a first down here or we can go way back there, penalize them 15 yards AND let you have the ball. Your choice.

A common mistake by those who don't understand the rules and who don't frequent discussion boards.

Amen to that. Not enough people reveiw the rules during the season to know how to apply in unusual situations. This forum is another chance to discuss how to work through the wierd plays we all seem to see.

OK, now I'm confused. What would give "them" (them being A, who committed the penalty) the ball and a first down?:confused:

I find both of the above comments to be completely out of line. YOu don't even know the official I'm refering to in this situation. And he is NOT one to read his book once a year and then put it away during the season. He studies as much as anyone during the season. This was just one of those "weird plays," and we all occasionally jack these things up a little bit.

I think the comments are appropriate. What about "loss of down" does the official you mention not understand?

Relax man. You need to understand that there are people that feel that everything that takes place on the internet has bigger merit.

Most officials never read anything about officiating off the internet and they seemed to be doing just fine. Consider the source and move on.

Peace

W&S - my bad. I missed that the pass was incomplete.

What is so werid about a standard penalty enforcement that includes the LOD as part of the enforcement? Nothing.
Every official on the field should know what fouls include LOD. There are only five of them.

Don't even offer team-B the option of declining the penalty in this case as it was 4th down and the pass was incomplete. It's not the obvious option to give.

I agree with you on that point. Make sure you do not let B decline the penalty. If they want to, they don't understand the rule and you need to explain it until they do (well not forever, but in a time or 2 they will get it.)

I have no earthly idea why my statement offends you. I simply stated that it's a common mistake made by those who don't study or frequent discussion boards. I didn't say a thing about your partner. Are you denying that he was mistaken?

As Tom stated, the situation is not that weird. Since you brought your partner up, if he doesn't understand how loss of down effects this situation, then he's not in the rule book as much as he needs to be. Like it or not.