OFFICIALS CORNER

THIS WEEK’S RULE: Pass Interference

There are two types of pass interference. Defensive pass interference and offensive pass interference. We will look at both rules.

DEFENSIVE PASS INTERFERENCE

1. Pass interference restrictions on a legal forward pass begin for the defense when the ball leaves the passer’s hands. Restrictions end for all defensive players when a legal forward pass has been touched by a player on either team.

2. It is pass interference if any player on the defense who is beyond the neutral zone (the line of scrimmage) interferes with an eligible offense player’s opportunity to move toward the football, catch the football or bat the pass.

3. It is also pass interference is any defensive player hinders an opponent’s vision without making an attempt to catch, intercept or bat the ball even though no contact was made (Commonly known as face guarding).  

4. The Penalty is 15 yards from the line of scrimmage plus an automatic first down

NOTE – It is not pass interference if unavoidable contact occurs when two or more eligible receivers are making a simultaneous, bona fide attempt t move toward the pass, catch the pass or bat the pass or if contact by the defense is obviously away from the direction of the pass.

OFFENSIVE PASS INTERFERENCE

1. Pass interference restriction only apply beyond the neutral zone (line of scrimmage) and only if the legal forward pass untouched by the defense in or behind the neutral zone crosses the neutral zone (goes beyond the line of scrimmage).

2. Pass interference can be called on any player on the offense on a legal forward pass any time after the snap until a defensive player touches a legal forward pass. It also ends for all eligible offensive players when any player on the offensive teams touches a legal forward pass.

3. It is offensive pass interference if any offensive player who is beyond the neutral zone interferes with an eligible opponent’s opportunity to move toward, catch or bat the pass or if any offensive player hinders an opponent’s vision without making an attempt to catch, intercept or bat the ball even if no contact is made.  

4. The penalty is 15 yards from the line of scrimmage plus a loss of down

NOTE – The interference restrictions on offense players are more stringent because they know the play is a pass.  

CASE PLAYS

1. Offensive player (A) or defensive player (B) is in a position to catch or intercept a forward pass beyond the neutral zone.  An opponent, who is in the vicinity, turns his back to the ball.  The opponent directs his attention to either offensive player (A) or defensive player (B) and waves his arms to block the vision of the potential receiver or interceptor.  Ruling: Hindering an opponent's vision without making an attempt to catch, intercept or bat the ball, is pass interference even though no contact was made.

2. Offensive player (A) and defensive player (B) are running stride-for-stride near the sideline. Their feet inadvertently become tangled and both players lose their balance.  When their feet became tangled: (a) both players were looking for the ball;  (b) neither player was looking for the ball; The ruling on both of these is no foul. But if the offensive player (A) was looking for the ball but the defensive player (V) was not then it is defensive pass interference.

3. The quarterback throws a pass down the middle to receiver (A) who is running straight down the field, but overthrows him by 15 yards.  Defensive Back (B) interferes with receiver (A).  Ruling:  Defensive pass interference. There is no uncatchable pass rule like in the NFL

4. Offensive eligible receiver (A) blocks an opponent 10 yards down field while the pass is in flight.  The pass is completed to offensive receiver (B) who is: (a) beyond the neutral zone; or (b) behind the neutral zone when he catches the ball.  Ruling:  It is a foul for offensive pass interference in (a) and a legal block in (b) for the pass did not cross the neutral zone.

5.  The quarterback throws a pass down the right sideline to receiver (A).  Defensive player (B) interferes with offensive receiver (C) who was running down the left sideline.  Ruling:  No pass interference, for the pass was obviously away from the direction of the pass.  However, this does not take away the restrictions on illegal use of hands, holding or a personal foul. 

Note:  A defensive player may not contact or knock off an eligible receiver off his pass route and who is no longer a potential blocker before the pass is thrown.  Ruling:  Illegal us of hands (-10 yards).

Dan Boyer

PIAA. Football Official