illegal participation

[broncocoach]

Scouting a game yesterday I seen this and thought it was pretty cheap and illegal but i could be wrong
While on offense the coach pulled 2 players he sent 1 other player back in they hurried to the line and lined up the coach put a wide reciever on the field just before the qb went under center and there was a silent count and a quick pass to the reciever who came off the sideline of course they scored and the opposing coach went nuts the ref didn't ever see the player because he was behind the ref.
If its not illegal it cheap thats for sure

[JRutledge]

Another example as to why officials need to be on the sideline at the start of the play.

Peace

[BktBallRef]

Was the player inside the 9's after the RFP whistle blew?

[mbyron]

3.7.5 SITUATION: Substitute (a) A1, or (b) B1, noticing his team has only 10
players on the field, comes onto the field just as the ball is about to be snapped.
RULING: In (a), A1 must be on the field on A’s side of the neutral zone, inside the
9-yard marks, and not violate the shift or motion provisions. Furthermore, the act
of his coming onto the field must not deceive the defensive team. In (b), the substitution
is legal as long as B1 is on the field on B’s side of the neutral zone prior
to the snap. (3-7-6; 7-2-1,6,7; 9-6-4)

The case does not discuss the penalty: if the covering official judges the foul to be accidental or negligent, it's a 5 yard illegal formation penalty for not being within the 9-yard marks prior to the down (7-2-1). If the official judges that the offense is deliberately deceiving the defense, it's unsportsmanlike conduct (9-5-1(f)).

[ump33]

Based on 9-6-4d , this could be Illegal Participation

9-6-4 . . . It is illegal participation:
a. When any player, replaced player, substitute, coach, athletic trainer or other attendant enters and participates during a down.
b. If an injured player is not replaced for at least one down; unless the half time or overtime intermission occurs.
c. To have 12 or more players participating at the snap or free kick.
d. To use a player, replaced player, substitute, coach, athletic trainer or other attendant in a substitution or pretended substitution to deceive opponents at or immediately before the snap or free kick.
e. For a player to be lying on the ground to deceive opponents at or immediately before the snap or free kick.
f. For a disqualified player to re-enter the game.

PENALTY: Illegal participation (Arts. 1, 2, 3, 4a [live-ball, basic spot]) – (Arts. 4b-f [live-ball, previous spot]) – (S28) – 15 yards.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by ump33

Based on 9-6-4d , this could be Illegal Participation

I agree. However, it might be useful to assess a USC, given the ejection provision for a second offense.