What about illegal participation or substitution (Fed only)?

[Robert Goodman]

Extending the idea from the previous thread, in this case it can be a player of either team when the ball's about to be scrimmaged or free kicked who is confused and thinks he's a 12th player. He takes 2 steps out of bounds before he wakes up to the coach yelling, "No! Go back!" Then he returns in bounds and is headed in-field but is well less than 9 yds. from that sideline when the ball is put in play.

Did he become a substitute when he stepped off the field? It would appear not, according to 2-32-1, but I'm not sure whether that precludes the possibility of a player's becoming a substitute "wrongly". For instance, what if one substitute entered and told each of 2 players that they were being subbed for? If so, does the player who was induced to leave the field have to get 9 yds. in again? Is he allowed to return at all while the ball is still ready for play, or is he deemed to have "withdraw[n]" under 3-7-3?

Suppose he was a captain. If he asks the wing official for time out before the ball is put in play, does he get recognized? Or does he have to become a player by getting 9 yds. in-field before such a request can be honored?

[HLin NC]

No, he did not become a substitute by stepping off the field.

2012 Case Book 3.7.3 SITUATION A: B11 mistakenly believes he is his team's 12th player and leaves the field before the snap ... or (b) on his sideline
and enters his team box. B11 then discovers his error and returns to field on
his team's side of the neutral zone before the snap. RULING: (3-7-2) In (b),
there is no foul as long as B11 remains a player. (2-32-1) If done intentionally to gain an advantage, it is an illegal participation foul or it could be an unsportsmanlike foul.

Any player or the head coach can call time out. Being a captain has nothing to do with it. Being inside the nine yard marks has nothing to do with it.

As to the nine yard marks the rule indicates that if he was an A player in the previous down or an entering substitute, he must have momentarily been inside the marks at some point after the RFP and before the snap. Given a strict reading of the rule and no case play regarding it to the contrary, it appears he would not have to go back in the nines, if the RFP had been blown. However, if he camps out at the sideline or otherwise looks like he's got something to hide, one would have to consider that he was intentionally attempting to gain advantage as a pretended substitution and thus would be guilty of ill. participation.