Rule 9-6 addresses illegal participation. This article will focus on a player who steps out of bounds, either purposefully or accidentally without being blocked out of bounds.
Note: Rule 9-6-1 says if a player is blocked out of bounds by an opponent, he must return at the earliest opportunity. In other words, he cannot move in either direction down the sideline out of bounds before returning.
| Team A | Team B | |
| Intentional | 9-6-2 | 9-6-2 |
| Accidental | 9-6-1 | No Foul |
As the figure above shows, Team A/K is more restricted than Team B/R. Unless blocked out of bounds, Team A/K must remain inbounds while the ball is live. They cannot step out of bounds, either intentionally or accidentally, and return to the field of play.
Team B/R can accidentally step out of bounds and return without fouling.
The rationale is that Team A/K players are more restricted because they move on the field based on a designed play, while Team B/R players react to Team A/K movements and are afforded more grace.
If a Team A/K player accidentally steps out of bounds and doesn’t return, there is no foul. The player fouls when he returns to the field. If he accidentally steps out of bounds and intentionally touches the ball while out of bounds, he has not fouled.
Play: A22 accidentally steps out of bounds. Before he returns to the field, he leaps and bats a pass to A34 who runs for a touchdown. Ruling: A22 has not fouled and is not guilty of illegal participation because he has not returned to the field. Rule 2-29-1 says, “…[the] player remains out of bounds until returning to the field with any body part touching the field and no body part touching out of bounds.” The pass is incomplete when A22 touches the ball (2-29-3).
A player who is eligible at the start of the down remains eligible throughout the down (7-5-6d), so stepping out of bounds does not impact pass eligibility.
If a Team A/K player accidentally steps out of bounds and returns, the covering official should throw his flag at the yard line where the player returned (spot foul).
Note: The Colorado rules interpreter stated if the Team A/K player steps out of bounds and then takes a few steps back on the field without participating or influencing the play, we can leave that alone. We don’t need to be draconian and throw our flag.
Neither team can intentionally step out of bounds and:
- Return to the field
- Intentionally touch the ball
- Influence the play, or
- Otherwise participate
A player cannot intentionally step out of bounds to avoid a block, tight pass coverage, or prone players.
In this video, following an interception, A9 steps out of bounds at the B-28 to run around a Team B player. He doesn’t reenter the field until he reaches the B-38. He gains an illegal advantage by stepping out of bounds and running out of bounds for 10 yards. The crew did not notice the foul.
Play: A22 intentionally steps out of bounds. Before he returns to the field, he leaps and bats a pass to A34 who runs for a touchdown. Ruling: A22 is guilty of illegal participation because he intentionally stepped out of bounds and intentionally touched the ball. As in the previous play, the ball is dead when A22 touches it (2-29-3).
It’s impossible to read a player’s mind and very difficult to determine intent. When in doubt, a player has not intentionally stepped out of bounds.
Quiz
Read the quiz stem and then choose the best answer(s). (Choose all that apply.)
K23’s free kick is rolling close to the sideline. R40 runs to the sideline, lays down so his feet are out of bounds, and reaches and touches the ball.
- Team K has fouled for kicking the ball out of bounds
- R40 is guilty of illegal participation
- R40’s action is legal
Review Rules 2-29-3, 6-1-9, 9-6-2b, 10-2-1