OPI - Illegal Touch

[ajmc]

Originally Posted by Canned Heat

Yes...it is wrong.
ART. 13 . . . An ineligible A player has illegally touched a forward pass if he bats, muffs or catches a legal forward pass, unless the pass has first been touched by B. PENALTY: Illegal touching (Art. 13) – (S16) – 5 yards plus loss of down.

(Courtesy of 2011 NFHS Football Rules Book - Page 62)

NFHS 7-5-10 advises, "it is forward pass interference if: (a) any player of A or B, who is beyond the neutralzone interferes with an eligible opponent's opportunity to move move toward, catch or bat the pass.

It would seem the revised Case Play (7.5.13) clarifies that an ineligible A player can be guilty of either (both) Illegal touching (when he "bats, muffs or catches a legal forward pass), but can also be guilty of Offensive Pass Interference, if in so doing he would, "interfere with an eligible opponents opportunity to move toward, catch or bat the pass".

Which penalty applies is a matter of judgement by the covering official.

[jemiller]

If he catches it beyond the LOS without being touched by B first, then it is OPI, if it just hits him, it is illegal touching (i.e. he did not make an attempt to catch it), and he is illegally down field. Multiple foul take your pick captain. IMHO

[Rich]

Originally Posted by jemiller

If he catches it beyond the LOS without being touched by B first, then it is OPI, if it just hits him, it is illegal touching (i.e. he did not make an attempt to catch it), and he is illegally down field. Multiple foul take your pick captain. IMHO

That was the rule years ago. It hasn't been for quite some time.

[JugglingReferee]

When there is a conflict in rulings, both from seemingly reputable sources, it's good to compare the outcomes/effects of the application differences.

I believe that OPI is 15 + LD.

What is the penalty for IT?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by JugglingReferee

When there is a conflict in rulings, both from seemingly reputable sources, it's good to compare the outcomes/effects of the application differences.

I believe that OPI is 15 + LD.

What is the penalty for IT?

5 + LOD.

The rule was changed from OPI to IT in 2006:

NFHS: New rule for 2006. If any ineligible player intentionally touches a forward pass anywhere on the field it is Illegal touching--5yds and loss of down. If the touching was downfield the penalty will be enforced from the previous spot. If the Illegal touching is behind the line, its enforced from the spot of the foul. Again the touching must be intentional; if the ball simply hits him, that's not illegal touching.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by jemiller

If he catches it beyond the LOS without being touched by B first, then it is OPI, if it just hits him, it is illegal touching (i.e. he did not make an attempt to catch it), and he is illegally down field. Multiple foul take your pick captain. IMHO

Matter of fact, neither of these is right. If it just hits him (and it's unintentional), it's nothing. It's been that way for 6 seasons now. For it to be an illegal touch, it must be muffed, batted, or caught by an ineligible A receiver.

Quite frankly, I'm stunned that the NFHS would essentially removed 5 years of a rule change specifically made (with an erroneous case play) and then fail to admit their error. And quite frankly, this is a bad change, quite backwards IMO.