Expert: Thom Brooks - 11/21/2009

Question
We just had a PI call on a defender who was running ahead of the receiver.  He reached back, made some contact with the receiver that was deemed by the referee to be pass interference, then intercepted the ball with his other hand.  However the ball was clearly overthrown and there was no chance that the receiver could have caught the ball.  Obviously, it was within reach of the defender.  The rule is that there can be no interference when the ball is uncatchable so there should have been no penalty as far as I can tell.  As a note, the announcer said this could technically been called a "pushoff" even though there was no real pushing involved, and the contact did not give the defender any advantage as it occurred within about 1/2 a stride of the ball arriving (and the interception).  The referee ruled it pass interference.  Can pass interference be called when the receiver has no chance to catch an overthrown ball?  

Answer
Bruce, hello!

I saw parts of that game but not that call.  The Official could have made a ball decision.  Or, if the Defender reached back, but still caught the ball, the Official may have ruled that the ball would have been catchable.
The rule is fuzzy, especially if the Receiver was being Held and blocked from the ball in the air.  Pass Interference was called?  The penalty would usually not be called if the Receiver had no chance to catch the ball.  Could the call have been, Face Mask, Horse Collar, or Unsportsmanlike?  


If I see a replay, I'll write back to you!!





Take Care,

Thom Brooks
www.BrooksInsuranceSchool.com
Savannah Adult Baseball League

Please review the following websites. The first one is my youngest son's band! Listen2Three.com


The Official Web Site of the NCAA - NCAA.org - NCAA.org




http://www.ncaapublications.com/Uploads/PDF/Football_Rulesadc982b5-03fb-4e27-828...

ncaa.org/library/rules/2006/2006_football_rules.pdf

D1AFootball.com

NCAA I-AA





REFEREE, the Magazine for Sports Officials


National Association of Sports Officials