Pass interference can completely change the result of any football game. It’s a regular penalty, which is usually used during college, high school as well as professional level football games. Why is pass interference so crucial?

Pass interference is when a defensive player hinders the offensive player from catching football. This ruling says that the defensive player is not allowed to touch an offensive player when the ball is still up in the air. If the defensive player does, it will be deemed pass interference.

This article will provide all the information you require about pass interference.

Interference with defensive passes

The pace of any football match can be drastically affected through defensive pass interference decisions. This rule was enacted at the time forward passes were permitted.

To permit the player to catch the ball without interference from opponents the rule of pass interference was enacted.

There are many reasons the referee may throw the flag of pass interference.

Pass interference happens when two people are trying to catch the ball but one of them is overly reckless. The official will typically throw the penalty flag.

The defensive player has to give the offensive player a chance to catch the football.

The offensive player doesn’t enjoy the same rights as a defensive player. That means that when a defensive player is focused on the ball and is in position to try to grab the ball, they may try to catch it or throw it away.

The penalty flag is generally used when a defensive player fails to make an effort to get in position to kick the ball in the air. They have too much contact to the wide receiver and it results in the flag being thrown.

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Penalties for Interference with Passes

If the official of the football decides that the player who was defensive had too much contact with the wide receiver they will throw a flag , instead of trying to catch the ball.

Based on the intensity of the game on the field, the penalty flags will differ. These are the penalties that every football league can use.

  • High School: 15 Yard Penalty from the Line of Scrimmage
  • College 15 Yard Penalty on the Line of Scrimmage and an Automatic First Down
  • Professional: Automatic First Down and The Ball Is Located Where the Penalty Was Submitted

As you will see, the penalty for interference in the pass is much more serious on the professional side than it is at the college and high school levels.

Pass interference at the high school level does not always mean it’s a first down. In accordance with NFHS guidelines, if the offense is running 3rd and 20, and pass interference is detected in the following play the team will play the down. This will be 3rd and 5.

It’s more secure to do this in college. The official will wave a penalty flag for 15 yards, and the offense is automatically given a first down.

Professional level (like the NFL) have the most punishing pass interference rules. They mandate that when the penalty flag is thrown in the case of pass interference, the ball must be immediately placed in the area where the interference occurred. The automatic first down is also granted to the offense.

This call has had numerous implications for teams that are trying to throw the ball down the field late into games.

The pass interference call is constantly argued by players, fans as well as coaches.

Interference through Passes

While the defense is commonly penalized for pass interference, there’s an offense for pass interference as well.

Visit this site for amazing picture of offensive pass interference.

If the ball is in the air, if the offensive player makes too much contact with the defense player trying to intercept the ball, they could be called for offensive pass interference.

The result of offensive interference with a pass is that the penalty of 15 yards for offense.

If the penalty occurred on an offense that was second or 10 it will be 25 or 2nd. This is only applicable when the defense (highschool or college) accepts the penalty.

Although it’s a rare crime, it can happen. Pass interference is usually at the discretion of the referee. Some referees won’t throw a flag, while others could. It’s all about what the referee deems as their interpretation of pass interference.

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