USA Football Rules Editor Bill LeMonnier is a former college referee who currently serves as an ESPN NCAA rules analyst. Click here to ask Bill a question. Make sure to put “Ask the Official” in the subject line.

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Does covering a tight end in and of itself make that player ineligible?

A team is in a basic wing formation. After the ready for play whistle, the wing steps up to the line of scrimmage and covers the tight end. Prior to the snap the wing steps back off the line and motions to the opposite side of the field.

Is the tight end that was uncovered, covered and uncovered an eligible receiver, or does the mere fact that he was covered at any point make him ineligible?

At the high school level, a player is eligible by position and number. Both are required.  

Whether at the end of the line or as a back, the requirement is in effect at the snap. A team can shift all it wants, assuming it’s not on a scrimmage kick formation. It only matters if a player is on the end of the line or in the backfield at the snap.

With numbering, players wearing 0 to 49 and 80 to 99 are eligible. Unlike the NFL, a player wearing 50-79 can never be eligible in high school.

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After a touchdown, a high school team goes for 2. The offense converts the play but is called for offensive pass interference. Can the defense accept the penalty, allow the points and take the penalty on the kickoff? This came up in a near the end of a game where the points didn’t matter as much as the field position because of the score.

No. In this situation, if a team accepts the penalty, it has to enforce it on the point-after try – so it’s 15 yards and down over.