What is pass interference? Pass interference is when either a defensive or offensive player prevents another player from making a play on the football by making contact before the ball's arrival. Pass interference...
Pass interference is called when a defensive player prohibits an offensive player from making an attempt at catching a pass. The thing that bugs me most about the pass interference is that it's probably the most difficult to call as well as probably the biggest penalty in a football game.
Over time, rules have been modified to make the rules about pass interference a little clearer so that it's not just a judgment call most times.
But what we know for sure is that a defensive player can not push, shove or make any contact with a receiver after he has gone five yards down the field.
A defensive back does, however, have every right to a ball in that is in the air, just so long as he turns his head towards the ball. This means that a defensive back can shove, kick, or bite whoever he needs to as long as he is making a play on the football. But if by any chance he pushes, touches, or most time even brushes up against the wide receiver before the ball gets there, pass interference will be called.
Not commonly called is offensive pass interference. Just like a wide receiver, a defensive player also has a right to the football. So if a defensive player is in a position to make a play on a ball, the same rules apply to the offensive player. He can not touch, shove or push the player or offensive pass interference will be called. The difference in the penalties is that the offensive pass interference is just a ten yard penalty. And like I said before, the defensive pass interference can result in a 1-yard penalty or a 50-yard penalty as well as an automatic first down.
