Ineligible Receiver Downfield

[JRutledge]

Yes the NFL rule is different, but most of us do not work that level to know for sure what the exact language is in their rule (And I am sure someone will look up the NFL rule and post it here).

Peace

[Sturno]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Yes the NFL rule is different, but most of us do not work that level to know for sure what the exact language is in their rule (And I am sure someone will look up the NFL rule and post it here).

Peace

From 2013 NFL standards, a little verbose but.....

Section 3 Ineligible Player Downfield
LEGAL AND ILLEGAL ACTS
Article 1 Legal and Illegal Acts. On a scrimmage play during which a legal forward pass is thrown, an ineligible offensive
player, including a T-formation quarterback, is not permitted to move more than one yard beyond the line of scrimmage
before the pass has been thrown.
Item 1: Legally Downfield. An ineligible player is not illegally downfield if, after initiating contact with an opponent within
one yard of the line of scrimmage during his initial charge:
(a) he moves more than one yard beyond the line while legally blocking or being blocked by an opponent; or
(b) after breaking legal contact with an opponent more than one yard beyond the line of scrimmage, he remains
stationary until a forward pass is thrown; or
(c) after losing legal contact with an opponent more than one yard beyond the line of scrimmage, he is forced behind
the line of scrimmage by an opponent, at which time he is again subject to normal blocking restrictions for an
ineligible offensive player.
Note 1: If an offensive player moves beyond the line while legally blocking or being blocked by an opponent, an eligible
offensive player may catch a pass between them and the line of scrimmage.
Item 2: Illegally Downfield. An ineligible offensive player is illegally downfield if:
(a) he moves more than one yard beyond the line of scrimmage without contacting an opponent; or
(b) after losing contact with an opponent within one yard of the line of scrimmage, he advances more than one yard
beyond the line of scrimmage; or
(c) after losing contact with an opponent more than one yard beyond the line of scrimmage, he continues to move in
any direction.
Penalty: For ineligible offensive player downfield: Loss of five yards from the previous spot.
AFTER PASS IS THROWN
Article 2: After Pass Is Thrown. After the ball leaves the passer’s hand, ineligible pass receivers can advance more than
one yard beyond the line of scrimmage, or beyond the position reached by their initial charge, provided that they do not
block or contact a defensive player, who is more than one yard beyond the line of scrimmage, until the ball is touched by a
player of either team. Such prior blocking and/or contact is pass interference if it occurs in the vicinity of where the ball is
thrown.
A.R. 8.30 Second-and-10 on A30. Center A1 blocks his man and drives him to the A35 where he loses contact. He then moves
laterally to his right before the ball is thrown and completed to eligible end A2 who is downed on the A45.
Ruling: Ineligible