Illegal Touching & Illegal Touching & Offensive Pass InterferenceOffensive Pass Interference

Meeting of 13 Oct 05

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Our MissionOur Mission

• Discuss the rule differences between one kind of offensive pass interference and illegal touching.

• Demonstrate our knowledge of the rule differences by answering the quiz questions correctly.

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Basics:Basics:

• Eligible receivers—every player on B

• For A, it means a player who is legally in the backfield (2-30-3) or on the end of the line of scrimmage(2-24-2, 2-30-9) at the snap and

• Who is wearing an eligible number. (1-49, 80-99)

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DefinitionsDefinitions

• Bat (2-2): intentionally slapping or striking the ball with the arm or hand.

• Catch (2-4): the act of establishing player possession of a ball in flight

• Muff (2-26): the act of touching… of a loose ball by a player in an unsuccessful attempt to secure possession.

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Ineligible receiverIneligible receiver

• By number—any A player with an ineligible number (50-79) no matter where they are lined up.

• By position: An interior lineman (someone not on the end of the line) at the snap or someone who is in “no man’s land” at the snap.

• Fundamental VII-1: an A player who is eligible at the snap remains an eligible receiver throughout the down.

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Illegal Touching (7-5-13)Illegal Touching (7-5-13)

• Is the foul that occurs when an ineligible A player catches, bats, or muffs a legal forward pass in or behind A’s neutral zone.

• This rule differentiates between accidental touching (being hit by the ball, for example) and intentional touching—catching, batting or muffing the legal forward pass.

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Illegal TouchingIllegal Touching

• This foul takes place behind A’s neutral zone.

• The penalty is 5 yards and a loss of down.

• Since this always occurs during a loose ball play, the spot of enforcement is the spot of the foul (the spot where ineligible A catches, bats or muffs the pass).

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Offensive Pass Interference Offensive Pass Interference 7-5-107-5-10

• There are 3 kinds of OPI, we will only discuss one type tonight: 7-5-10-c:

• If an ineligible A player touches a pass beyond the neutral zone before a player of B has touched it, he has committed offensive pass interference.

• This foul includes all types of touching, to include being touched by the ball.

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More definitionsMore definitions

• Forward pass (2-29-2): ball thrown so that it’s initial direction is forward

• Touching (2-43): refers to any contact with the ball, either by touching or being touched by it.

• Neutral zone during a scrimmage down (2-27): is expanded up to 2 yards behind the defense during a scrimmage down.

• So, for OPI, if any ineligible A player is touched by a pass, or touches a pass, beyond the neutral zone.

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Offensive Pass InterferenceOffensive Pass Interference

• It takes place beyond A’s LOS.

• The penalty is 15 yards and a loss of down.

• Since this always occurs during a loose ball play, the spot of enforcement is the previous spot

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When does an ineligible A player When does an ineligible A player become eligible? become eligible?

• When B touches the pass. 7-5-6b

• When do OPI restrictions end? For all A players, when B touches a legal forward pass. 7-5-9a

• For eligible A players, when A touches a legal forward pass. 7-5-9b

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Illegal Touching OPI #3-Touching Pass

Neutral Zone In or behind Beyond

Who Ineligible A Ineligible A

What Catch, bat or muff

Touch or being touched

Penalty 5 yards, LOD 15 yards, LOD

Enforcement spot

Spot of touch Previous spot

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Legal Forward

Pass

Ball behind Neutral Zone

Ball beyond Neutral Zone

Can ineligible receiver bat, muff or catch?

NO—Illegal touching, 5 yards & LOD 7-5-13

NO—OPI, 15 yards & LOD 7-5-10b

Can ineligible receiver be touched by pass?

YES NO—OPI, 15 yards & LOD 7-5-10b

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Situation #1 (SG 5.12)Situation #1 (SG 5.12)

• 2nd and 10 @ A-30. Ineligible A1 tries to catch A2’s forward pass at his a) 28 yard line, or b) 35 yard line. In each case he touches the ball.

• RULING: In a), illegal touching—3rd and 17 @ A-23.

• In b), it is offensive pass interference, resulting in 3rd and 25 @ A-15.

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Situation #2 (SG 5.13)Situation #2 (SG 5.13)

• 2nd and 10 @ A-30. Ineligible A1 is hit in the back by A2’s forward pass at his a) 28 yard line, or b) 35 yard line.

• RULING: In a), no foul. In b), it is offensive pass interference, resulting in 3rd and 25 @ A-15.

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Situation #3 (SG 5.III.12)Situation #3 (SG 5.III.12)

• A1’s forward pass is deflected by B2 at the line and caught by A3, who is wearing #62 behind the line.

• RULING: Legal catch. All ineligible players become eligible when B touches the pass.

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Situation #4 (SG 5.III.13)Situation #4 (SG 5.III.13)

• At the snap A #35 is neither legally on the line nor in the backfield. He runs 10 yards downfield and catches a forward pass.

• RULING: A #35 has committed 3 fouls: illegal formation, ineligible receiver downfield, and offensive pass interference.

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Situation #5 (SG 5.III.20)Situation #5 (SG 5.III.20)

• A1 drops back to pass and throws forward. The pass is deflected by B2 behind the neutral zone and is touched by A #75 beyond the neutral zone before it falls incomplete.

• RULING: It is not offensive pass interference because all restrictions ended when the pass was touched by a Team B player.

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Situation #6 (7.5.7C)Situation #6 (7.5.7C)

• A1 throws a pass that is touched behind the neutral zone by B7. The pass touches ineligible A2 beyond the neutral zone and falls incomplete.

• RULING: Pass interference has not occurred since B touched the ball in or behind the neutral zone.

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Situation #7 (7.5.13B)Situation #7 (7.5.13B)

• A1's forward pass is deflected by B1 and then caught by interior lineman A2 behind the neutral zone.

• RULING: No foul has occurred as A2 became an eligible receiver after B1 touched the pass.

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Our MissionOur Mission

• Discuss the rule differences between one kind of offensive pass interference and illegal touching.

• Demonstrate our knowledge of the rule differences by answering the quiz questions correctly.

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Thank you!Thank you!