Have you ever heard the term “illegal touching” while watching a football game and wondered what it meant? Illegal touching is a common penalty in football that occurs when a member of the offensive team makes contact with a forward pass before an eligible receiver has done so.
This article aims to provide you with a detailed understanding of illegal touching in football, including its definition, circumstances, exceptions, and enforcement.
Definition
Illegal touching is a penalty that occurs when an offensive player, usually a wide receiver or offensive lineman, makes contact with a forward pass before an eligible receiver has done so. An eligible receiver is any player who is legally allowed to catch a forward pass.
The purpose of this rule is to ensure fairness in the game and prevent the offensive team from gaining an unfair advantage by making early contact with the ball.
Circumstances of Illegal Touching
There are a few circumstances under which illegal touching can occur. The first situation is when a player steps out of bounds and touches the ball before touching the field of play again.
When a player goes out of bounds, they become an ineligible receiver and cannot make contact with a forward pass until they return to the field of play. Another situation where illegal touching can occur is when an ineligible receiver, such as an offensive lineman, makes contact with a forward pass.
Offensive linemen are not eligible receivers, and therefore cannot touch the ball until it has been touched by an eligible receiver. Finally, illegal touching can also occur when a forward pass is batted down at the line of scrimmage, and an offensive player makes contact with the ball before it touches the ground.
If this happens, the offensive player who touched the ball will be penalized, regardless of whether they were an eligible receiver or not.
Exceptions to Illegal Touching Rule
There are a few exceptions to the illegal touching rule. The first exception is when a punt goes out of bounds or into the end zone and is then touched by a member of the receiving team.
In this situation, the illegal touching penalty does not apply, and the receiving team can choose to take possession of the ball where it was touched. The second exception is when a player steps out of bounds and then returns to the field of play before touching the ball.
If this happens, the player is considered to be back in bounds and can legally touch the ball without penalty.
Enforcement of Penalty
If an illegal touching penalty occurs, the enforcement of the penalty depends on the situation. If the play has not been stopped, the penalty will be assessed as soon as the play is over, and the ball will be moved back to where the illegal touching occurred.
If the penalty occurs during a turnover, the team receiving the ball will be assessed the penalty, and the ball will be moved back to where the illegal touching occurred before the turnover. Finally, when a referee signals for an illegal touching penalty, they will raise one arm straight up in the air while making the motion of touching their other hand with their first finger.
This signal indicates a loss of down and a five-yard penalty against the offensive team.
Wide Receiver Illegal Touching
Wide receiver illegal touching is a specific type of illegal touching that occurs when a wide receiver steps out of bounds and then touches the ball before returning to the field of play. When this happens, the pass is incomplete, and the spot of the ball is moved back to where the receiver first touched it while out of bounds.
If a wide receiver steps out of bounds and then returns to the field of play before making contact with the ball, they can legally receive the ball without penalty. However, if the receiver steps out of bounds and then comes back into the field of play before touching the ball, they are still considered to be out of bounds, and any contact with the ball will result in an illegal touching penalty.
When a wide receiver commits an illegal touching penalty, the defense has two options. They can decline the penalty and take possession of the ball where the illegal touching occurred, or they can accept the penalty and move the ball back five yards from where the illegal touching occurred.
Conclusion
In conclusion, illegal touching is a common penalty in football when an offensive player makes contact with a forward pass before an eligible receiver has done so. The circumstances of illegal touching include going out of bounds, ineligible receivers, and batted passes.
However, exceptions to the rule include punts and players returning to the field of play. The enforcement of the penalty depends on the situation, and a wide receiver committing an illegal touching penalty has consequences for both the offense and defense.
By understanding the rules of illegal touching, you can gain a better appreciation for the intricacies of football and the importance of following the rules. In football, offensive linemen play a crucial role in ensuring the success of their team’s offense.
However, the role of an offensive lineman can sometimes be limited due to different rules. Offensive lineman illegal touching occurs when an ineligible receiver, usually an offensive lineman, makes contact with a forward pass before making the necessary eligibility declaration to the referees.
In this article, we will explore the different aspects of offensive lineman illegal touching, including eligibility declarations, penalties for catching passes, batted pass exceptions, and the referee’s indication signal.
Eligibility Declaration
In football, all players who wear numbers between 1 and 49, and 80 to 99, are eligible to catch a forward pass. These players can declare themselves as eligible receivers by reporting to the referee and announcing their eligible status.
In contrast, players with numbers between 50 and 79 are ineligible to catch a forward pass. However, if an offensive lineman wishes to catch a forward pass, he must report his eligibility to the referee before the play begins and wait for the referee’s indication signal.
During a game, an offensive lineman cannot just decide to catch a forward pass without declaring his eligibility status. If an offensive lineman does not declare his eligibility status to the referee, he is considered an ineligible receiver, and if he makes contact with the ball, it results in a penalty for illegal touching.
Penalty for Catching Pass
If an offensive lineman makes contact with a forward pass without making the appropriate eligibility declaration, it results in an illegal touching penalty. This penalty is assessed as a loss of down, and the ball is moved back to the spot where the illegal touching occurred.
The player who caught the pass becomes immediately ineligible, and the team loses a down while also receiving a five-yard penalty. This penalty does not only affect the offensive lineman who caught the ball but also the rest of the team.
The ineligible receiver’s action can cause a turnover in possession favoring the other team. Therefore, it is essential for the offensive organ to ensure that all its players understand the eligibility declaration procedure.
Exception for Batted Passes
Offensive linemen are not eligible receivers. However, there is an exception when it comes to batted passes.
If a defensive player bats down a forward pass, any offensive player, including an offensive lineman, may catch the ball without an eligibility declaration. This exception is allowed since the batted pass disrupts the play, and any player may become eligible to catch the pass.
Referee’s Indication Signal
When an offensive lineman reports his eligibility status to the referee, the referee must indicate the lineman’s eligibility to the opposing team and the audience. The referee usually displays a signal to emphasize the area of eligibility to identify the eligible player.
If a player reports as “eligible,” the referee raises both hands above their head and gives a signal showing who the eligible player(s) are by pointing to them. This signal is an indication to the opposing team that they cannot cover those players without risking an illegal contact penalty.
Suppose an offensive lineman reports to the referee as “ineligible” but then subsequently becomes eligible after making a declaration to the referee. In that case, the referee signals this by pointing to the player and making the eligible signal, which is pointing to his chest with one hand.
Penalty Signal
The referee’s indication signal is a vital tool for identifying an offensive lineman’s eligibility status or signaling a touchdown. For example, when a lineman touches the ball before declaring his eligibility status, the referee signals for illegal touching using certain hand gestures.
The most commonly used signal for illegal touch of a forward pass is the well-known touch signal. In this signal, the referee will raise one hand above their head and then touch it with the other, indicating that the offensive player illegally touched the ball.
The referee also extends one arm horizontally to the side for about two seconds to show the location of the illegal touching. In conclusion, the rules around offensive lineman illegal touching are quite straightforward.
An offensive lineman needs to declare their eligibility to the referee before the play begins, and if they catch the ball without declaring their eligibility, it results in an illegal touching penalty. Although offensive linemen do not usually catch forward passes, it is important for them and their coaches to understand the eligibility rules to avoid penalties and turnovers.
By knowing the rules that surround offensive lineman illegal touching, fans can stay alert and better understand the action in a football game. While illegal touching in football seems like a simple rule to follow, several scenarios can lead to a penalty.
This section will highlight and explain different scenarios that can result in illegal touching penalties.
Wide Receiver Out of Bounds
In a situation where a wide receiver is pushed out of bounds while a forward pass is in the air, that wide receiver cannot legally touch the ball until they have reestablished themselves in the field of play. If the wide receiver makes contact with the pass before re-establishing himself, it results in an illegal touching penalty against the offensive team.
It is worth noting that if the ball is thrown to the side of the field that the wide receiver was pushed out of bounds, there is no issue with the broad receiver’s touching the ball before re-establishing themselves on the field. Touching the ball in that situation is allowed since the ball is going out of bounds.
Ineligible Linemen
An offensive lineman is typically an ineligible receiver because of their position. Therefore, they cannot touch a forward pass intended for another player until they declare themselves as eligible and receive a signal from the referees.
If an offensive lineman moves downfield and touches a forward pass without first declaring themselves eligible, it results in an illegal touching penalty against the offensive team. This penalty arises even if the offensive lineman’s contact with the ball was unintentional.
Push Out of Bounds
Another scenario for illegal touching in football can occur when a player is pushed out of bounds by a member of the defensive team and then returns to the field of play and touches the ball before an eligible receiver touches the ball. If this occurs, it results in an illegal touching penalty.
The push out of bounds means that the player who was pushed is ineligible until he re-establishes himself on the field. The player must return inbound first before making contact with the ball to avoid the penalty for illegal touching.
Conclusion
Illegal touching in football is a crucial infraction that can ruin a team’s prospects and turn the game’s direction. Every player must understand the eligibility rules concerning touching of a forward pass.
Different scenarios can lead to such penalties like a wide receiver out of bounds, ineligible linemen, or push out of bounds, to mention a few. Understanding these penalties is essential for the players and coaches to ensure the offense is effective and free of penalties.
By knowing the illegal touching rules and the different scenarios leading to such penalties, fans can enjoy the game with a better understanding and identify infractions that can turn the game around. In conclusion, illegal touching is an essential rule in football that aims to ensure fairness in the game and prevent offensive players from gaining an unfair advantage.
Offensive linemen and wide receivers are two positions that often face the penalty for illegal touching. Proper eligibility declarations, penalties for catching passes, and batted pass exceptions are crucial aspects to consider for all players.
By understanding the rules and scenarios surrounding illegal touching, players and coaches can avoid penalties and turnovers, making their team more efficient. A key takeaway is that illegal touching can be avoided by strictly following eligibility rules, and players should react calmly in the event of an infraction to avoid further repercussions.
FAQs:
Q: What is illegal touching in football? A: Illegal touching is a penalty that occurs when an offensive player contacts a forward pass before an eligible receiver has done so.
Q: Who can be penalized for illegal touching? A: Wide receivers and offensive linemen are the two positions most commonly penalized for illegal touching.
Q: How is illegal touching penalized? A: Illegal touching results in a loss of down and a five-yard penalty against the offensive team.
Q: What is the exception for batted passes regarding illegal touching? A: If a defensive player bats down a forward pass, any offensive player, including an offensive lineman, may catch the ball without an eligibility declaration.
Q: How can I avoid an illegal touching penalty? A: Players need to declare their eligibility to catch a forward pass before the play begins, and not catch the ball before re-establishing themselves on the field if they were pushed out of bounds.