ARTICLE 2. A legal substitute may replace a player or fill a player vacancy provided none of the of the
following restrictions is violated:
a. No incoming substitute shall enter the field of play or an end zone while the ball is in play.
b. No player, in excess of 7, shall leave the field of play or end zone while the ball is in play.
PENALTY – Live-ball foul. Five yards from the previous spot. [S22]
c. An incoming legal substitute must enter the field of play directly from their team area, and a substitute, player, or departing player must depart at the sideline nearest their team area and proceed to their team area
d. A departing player must immediately leave the field of play, including the end zones. A departing player who leaves the huddle or their position within three seconds, after a substitute becomes a player, is considered to have left immediately.
e. Substitutes who become players must remain in the game for at least one play and replaced players must remain out of the game for at least one play, except during the interval between periods, after a score, or when a timeout is charged.
PENALTY – Dead-ball foul; Five yards from the succeeding spot. [S22]
