Illegal participation?
 

A1 fumbles as he is approaching sideline. The ball remains within the playing field as A1 is knocked out of bounds by the defense. A1 immediately returns to the field and recovers the fumble.

Is this illegal participation? Our line judge flags the play. Our crew discusses the play before enforcing the penalty. I argued that since A1 was knocked, or blocked, out of bounds, and he immediately returned to the field, it was a legal play.

I was outvoted and the offense was penalized 15 yards for illegal participation. Our crew's reasoning was that if a player goes out of bounds, he cannot be the "first player to touch the ball". He could recover the ball, but would be penalized for illegal participation.

You are correct. They are thinking of the NCAA rule of a reciever, but that is not how the rule is in NF ball. Tell them to show you where in 9-6 it says that it is IP for what happened.

Canadian Ruling
 

CANADIAN RULING:

Legal play. There are 4 ways in which a player may legally leave the playing field:

1. Being blocked to out of bounds
   1. May come back inbounds and fully participate, including being the first to tuoch the ball.
2. Missing a tackle or block
   1. May come back inbounds and fully participate, including being the first to tuoch the ball.
3. Slippery field/field conditions
   1. May come back inbounds and fully participate, including being the first to tuoch the ball.
4. Receiving a punt
   1. The ball is dead upon touching, but the player is not penalized for leaving the playing area.