Pass Interference

If you watched the BCS title game you may have heard Kirk Herbstriet say that Alabama's defender got away with 2 DPI fouls on consecutive plays at one point. I watched both of those plays live and on replay, and I disagree with KH, who is not an official.

Did you know that contact is not always a foul? Just because a defender touches a receiver while the ball is in the air does not mean he interfered. For there to be a PI foul called a player must actually interfere with the opponent's opportunity to move toward or catch the ball, whether a player is a receiver or a defender.

In the NCAA the rules are slightly different from high school, but the principle applies. In the NCAA there must be contact for a PI foul, while in high school face guarding is a PI foul with no contact. But, all contact is not a foul. Officials must judge if the contact or face guarding actually interfered with the opponent's opportunity to move toward or catch the ball. If not, then no flag is warranted.

Keep in mind that officials only get one chance to see a play and it happens at full speed, no slo-mo replays. Any delay before the flag does come out, if it does, is because the official is analyzing what he saw before he makes his decision to flag or not. Late calls are typically better calls, and should not be criticized by fans, players or coaches. However, if you take too long, then a flag is likely not warranted. If the decision takes that long, then the action was most likely not a foul. Many players will make the "throw the flag" gesture when they think they have been fouled, but that is not why officials throw this flag. They are going through a decision process that they are trained for.

Rule 7-5

ART. 10. . . It is forward-pass interference if:

a. Any player of A or B who is beyond the neutral zone interferes with an

eligible opponent’s opportunity to move toward, catch or bat the pass.

b. Any player hinders an opponent’s vision without making an attempt to

catch, intercept or bat the ball, even though no contact was made.

ART. 11 . . . It is not forward-pass interference if:

a. Unavoidable contact occurs when two or more eligibles are making a

simultaneous, bona fide attempt to move toward, catch or bat the pass.

b. Contact by A is immediately made on a B lineman and the contact does not

continue beyond the expanded neutral zone.

c. Contact by B is obviously away from the direction of the pass.

I thought 1 of the 2 was actually DPI. From the one angle, it appeared as the though the defender's left arm came down across the Texas receiver's arms as he was trying to raise them to catch the ball. The other face guarding that Herbstreit mentioned was a good no-call IMO.

What are your thoughts on the DPI called on Texas later in the game when the receiver tripped over the DB? I thought that was incidental contact, and should've been a no-call.

I thought both were correct no calls on the Alabama defender. I did not see the play you ask about though. Typically tangled feet is a no call, as incidental contact.

I thought 1 of the 2 was actually DPI. From the one angle, it appeared as the though the defender's left arm came down across the Texas receiver's arms as he was trying to raise them to catch the ball. The other face guarding that Herbstreit mentioned was a good no-call IMO.

 

What are your thoughts on the DPI called on Texas later in the game when the receiver tripped over the DB? I thought that was incidental contact, and should've been a no-call.

I remember that call, and IMO I thought it was a bad PI call. Should have been a no call.

If you watched the BCS title game you may have heard Kirk Herbstriet say that Alabama's defender got away with 2 DPI fouls on consecutive plays at one point. I watched both of those plays live and on replay, and I disagree with KH, who is not an official.

 

Did you know that contact is not always a foul? Just because a defender touches a receiver while the ball is in the air does not mean he interfered. For there to be a PI foul called a player must actually interfere with the opponent's opportunity to move toward or catch the ball, whether a player is a receiver or a defender.

 

In the NCAA the rules are slightly different from high school, but the principle applies. In the NCAA there must be contact for a PI foul, while in high school face guarding is a PI foul with no contact. But, all contact is not a foul. Officials must judge if the contact or face guarding actually interfered with the opponent's opportunity to move toward or catch the ball. If not, then no flag is warranted.

 

Keep in mind that officials only get one chance to see a play and it happens at full speed, no slo-mo replays. Any delay before the flag does come out, if it does, is because the official is analyzing what he saw before he makes his decision to flag or not. Late calls are typically better calls, and should not be criticized by fans, players or coaches. However, if you take too long, then a flag is likely not warranted. If the decision takes that long, then the action was most likely not a foul. Many players will make the "throw the flag" gesture when they think they have been fouled, but that is not why officials throw this flag. They are going through a decision process that they are trained for.

 

Rule 7-5

ART. 10. . . It is forward-pass interference if:

a. Any player of A or B who is beyond the neutral zone interferes with an

eligible opponent’s opportunity to move toward, catch or bat the pass.

b. Any player hinders an opponent’s vision without making an attempt to

catch, intercept or bat the ball, even though no contact was made.

ART. 11 . . . It is not forward-pass interference if:

a. Unavoidable contact occurs when two or more eligibles are making a

simultaneous, bona fide attempt to move toward, catch or bat the pass.

b. Contact by A is immediately made on a B lineman and the contact does not

continue beyond the expanded neutral zone.

c. Contact by B is obviously away from the direction of the pass.

HR

Great explanation. Thanks for putting that out there for all to read. Good job.:thumb:

What is the high school rule on "bumping" receivers at the line?

Rule 9-2-3d.... A defensive player shall not contact an eligible receiver who is no longer a potential blocker. (10 yards for illegal use of hands)

9.2.3 SITUATION A: End A1 sprints from the line and then cuts sharply toward

the middle of the field. A1 makes no attempt to block defensive back B1. B1 pursues

A1 and pushes him from the side using his open hands. Contact is made on

A1’s upper arm before the pass is thrown. A1 was moving away from B1 when

the contact occurred. RULING: Illegal use of hands by B1. A defender may legally

contact an eligible receiver beyond the neutral zone before the pass is in flight.

The contact may be a block or warding off the opponent who is attempting to

block by pushing or pulling him. However, if the receiver is not attempting to

block or has gone past or is moving away, it is illegal for the defender to use

hands in the manner described. In this situation, it is clear that A1 is no longer a

potential blocker on B1. (2-3-5a; 7-5-7)

Rule 9-2-3d.... A defensive player shall not contact an eligible receiver who is no longer a potential blocker. (10 yards for illegal use of hands)

 

9.2.3 SITUATION A: End A1 sprints from the line and then cuts sharply toward

the middle of the field. A1 makes no attempt to block defensive back B1. B1 pursues

A1 and pushes him from the side using his open hands. Contact is made on

A1’s upper arm before the pass is thrown. A1 was moving away from B1 when

the contact occurred. RULING: Illegal use of hands by B1. A defender may legally

contact an eligible receiver beyond the neutral zone before the pass is in flight.

The contact may be a block or warding off the opponent who is attempting to

block by pushing or pulling him. However, if the receiver is not attempting to

block or has gone past or is moving away, it is illegal for the defender to use

hands in the manner described. In this situation, it is clear that A1 is no longer a

potential blocker on B1. (2-3-5a; 7-5-7)

Clear as mud :lol: It looks like there is enough of an opening that a DB could get away with a bump if he stays in front of the receiver. In practice, if a receiver comes off the line at the snap and takes a quick step left or right to move around the DB and there is contact, will it be called illegal use of hands?

Likely no. The defender is allowed to try to prevent the receiver from getting into his route (bump), as long as the defender is legally blocking him and not holding the receiver. As long as the receiver is in a position where he could be a blocker, the defender may contact him. If the receiver is not in a blockign position, the defender may not contact him.

The premise is, if you're a blocker, you're not a receiver. If you're a receiver, you're not a blocker.