Eligible Receiver

[bubbasr49]

Sorry boys, but i got a 11-man high school football question for the ref.
Ineligible number (#71) lines up at slot receiver (not covered by outside receiver). Was breaking down film vs. Seminole and #71 ran down field on a pass play and no flag was thrown? Can he catch a pass? How about a backwards pass?

 

[smokeyjoe53]

Don't know if this is the most current or accurate interpretation, but take it for what it's worth....

NCAA rules are less permissive than NFL rules and require that the five interior linemen, numbered 50-79, never line up as eligible receivers.[4] If an offensive tackle wishes to line up as a tackle-eligible, he must physically change his jersey number to that of an eligible receiver (this, for example, happened in the 1943 Cotton Bowl Classic, when an offensive lineman for Baylor switched from his usual number of 60 to 80 in order to perform the feat).[5] A defensive lineman can line up as a tight end if his number is not between 50 and 79 (defensive players have no positional numbering restrictions in the NCAA).

A similar play is allowed from a kicking formation, where the requirement that all five linemen wear 50-79 is waived. During a fake field goal or punt, a team may line up with extra tight ends and receivers making it not immediately obvious to the defense which players are eligible and which are not. (However, this exemption can only be taken when it is obvious that a kick may be attempted, for instance on fourth down, in the closing seconds of a half, or similar situations. It cannot be used on every down at the college level.)

 

[cowman52]

First question, was pass thrown? If not no flag even if it was a "passing" play. We still get coaches and players wanting to check in as an eligible receiver. Second if 71 was slot receiver the chances of him getting caught going downfield ain't real good, too much traffic and too little little experience in the umpire, wing positions.

 

[Jones26]

First, he has to be on the LOS, rule states there have to be five players with #'s 50-79 on the LOS. He can't catch a forward pass, even if it's behind the LOS, there is no "checking in as eligible" in HS. He can catch a backward lateral. If he went downfield and pass was thrown, should be lineman downfield penalty. He can line up in the slot, off the LOS if there are five other players numbered 50-79 on the field also. He can line up anywhere, actually...a lot of teams put OL in at FB some for blocking purposes...but still can't catch a forward pass.

 

[bubbasr49]

Thanks boys, these posts answered all my questions.