Substitution question

[waltjp]

Originally Posted by Theisey

Depends on who you believe.

Casebook 3.7.3 Sit A: is your play.
NFHS says this is illegal.
Redding guide says it's not. I happen to believe the Redding guide and their comentary as to why he wasn't a substitute when he returned prior to the snap.

Interesting point about Theisey's reply - last year Redding said this was illegal and the NFHS said it was legal. This year's editions of both books have this interpretation marked as a change.

[Bob M.]

REPLY: I'd love to know under what rule the Fed decided to make this illegal. The definition of a "player" (which this guy is) says that he "...continues to be a player until a substitute enters the field and indicates to the player that he is replaced, or when the substitute otherwise becomes a player." Neither of these two things happened, so he's still a player. And 3-7-3 says that he can't "...withdraw and re-enter as a substitute." He didn't do that either. Looks like another case of the Fed making up a ruling with no rule support.

[andy1033]

I agree with BOB M. What happens if the player goes next to the sideline and steps on the sideline before the snap and then comes back onto the field before the snap?