Pass Interference

[ref49873]

Would you call DPI on a defensive player whi wile making a break on the pass, cuts in front of the waiting receiver, but in doing so makes some light contact with the offensive player as the ball arrives.

Had a very close call in my game last week and just looking for other views on this situation.

Thanks.

[waltjp]

No. Both the defender and receiver have equal right to the ball in flight. If the defender is making a legit attempt to get to the ball witout restricting the receiver the contact should be ignored.

Editted to add - moving in front of the receiver should not be confused with going through the receiver.

[Bob M.]

REPLY: The term 'incidental contact' is frequently used. It does not mean insignificant contact. Incidental contact can be quite severe. What it does mean is contact 'associated with' a player's attempt to move toward or catch the pass. In the play you described, the contact was incidental. It should be ignored.

[DJ_NV]

If the defender is legitimately playing the ball, then I tend to give him (and the offensive player with regards to OPI) a lot more latitude than I would if the player is not looking for the ball--though OPI happens quite frequently with a push-off by a receiver while looking back, so it's more of a guideline for Team B. Yes the defender has an equal right to the ball, but not at the expense of signficant physical contact with the receiver who has established position.

Personally, I would rather have a no call that should've been flagged than have a flag for being too overly-technical. It took me awhile to learn, but if you have to think about it, then it wasn't there. True PI will scream at you. If you're second-guessing yourself if PI was there or not and you didn't have a flag, then chances are pretty good that you had a good no-call. A close call is most likely no call.

Just remember, hands on mean nothing. Ask yourself, what did he do with his hands?

Also, PI almost always occurs from the waist up.

Just my .02

[JRutledge]

No. The reasons stated above explain my reason.

Peace

[OverAndBack]

Had an assistant in a junior high game today chirp about what he thought was a DPI call (and which I thought was incidental contact) and not let it go. Demanded an explanation at halftime, said "How could you not call that?" I said, "Coach, I didn't see it that way."

That didn't appease him for some reason.

My partner, a state finals official, made it clear that he'd gotten his explanation and as he'd been chirping the whole first half, that any more would have him watching the second half from the bus through binoculars.

In any case, I just read a good pass interference article in the latest Officials Quarterly. It specifically said, "Incidental contact is never pass interference." It's a good read, if you get OQ.