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Expert: - 10/13/2006


Question
After quickly reading the NCAA football rule handbook, I could not find face guarding or a rule stating the defense has to turn to locate the ball when in the air to avoid interference.  Yet in games, these infractions are often flagged or commentators state they should be.  

Do these infractions constitute defensive pass interference?

Answer
Travis,
Thank you for your question.

Under the NCAA Rule 7-3-8 c there must be contact beyond the line of scrimmage on a legal forward pass play for pass interference to occur.  Face guarding without contact is not a foul under NCAA rules. Face guarding I blieve is a foul under National Federation rules (High School).

Officials will key on the defensive player who is not playing the ball.  When that player who is not playing the ball makes contact, then DPI may have occured.  It has been my experience that commentators rarely know all the rules or are often confussed by the rules or their applications.  I would put little faith in the guys commentating on the game and keep your faith in the guys on the field officiating the game.

Face guarding alone is not DPI.

I hope this answers your question.
Best of luck.
Victor Winnek

College Football

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Vic Winnek

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