Illegal Touching & Offensive Pass Interference

1. Illegal Touching & Offensive Pass Interference Meeting of 13 Oct 05

2. Our Mission • Discuss the rule differences between one kind of offensive pass interference and illegal touching. • Demonstrate our knowledge of the rule differences by answering the quiz questions correctly.

3. Basics: • Eligible receivers—every player on B • For A, it means a player who is legally in the backfield (2-30-3) or on the end of the line of scrimmage(2-24-2, 2-30-9) at the snap and • Who is wearing an eligible number. (1-49, 80-99)

4. Definitions • Bat (2-2): intentionally slapping or striking the ball with the arm or hand. • Catch (2-4): the act of establishing player possession of a ball in flight • Muff (2-26): the act of touching… of a loose ball by a player in an unsuccessful attempt to secure possession.

5. Ineligible receiver • By number—any A player with an ineligible number (50-79) no matter where they are lined up. • By position: An interior lineman (someone not on the end of the line) at the snap or someone who is in “no man’s land” at the snap. • Fundamental VII-1: an A player who is eligible at the snap remains an eligible receiver throughout the down.

6. Illegal Touching (7-5-13) • Is the foul that occurs when an ineligible A player catches, bats, or muffs a legal forward pass in or behind A’s neutral zone. • This rule differentiates between accidental touching (being hit by the ball, for example) and intentional touching—catching, batting or muffing the legal forward pass.

7. Illegal Touching • This foul takes place behind A’s neutral zone. • The penalty is 5 yards and a loss of down. • Since this always occurs during a loose ball play, the spot of enforcement is the spot of the foul (the spot where ineligible A catches, bats or muffs the pass).

8. Offensive Pass Interference 7-5-10 • There are 3 kinds of OPI, we will only discuss one type tonight: 7-5-10-c: • If an ineligible A player touches a pass beyond the neutral zone before a player of B has touched it, he has committed offensive pass interference. • This foul includes all types of touching, to include being touched by the ball.

9. More definitions • Forward pass (2-29-2): ball thrown so that it’s initial direction is forward • Touching (2-43): refers to any contact with the ball, either by touching or being touched by it. • Neutral zone during a scrimmage down (2-27): is expanded up to 2 yards behind the defense during a scrimmage down. • So, for OPI, if any ineligible A player is touched by a pass, or touches a pass, beyond the neutral zone.

10. Offensive Pass Interference • It takes place beyond A’s LOS. • The penalty is 15 yards and a loss of down. • Since this always occurs during a loose ball play, the spot of enforcement is the previous spot

11. When does an ineligible A player become eligible? • When B touches the pass. 7-5-6b • When do OPI restrictions end? For all A players, when B touches a legal forward pass. 7-5-9a • For eligible A players, when A touches a legal forward pass. 7-5-9b

14. Situation #1 (SG 5.12) • 2nd and 10 @ A-30. Ineligible A1 tries to catch A2’s forward pass at his a) 28 yard line, or b) 35 yard line. In each case he touches the ball. • RULING: In a), illegal touching—3rd and 17 @ A-23. • In b), it is offensive pass interference, resulting in 3rd and 25 @ A-15.

15. Situation #2 (SG 5.13) • 2nd and 10 @ A-30. Ineligible A1 is hit in the back by A2’s forward pass at his a) 28 yard line, or b) 35 yard line. • RULING: In a), no foul. In b), it is offensive pass interference, resulting in 3rd and 25 @ A-15.

16. Situation #3 (SG 5.III.12) • A1’s forward pass is deflected by B2 at the line and caught by A3, who is wearing #62 behind the line. • RULING: Legal catch. All ineligible players become eligible when B touches the pass.

17. Situation #4 (SG 5.III.13) • At the snap A #35 is neither legally on the line nor in the backfield. He runs 10 yards downfield and catches a forward pass. • RULING: A #35 has committed 3 fouls: illegal formation, ineligible receiver downfield, and offensive pass interference.

18. Situation #5 (SG 5.III.20) • A1 drops back to pass and throws forward. The pass is deflected by B2 behind the neutral zone and is touched by A #75 beyond the neutral zone before it falls incomplete. • RULING: It is not offensive pass interference because all restrictions ended when the pass was touched by a Team B player.

19. Situation #6 (7.5.7C) • A1 throws a pass that is touched behind the neutral zone by B7. The pass touches ineligible A2 beyond the neutral zone and falls incomplete. • RULING: Pass interference has not occurred since B touched the ball in or behind the neutral zone.

20. Situation #7 (7.5.13B) • A1's forward pass is deflected by B1 and then caught by interior lineman A2 behind the neutral zone. • RULING: No foul has occurred as A2 became an eligible receiver after B1 touched the pass.

21. Our Mission • Discuss the rule differences between one kind of offensive pass interference and illegal touching. • Demonstrate our knowledge of the rule differences by answering the quiz questions correctly.

22. Thank you!