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

THE OFFICIAL PLAYING RULES FOR THE CANADIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE 2010

In searchable permalink form

Tips on Linking to the Rulebook
Table of Contents



CFLdb is in need of a copy of the CFL 2012 and 2014 Rulebook. If you can loan/provide an electronic copy/help, please reach out.

You are reading the 2010 version of the rulebook. Other available versions of this page are:

Please report any issues with the converted rulebook.

Credits

Converted to the web by CFLdb. An Adobe Acrobat PDF of the current version is available.

The original source of the version presently being viewed is © Copyright 2010 Canadian Football League

Publication Credits

Cover Design by The Barnstorm Creative Group Inc. Vancouver

Cover Photo by: Larry MacDougal

Printed by CJ Graphics Inc.

Content compiled and entered by Darren Hackwood and Andre Proulx

The CFL Official Rule Book is published annually by the Canadian Football League. Any inquiries regarding the CFL Official Playing Rules may be directed to George Black Senior Advisor, Football Operations @ gblack@cfl.ca.