ILLEGAL SUBSTITUTION VS ILLEGAL PARTICIPATION NFHS RULES 2010

PLAYER DESIGNATIONS A player is one of the 22 team members designated to start either half or who subsequently replaces another player. 2 -32 -1 A player continues to be a player until a substitute enters the field and indicates to the player that he is replaced or when the substitute otherwise becomes a player. 2 -32 -1 A substitute is a team member who replaces a player already in the game or fills a player vacancy. 2 -32 -15 A substitute becomes a player when he enters the field and communicates with a teammate or official, enters the huddle, is positioned in a formation or participates in a play. 2 -32 -15 A replaced player is one that has been notified by a substitute that he is to leave the field or a player is also replaced when the entering substitute becomes a player. 2 -32 -12 Any number of players may be replaced any time the ball is dead

ILLEGAL SUBSTITUTION There are six situations in which a team may commit an illegal substitution. 1) A replaced player does not leave the field immediately. 3 -7 - 2) A replaced player or substitute unsuccessfully attempts to withdraw. 3 -7 -4 A substitute enters during the down but does not participate. (Non player foul) 3 -7 -6 A replaced player or substitute leaves the field before the snap other than on his team’s sideline. 3 -7 -2 A substitute enters before the snap, is not on his team’s side of the neutral zone at the snap and does not participate. 3 -7 -5 A substitute becomes a player and withdraws or a replaced player withdraws and re-enters during the same dead-ball interval, unless a penalty is accepted, a dead-ball foul occurs, there is a charged timeout or the period ends. 3 -7 -3 3) 4) 5) 6) 1

ILLEGAL SUBSTITUTION Illegal substitution may be penalized as either a live ball or a dead ball penalty. The most frequent infractions are: A: When a replaced player does not begin to depart immediately, (Up to 3 -seconds after notification that he has been replaced) B: When a replaced player fails to leave the field before the snap.

ENFORCEMENT SPOTS FOR ILLEGAL SUBSTITUTION FOULS Live ball fouls from the previous spot: A replaced player or substitute unsuccessfully attempts to withdraw. A substitute enters before the snap, is not on his team’s side of the neutral zone at the snap and does not participate. Dead ball fouls from the succeeding spot: A replaced player does not begin to leave the field immediately. A replaced player or substitute leaves the field before the snap other than on his team’s sideline. A substitute becomes a player and withdraws or a replaced player withdraws and re-enters during the same dead-ball interval, unless a penalty is accepted, a dead-ball foul occurs, there is a charged timeout or the period ends. Live Ball Foul from the succeeding spot: A substitute enters during the down but does not participate.

ILLEGAL PARTICIPATION There are 11 acts which comprise illegal participation. Twelve players in the formation at the snap. 9 -6 -4 c Injured player not replaced for one down. 9 -6 -4 b Simulating replacements to deceive. 9 -6 -4 d Player lies on the ground to deceive. 9 -6 -4 e Disqualified player participates. 9 -6 -4 f Entering substitute is not on his team’s side of the neutral zone at the snap and participates. 9 -6 -3 Team A or Team K player inadvertently goes out of bounds and returns (before a change of possession). 9 -6 -1 ANY player INTENTIONALLY goes out of bounds and returns. 9 -6 -2 Substitute enters during the down and participates. 9 -6 -4 Non player hinders an opponent outside the field of play. 9 -6 -3 Disqualified player re-enters and is discovered before the snap. 9 -6 -4 f

ENFORCEMENT SPOTS FOR ILLEGAL PARTICIPATION FOULS PREVIOUS SPOT FOULS: Twelve players in the formation at the snap. 9 -6 -4 c Injured player not replaced for one down. 9 -6 -4 b Simulating replacements to deceive. 9 -6 -4 d Player lies on the ground to deceive. 9 -6 -4 e Disqualified player participates. 9 -6 -4 f ALL BUT ONE FOULS Entering substitute is not on his team’s side of the neutral zone at the snap and participates. 9 -6 -3 Team A or Team K player inadvertently goes out of bounds and returns. 9 -6 -1 ANY player INTENTIONALLY goes out of bounds and returns. Substitute enters during the down and participates. 9 -6 -4 Non player hinders an opponent outside the field of play. SUCCEEDING SPOT FOULS Disqualified player re-enters and is discovered before the snap. 9 -6 -4 f

SUBSTITUTION OR PARTICIPATION? Illegal Substitution (rule 3) and Illegal Participation (rule 9) are closely related. The distinction between substitution and participation is important, a major penalty (15 yds. ) vs a minor penalty (5 yds. ) The difference is usually a matter of recognition by the officials. By rule a replaced player must begin to leave the field immediately (up to 3 -seconds after the substitute becomes a player). Having 12 players in the huddle or breaking the huddle with 12 players is not necessarily a penalty. Either team must be given the opportunity to make a late substitution legally. Your primary focus is how long it takes for the replaced player to begin to depart or if you determine the substitution is an attempt to deceive their opponents.

SUBSTITUTION OR PARTICIPATION? There are no restrictions regarding when a substitute may enter while the ball is dead. There are no restrictions on the number of substitutes that may enter while the ball is dead. All Team A players must be momentarily within the nine yard marks after the ready for play and before the snap. This requirement will prohibit the hide-out or sleeper play. If an official determines the substitution is an attempt to deceive their opponents, it will be an illegal participation foul. 9 -6 -4 a, b, d

Substitution or Participation Foul? A player who returns to his team box without being replaced, then realizes he was supposed to stay in the game, and returns to the field does not commit a foul. He does not lose his status as a player when he enters the team area when the ball is dead. He is not a replaced player because he was notified by a substitute that he was to leave the field. 2 -32 -12 He is not a substitute because there was not a player vacancy for him to fill. 2 -32 -15 If this is done intentionally to gain an advantage it is an illegal participation foul. 9 -6 -4 d.

Review 11 possible illegal participation fouls 6 possible illegal substitution fouls Major (15 yds) vs minor (5 yds) infraction: Must get it correct The difference is usually an officials recognition prior to the snap Rule 2, Player Designations: Know the difference between: Player, Replaced Player and Substitute and how they affect your decision. Illegal substitution may be either a live ball or dead ball foul, it can only be enforced from either the previous spot or the succeeding spot

Review Illegal Participation: Usually a live ball foul Previous spot, all but one and succeeding spot are all possible enforcement spots for illegal participation. Having 12 players in the huddle or breaking the huddle with 12 players is not automatically a foul. Both teams have the right to legally make a late substitution. The key to legally substitute is timing. The replaced player must begin to leave immediately (up to 3 -seconds after he has been notified that he is replaced). All Team A players must momentarily be between the nine yard marks after the ready for play and before the snap. If each official commits to their responsibilities before each snap, most illegal participation fouls can be avoided.