How do you identify eligible/ineligible recievers?

[Brandon Kincer]

Originally Posted by trocared

becuase of the previous pissing match, I glazed over many of the posts...As a wing, if a player is covered up, I say the number of the covered up player, aloud to myself, to remind me to be aware of: 1. If the play begins as a pass, I locate that covered up player, and 2: when ball is passed over the neutral zone, will throw the flag if he is downfield.
While this forum is of great value to all officials, finding a mentor, talking his ear off while treating him to a meal, is of greater value still. Most experienced officials would love to take an eager, open official under their wing.
Good luck,
tro

Thanks for the encouragement, What exactly is a covered up player?

[With_Two_Flakes]

By "covered up", he means someone on the line with an eligible number who is supposed to be on the end of the line. But they are not on the end of the line because someone out wide, who should be off the line has messed up and is on the line and therefore "covering him up".

Example:- Formation should be,

..................82..71..68..55..62..77........89
..84

but #84 messes up and it actually is

..84.............82..71..68..55..62..77........89

so #82 is "covered up" because of #84's mistake.

[bisonlj]

Originally Posted by With_Two_Flakes

By "covered up", he means someone on the line with an eligible number who is supposed to be on the end of the line. But they are not on the end of the line because someone out wide, who should be off the line has messed up and is on the line and therefore "covering him up".

Example:- Formation should be,

..................82..71..68..55..62..77........89
..84

but #84 messes up and it actually is

..84.............82..71..68..55..62..77........89

so #82 is "covered up" because of #84's mistake.

I understand what you are saying but some of it could be a little misleading. The person being covered may not be there in error. As someone else noted, some teams line up this way intentionally for running plays. There is nothing wrong with that. Also, he may be covered up because he's supposed to be in the back field but lined up wrong (rather than the wide-out).

I would simplify the explanation as a player with an eligible number on the line of scrimmage who is not on the end.

[HLin NC]

What exactly is a covered up player?

Most commonly applied to the normally eligible TE where the SE or Flanker is on the line of scrimmage along side him

i.e. SE TGCGT TE FL


the flanker has "covered up" the TE in this formation, thus making him a lineman.
As long as he doesn't go downfield (expanded neutral zone) on a pass beyond the NZ or its a running play, he's legal. A power running team will line up like this all night with no problem.

To be legally downfield, the formation would need to be thus-

SE TGCGT TE
FL



now the TE is on the end of the line and eligible.

Covered up can also happen when a slot receiver lines up incorrectly on the LOS with the end.

SE FL TGCGT TE

[Brandon Kincer]

ah ok that makes sense.

[kdf5]

ART. 6 . . . Pass eligibility rules apply only to a legal forward pass. The
following players are eligible pass receivers:
a. All A players eligible by position and number include those who, at the time
of the snap, are on the ends of their scrimmage line or legally behind the
line (possible total of six) and are numbered 1-49 or 80-99. (See 7-2-5a
EXCEPTION)
b. All A players become eligible when B touches a legal forward pass.
c. All B players are eligible.
d. A player who is eligible at the start of the down remains eligible throughout
the down.

[ajmc]

Originally Posted by Brandon Kincer

Thanks for the encouragement, What exactly is a covered up player?

A "covered up" player is one who begins a play as an eligible receiver (both by position and number) on the end of the line who is rendered ineligible, either deliberately or unintentionally, by the actions of another player, who takes a wider position on the same side of the line.

The "covered" player, although still eligible by number, would no longer be eligible by position as he is no longer on the end of the line.

[KWH]

Originally Posted by ajmc

A "covered up" player is one who begins a play as an eligible receiver (both by position and number) on the end of the line who is rendered ineligible, either deliberately or unintentionally, by the actions of another player, who takes a wider position on the same side of the line.

The "covered" player, although still eligible by number, would no longer be eligible by position as he is no longer on the end of the line.

AJMC- (aka AlinupstateNY)
You'll excuse me if I take the opportunity to point out WHAT YOU WROTE is poorly worded and misleading, and therefore, by NFHS definition, renders itself to be false and incorrect!

Source 2008 NFHS Rule Book Page 82 Football Fundamentals VII. Passes
1.A player who is eligible at the start of a down remains eligible throughout the down.

It is just not possible for a player who "...begins a play as an eligible reciever..." to then become "...rendered ineligible..."

[ajmc]

Originally Posted by KWH

AJMC- (aka AlinupstateNY)
You'll excuse me if I take the opportunity to point out WHAT YOU WROTE is poorly worded and misleading, and therefore, by NFHS definition, renders itself to be false and incorrect!

Source 2008 NFHS Rule Book Page 82 Football Fundamentals VII. Passes
1.A player who is eligible at the start of a down remains eligible throughout the down.

It is just not possible for a player who "...begins a play as an eligible reciever..." to then become "...rendered ineligible..."

Congratulations, you are absolutely correct, I blew right by Football Fundamental VII and used a poorly worded, and possibly misleading phrase, to try and explain a basic concept. Good thing you were there to avoid a calamity.