2023 TCAOA Week 3 Quiz

Second and 10 from the 20. The defense is trying to make substitutions before the play, but at the snap their 12th player, B12, is running to get off the field is still at the top of the numbers and heading towards his sideline. B12 continues straight off the field as the play happens, not participating in any way. The offense throws a pass that is completed for 8 yards.

• Legal play since B12 did not participate in the play

• Dead ball illegal substitution penalty on B

• Live ball illegal substitution penalty on B. 5 yard penalty enforced from the previous spot.

• Live ball illegal substitution penalty on B. 5 yard penalty enforced from the succeeding spot.

Answer explanation

3.7.4 says a player who attempts to leave the field, but does not participate in the play is an illegal substitution, and this is a live-ball penalty that occurs simultaneous with the snap. Because it is simultaneous with the snap, the basic spot is the previous spot.

Second and 10 from the 50. The defense is trying to make substitutions before the play. Their 11th player, B11, is running into the game to get to his position on the defensive line but he does not make it to his side of the neutral zone before the snap. The offense throws a pass that is completed for 8 yards, and during the play B11 did not participate or influence the action in any way.

• Dead Ball encroachment penalty on B

• Dead ball illegal substitution penalty on B

• Live ball illegal substitution penalty on B. 5 yard penalty enforced from the previous spot.

• Live ball illegal substitution penalty on B. 5 yard penalty enforced from the succeeding spot.

Answer explanation

3.7.5 says an entering substitute shall be on his team's side of the neutral zone when the ball is snapped. This is a live-ball penalty that occurs simultaneous with the snap. 2.32.15 says we cannot have encroachment on this player until he gets to his side of the NZ. Because the substitution penalty is simultaneous with the snap, the basic spot is the previous spot.

Second and 10 from the 50. The defense is trying to make substitutions before the play. Their 11th player, B11, is running into the game to get to his position on the defensive line but he does not make it to his side of the neutral zone before the snap. The offense runs the ball and B11 participates in the play by tackling the ball carrier for a 2 yard loss on the play.

• Dead Ball encroachment penalty on B

• Live ball illegal participation penalty on B. Penalize 15 yards from the succeeding spot.

• Live ball illegal substitution penalty on B. 5 yard penalty enforced from the previous spot.

• Live ball illegal participation penalty on B. Penalize 15 yards from the previous spot.

Answer explanation

3.7.5 says an entering substitute shall be on his team's side of the neutral zone when the ball is snapped. Since the player did not get to his side of the NZ, 2.32.15 says he is still considered a substitute and not a player. 9.6.4a makes it illegal for a substitute to participate in the play. This is a foul on the defense on a play that ends behind the LOS, and therefore the basic spot is the previous spot..

4th and 10 from the 20. The offense punts the ball. While the kick is in the air, gunner K23, in order to avoid being blocked, steps out of bounds on his own. He takes 2 steps out of bounds and then comes back into the field of play where he eventually tackles R10 at the 50 after a return of 10 yards.

• Legal play since K23 was only out of bounds for 2 steps

• Illegal participation on K23 as soon as he steps out of bounds. One enforcement option is from the end of the kick

• Illegal participation on K23 at the spot he returns inbounds. Enforcement could be the previous spot or the succeeding spot

• Illegal participation on K23 at the spot he participates by making the tackle. Enforcement could be from the previous spot or the end of the run.

Answer explanation

9.6.1 says no player of A or K shall go out of bounds and return to the field unless he was blocked out. The return to the field in this play is where the flag should be thrown for illegal participation. This is loose-ball play so the enforcement would normally be the previous spot, but the 10.4.2 exception allows for the basic spot to also be the succeeding spot on this scrimmage kick play.

3rd and 10 from the 20. Team A runs 3 substitutes onto the field, and 4 players all start to run to their sideline. However, just before player A11 crosses the sideline, he stops and stays on the field of play. Team A quickly snaps the ball and throws a pass to A11 who was uncovered. A11 runs it into the end zone.

• Legal play since A11 was really the 11th player and was momentarily inside the numbers before the play

• Illegal participation on A11 as this was an intent to deceive the defense with a pretend substitution. Penalize from the succeeding spot

• Illegal participation on A11 as this was an intent to deceive the defense with a pretend substitution. Penalize from the previous spot

• Only illegal participation of A11 had stepped off the field and then back onto it, as then he would have been a substitute

Answer explanation

9.6.4d makes it illegal to use a player or a substitute in a pretend substitution in order to deceive the opponent. The is the "hideout" play. The penalty enforcement is specifically defined as the previous spot.

3rd and 10 from the 20. B50 is on his defensive line and gets blocked by the center at the snap. Without there being any foul, B50's helmet comes completely off during this block. B50 then disengages from the block and is able to run 15 yards down the line and tackle the ball carrier at the 25 yard line.

• Legal play since the helmet came off without a penalty

• Legal play since B50 was not the ball carrier

• Illegal participation on B50 once he made the tackle at the 25 yard line.

• Illegal participation on B50 once he disengaged from the block and pursued the ball carrier.

Answer explanation

9.7.4g makes it illegal participation for a player whose helmet has come completely off to continue to participate beyond the immediate action that cause the helmet to come off. In this play, as soon as he runs to pursue the ball carrier he is participating illegally. This is a live ball, basic spot penalty.