Article 1 – Sideline Privileges & Restrictions
- a) During the game, the only persons who may legally occupy any position on the sidelines are: the field officials, the Downbox Official, the Yardstick Officials, the Time Keeper, and the Scorer.
- b) During the game, the team bench area may be occupied only by substitute players, and other authorized non-playing personnel of the team, consisting of coaches, doctors, trainers, and equipment personnel, who must remain in close proximity to their bench and must not encroach on the sidelines or playing field while play is in progress. The team bench area shall be located a minimum of 5 yards (5 metres) and a maximum of 10 yards (10 metres) from the sideline. The area shall be enclosed by a line 4 inches (10 cm) wide, which is located at least 2 yards (2 metres) minimum, and 5 yards (5 metres) optimum from the sideline, and a line at each end of the bench 5 yards (5 metres) from the end. (See Field Drawing.) Occupants of the bench shall remain within the enclosed area, except during legal substitution proceedings, or by express permission of the Referee, in order to keep the sideline clear for both officials and coaches.
L10, no option, from point where the ball would have been put in play if no foul had occurred.
Article 2 – Time-Out Conferences
During an official time out, a conference at the sideline between coaches and players of each team is legal. A similar conference is legal whenever the clock is stopped and a significant time delay occurs, e.g. a measurement, injury, TV commercial, etc.
Article 3 – Interference by Unauthorized Persons
An unauthorized person shall not enter or reach into the field while play is in progress and/or interfere with a player of either team, or with a loose ball:
a) Acting to the advantage of the team in possession.
If it is obvious to the Referee that a score (such as a rouge or safety touch) would have been made, then the score will be awarded. If not, L10 PBH.
b) Acting to the advantage of the team not in possession.
If it is obvious to the Referee that a touchdown would have been scored, or if the unauthorized person is a substitute, coach, trainer or other occupant of the team bench, a touchdown shall be awarded. If not, the non-offending team shall be awarded:
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- Half the distance to the goal line from PLS or PBD.
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- For illegal interference on a forward pass
- Field of Play: Half the distance to the goal line from PF.
- End zone:
- Against Team A, award the ball to Team A at the 1 yard (1 metre) line (unless a touchdown is awarded).
- Against Team B, award the ball to Team B at the 20 yard (20 metre) line.
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- 3 downs, regardless of time remaining in the period (unless Team A scores on 1st or 2nd down, or loses possession on 1st or 2nd down, with Team B making a legal recovery).
c) Touching or kicking a loose ball.
If it is obvious to the Referee that a score would have been made, the score will be awarded. If the person is a substitute, coach, trainer, or other occupant of the team bench, the team will be penalized half the distance to their goal line from PF. If the non-offending team was previously in possession, or was normally expecting to gain possession by receiving a scrimmage kick, it shall be awarded the ball, and 3 additional downs shall be awarded regardless of time remaining, (unless Team A scores on 1st or 2nd down, or loses possession with Team B making a legal recovery). If the person is not associated with a team as described in (d) below, the play shall be repeated at PLS, subject to any team penalties which will be applied at PLS.
d) If the unauthorized person is a substitute, coach, trainer, or other occupant of a team bench:
Disqualification from further participation in any capacity.
Article 4 – Injuries
During a stoppage in play for injury, or other reason, personnel of each team shall be allowed to enter the field with the Referee's permission. Such personnel may attend to the injured player or bring water to the players on the field. Personnel shall not undertake any coaching activities while on the field.
The Referee need not permit the attendants of both teams to enter the field in case of injury to a player of 1 team only. When play has been stopped for a player injury or for equipment repair, that player shall be required to leave the game for at least three plays for the case of an injury, half-time will nullify the need to sit out any further plays due to injury, the time between the end of the game and overtime will not break the continuity of sitting out due to injury or at least one play for equipment.
L10, no option.