cfldb

RULE 9 — INTERFERENCE

SECTION 2 — INTERFERENCE ON SCRIMMAGE PLAYS

Article 1 — By Team A#

1. On any play from scrimmage, except one in which a forward pass is thrown or the ball is kicked across the line of scrimmage, a player of Team A may interfere with an opponent from Dead Line to Dead Line, commencing from the instant the ball is snapped.

2. After a forward pass has been completed, a player of Team A may interfere with an opponent anywhere within bounds. Prior to the pass being completed or declared incomplete, Team A may interfere with an opponent anywhere within bounds, provided that the pass is thrown to a receiver behind the line of scrimmage. If the pass is thrown to a receiver across the line of scrimmage, any interference that has occurred more than one yard beyond the line of scrimmage shall be ruled to have been illegal.

   PENALTY: L10

3. On a play from scrimmage in which the ball is kicked across the line of scrimmage, a player of Team A may interfere with an opponent up to one yard in advance of the line of scrimmage.

   PENALTY: L10

Article 2 — By Team B#

1. On any play from scrimmage, a Team B player may use his hands and arms to reach the ball carrier, but shall not hold or encircle any Team A player, other than the ball carrier.

   PENALTY: L10

2. On a play from scrimmage in which a forward pass is thrown, Team B players may, prior to the pass being thrown, use their hands and arms to ward off Team A players who, as potential blockers, threaten their defensive positions, but shall not be permitted to interfere with potential pass receivers who are not threatening those defensive positions.

   PENALTY: L10 PLS

3. After the pass is thrown, a Team B player shall not be permitted to interfere with a Team A receiver in an attempt to catch the ball.

   PENALTY: AFD at PF, or AFD 10 yards in advance of PLS, see Rule 6, Section 4, Article 10.

4. On a play from scrimmage in which the ball is kicked across the line of scrimmage, a Team B player shall be permitted to interfere with any Team A player who has crossed the line of scrimmage, provided that contact is made only above the waist of the Team A player.

   PENALTY: L10 PBH or PPG

5. The kicker or an onside player of Team A may not be contacted until reaching the line of scrimmage or until the ball has been touched by Team B.

   PENALTY: L10 PLS