NFHS Situation 3.7.6

[JugglingReferee]

A died in the neutral zone? Q will have a fit - was it the Romulans or the Cardassians? Either way, they're screwed.

[Careyy]

page 199, Distance=5, Live ball, Previous spot, rule 3-7-5

In the verbage (page 135): Wrong side of the neutral zone-No Participation

If he does not participate is a live ball foul for illegal substitution, a five-yard penalty simultaneous with the snap (previous spot enforcement) (3-7-5)

[Theisey]

FWIW: CB play 3.7.6 which appears to be identical to the rules-by-topic play, says to enforce from succeeding spot.

An entering sub is not a player for encroachment purposes until he crosses to his side of the NZ. Therefore, it seems proper to consider this a non-player foul of 5 yards enforced from the SS.

[gtwbam]

I concur with Theisey that this is defined as a non-player foul.
Therefore the 5 yard enforcement spot from the Succeeding Spot.

However it begs the question does the same apply if

"prior to the snap" A-11 recognizes he is to be in the game and enters
on B's side of the neutral zone. The ball is snapped before A-11 gets to his
teams side, and does not participate. Is the enforcement spot then the previous spot or succeeding spot?

[Bob M.]

REPLY: Personally for whatever it's worth, I believe that this should be a live ball foul only because B11 entered the field of play before the snap and failed to make it to his side of the neutral zone. That's a violation of 3-7-5 and is penalized as a live ball foul simultaneous with the snap. Rule 3-7-6 (and correspondingly case play 3.7.6) deals with a substitute entering the field of play during the down, i.e. after the snap. This is what's penalized as a non-player foul from the succeeding spot. I contend that case play 3.7.6 is worded incorrectly and was meant to say that B11 enters after the snap. That would make the ruling correct.

[verticalStripes]

Bob, I agree with you. I will run this one by my state interpreter and get his opinion.