You Be The Ref, February 2020



1)  A forward pass in flight touches a tall patch of grass on the field before the ball is possessed by receiver A5.  What's the call?  Complete or incomplete?

The forward pass is incomplete.  The grass is the ground.  Extra credit:  if playing on a field covered in snow, it is incomplete if a forward pass touches the snow.  The snow becomes the new "ground".



2)  B3, defending against a legal forward pass beyond the neutral zone, has his back to the ball and is waving his arms in the face of A8, but does not make contact.  What's the call?  Pass interference or no foul?

No foul. There is no foul for defensive pass interference if there is no contact.



3)  True or false?   If properly placed, the pylons/cones marking the sideline, goal line, and back line are out of bounds.

True.  A ball in player possession is out-of-bounds when the runner or the ball touches anything, other than another player or game official, which is on or outside the sidelines or end line.  If any legal kick touches a pylon or cone, the result is a touchback.