...and I worked a doubleheader on chain crew last night.

(For those that don't know me, I'm hoping to become an official as early as next season)

Anyway, in both games there were appropriately called offensive pass interference penalties. There happened to be two different crews working the different games which usually doesn't happen at my stadium. The first crew marked off 15 yards for the penalty, but then at question by the offending team's coach (claiming it's only 10 yards for offensive) they huddled and moved the ball back up 5 yards. The coach on the other sideline didn't seem bothered by this.

In the second game, offensive pass interference; 15 yards; run your next play. Neither coach complained, and the penalty was 15.

Which is correct? Did one coach get away with 5 yards? My gut tells me (and from what I remember about the high school rules) it's 15 yards for offensive AND defensive P.I. Plus, with both crews thinking that way at least initially, it seems like that's the way it is.

Any help?

15 yards and loss of down.

Any official who would let a coach talk him into 10 yards has no business on a football field. :mad:

That's what the chain crew all thought too....and the stadium supervisor....and the announcer....and the statistician.

Our stadium supervisor was a ref for a lot of years (30+ I believe) before he had to have a knee and hip replacement. He knew the ref from the game personally and said that he's been problematic that way for YEARS.

Thanks for the clarification, BktBallRef.

Hope this was not a big game because that WH does need to be near one. I had a "WH" last year argue with myself and another guy there was no loss of down and he marked off only 10 yard. I guess he thinks he is a big time NFL official. :rolleyes:

The coach watches Sunday FB, and the official as well I guess. In the NFL, OPI is 10 yards, but it is definitely 15 and LOD in NF. That is not an uncommon foul, and being a major one like that, should not be missed.

NCAA- 15 yards from previous spot, no loss of down

just curious it could have been a 10 yard penalty if the ball was inside the 30 yard line and the line of scrimmage was the 20 yard line (thus half the distance 10 yards)

Canadian Ruling
 

Canadian Ruling: 15 yards, repeat the down. Non-restricted.

What's the rule in Lower Botswana?

The WH in this situation does not need to be calling games if he is that far off on fouls.

Just like BasketballRef said:

OPI - 15-yards and LOD
DPI - 15-yards and AFD

Any penalty that is inside the 30 and is a 15 yarder is half the distance, inside the 20 and a 10 or 15 yarder is half the distance and inside the 10 and a 5, 10 or 15 yarder is half the distance.