PI/Chucks/Ineligible Flashcards
LEGAL CUT—RECEIVER IS NOT FLEXED
Third-and-6 on 50. End A2 lines up one yard outside of his tackle. Quarterback A1 throws an incomplete pass to the
B30. Prior to the pass, B1 blocked A2 below the waist at the line of scrimmage.
Ruling: Fourth-and-6 on 50. No foul. A receiver who is not flexed, (lined up within two yards of his tackle), may be
blocked below the waist on or behind the line within the tight end box (see 8-4-5-a, 12-2-4-d).
LEGAL CUT—CONTACT BEHIND LINE WHILE BALL IS IN THE AIR
Third-and-9 on B30. Quarterback A1 is in a shotgun formation, and back A2 flanks four yards outside the tackle. A1
throws a screen pass to receiver A2 at the B32. As A2 reaches up to catch the ball, B4 blocks him below the waist,
and the pass is incomplete.
Ruling: Fourth-and-9 on B30. No foul unless the action by B4 is considered unnecessary roughness.
Note: Illegal cut rules only apply prior to a pass being thrown, and pass interference rules apply only beyond the
line. Consequently, there is no foul. (8-4-5-b)
ILLEGAL CUT—RECEIVER IS FLEXED
Second-and-10 on B35. Flanker A2 lines up three yards outside his tight end. At the snap, B2 blocks A2 below the
waist at the line of scrimmage. Quarterback A1 completes a pass to his tight end at the B32 where he is downed.
Ruling: A’s ball, first-and-10 on B17. Personal foul (illegal cut) by B2, as A2 is flexed, (more than two yards outside
his own tackle). This is also an illegal block below the waist because it occurs outside the tight end box (12-2-4-d).
The penalty is enforced from the dead ball spot. (8-4-5)
LEGAL CHUCK—QB IS OUT OF THE POCKET
First-and-10 on B40. Quarterback A1 rolls out of the pocket to the right and throws a forward pass to end A2, who
was chucked by B2 at the B30 after A1 had moved to a position directly behind the original position of the tight end,
and before he threw the pass. The pass falls incomplete
Ruling: Second-and-10 on B40. Illegal contact rules no longer apply once the ball leaves the pocket. (8-4-7)
LEGAL/ILLEGAL CONTACT—RECEIVER CONTACTED TWICE—CONTACTED IN BACK
Second-and-10 on B40. As quarterback A1 drops back in the pocket, B1 chucks wideout A2 at the B39. A2 cuts to
the outside and gets away from B1, but he is then chucked again (clearly a separate act) at the B35 by (a) B1, or;
(b) B2, (c) or in the back by B2. A1 is then sacked at the B45.
Rulings:
(a) First-and-10 on B35. The second chuck by the same player, even within five yards of the LOS, is illegal.
(b) Third-and-15 on B45. The second chuck by a different player is legal. (8-4-1)
(c) First-and-10 on B35. It is illegal to chuck a receiver in the back within five yards of the line of scrimmage.
LEGAL/ILLEGAL CONTACT—SNAP DOES/DOES NOT HIT GROUND
Second-and-10 on B30. A1 receives the snap but bobbles it as he drops back (either shotgun or under center). A1
regains possession of the ball, (a) after it hits the ground and bounces immediately back into his hands, or (b) without
the ball hitting the ground. A1 never leaves the pocket area and throws a pass to A2 at the B10 which falls incomplete.
B2 chucked A2 at the B22 prior to the pass
Rulings:
(a) Third-and-10 on B30. No foul for illegal contact since the ball touched the ground.
(b) First-and-10 on B25. Illegal contact. Since the ball did not touch the ground, and the QB was still in the pocket,
the defense is prohibited from chucking an eligible receiver beyond five yards.
LEGAL CHUCK—BALL LEAVES QB’S POSSESSION
First-and-goal on B8. On the last play of the game, Team A is behind by four points. Quarterback QB A1 takes the
snap and pitches back to A2 (still in the original pocket area) who sets up to throw to end A3 who is in the end zone.
After the pitch and prior to pass from A2, B1 chucks A3 deep in the end zone. The pass falls incomplete.
Ruling: Game over. No foul. B1 can legally chuck downfield prior to the pass once the ball leaves the possession
of the player who receives the snap. (8-4-7)
LEGAL/ILLEGAL CHUCK—PUNT/FIELD GOAL FORMATION
Fourth-and-2 on B40. Team A lines up in (a) a punt formation; or (b) a field goal formation. A3 who is the widest
receiver on the left side of the formation is chucked by B3 at the B33. A1 throws a pass which B2 intercepts and
returns for a touchdown
Rulings:
(a) Touchdown Team B. Kickoff B35. Actions that constitute illegal contact in a standard scrimmage formation are
permitted when a team presents an apparent punt formation, though defensive holding is prohibited.
(b) A’s ball, first-and-10 on B35. Illegal contact rules against eligible receivers remain in effect when Team A is in
a field goal formation.
OFFENSIVE PASS INTERFERENCE—BLOCKING BEYOND THE LINE BEFORE THE PASS IS TOUCHED
Second-and-10 on A30. Tight end A3 blocks the linebacker on the line of scrimmage, breaks contact, and then
initiates new contact six yards downfield prior to the pass being thrown to wide receiver A4 at the A45.
Ruling: Second-and-20 on A20. Offensive pass interference. If an offensive player blocks a defensive player more
than one yard beyond the line of scrimmage before a pass is touched, it is a foul for offensive pass interference.
OFFENSIVE PASS INTERFERENCE—INELIGIBLE BLOCKING DOWNFIELD
Third-and-4 on A30. A1 throws a shovel pass to A2 who catches it at the A29 and runs to the A40. Prior to the pass,
center A5 goes downfield and blocks linebacker B1 at the A33.
Ruling: Third-and-14 on A20. Offensive pass interference. Decline the foul for ineligible downfield.
OFFENSIVE PASS INTERFERENCE—PLAYER INITIATES BLOCK WITHIN ONE YARD
First-and-goal on B7. (a) Tight end, or (b) left tackle, A2 blocks B1 at the line of scrimmage and maintains his block
without losing contact and drives B1 downfield to the goal line. The pass is thrown to A3 who cuts behind A2 at the
goal line while A2 is still blocking in the end zone. A3 catches the ball for a touchdown.
Rulings:
(a) First-and-goal on B17. Offensive pass interference.
(b) Touchdown Team A, kickoff A35. This is legal, because A2 is an ineligible player who made contact within 1-
yard of the line of scrimmage and maintained continuous contact from his initial contact.
OFFENSIVE PASS INTERFERENCE—PUSH OFF
First-and-10 on A30. Wideout A3 extends his arms and pushes B5 (who is covering him) at the A33 to create space.
He runs across the field and eventually catches a pass at the A37 on the other side of the field. He runs to the 50
where he is tackled inbounds.
Ruling: First-and-20 on A20. If an offensive player pushes off a defensive player to create space more than one
yard beyond the line of scrimmage before attempting to catch a pass, it is offensive pass interference.
DEFENSIVE PASS INTERFERENCE—ALSO PERSONAL FOUL
Third-and-2 on A20. A1 throws a forward pass to end A3 at the A35. Just before the pass arrives and A3 touches
the ball, (a) B1 pulls A3 down by the facemask; (b) B1 hits A2 in the helmet with his shoulder; or (c) B1 lowers his
helmet and makes forcible contact to A2’s body. The pass falls incomplete.
Ruling: (a), (b), and (c): A’s ball, first-and-10 on 50. Since the pass interference was also a personal foul, both fouls
are enforced.
DEFENSIVE PASS INTERFERENCE—BALL SNAPPED INSIDE TEAM B TWO-YARD LINE
First-and-goal on B1½. Quarterback A1 throws a pass to A3 who is three yards deep in B’s end zone. B1 commits
pass interference in the end zone.
Ruling: First-and-goal on B¾. Half the distance. When the ball is snapped from inside the B 2-yard line, if there is
defensive pass interference in the end zone, the penalty is enforced half the distance to the goal.
NOT PASS INTERFERENCE—PASS UNCATCHABLE
Third-and-4 on 50. Eligible receiver A2 runs to the B40, and with the ball in the air, pushes off B2, before breaking
to the sideline. The pass sails 10 yards over A2’s head and lands in the stands.
Ruling: Fourth-and-4 on 50. No penalty for pass interference, as the pass is uncatchable by the involved player.
When determining whether a pass is catchable, the trajectory is taken into consideration. At the sideline, a pass
must land outside the white to be considered uncatchable. If the pass is thrown with a low trajectory, it could still be
catchable even if it lands outside the white.
