DPI

[ksstormhunter]

Hello all, just would like to get some thoughts and advice to DPI.  Pretty new to the officiating arena, just my second year.  I had a questionable DPI call or in my case I went with a no call and bore the full brunt of the sideline that wanted the call.  It was a 7th grade game, their Tight End who went about 8 yards outs and turned.  The ball was thrown high and the TE jumped with his body going backwards at the same time the DB that was behind him went up to tackle him and the TE fell backwards into him and they collided right when the ball was just above the hands of the TE, to me he mistimed his jumped because of the high throw and was falling backwards. I went with no-call, did not think it effected his ability to catch it.  Usually, if it is a questionable call only have a few complaints, but this time the whole sideline was screaming obvious DPI.  Made me think about it for the last day, did I possibly make the wrong call.  It did change to momentum of the game a bit.  Any advice or thoughts, would be greatly appreciated.

[HLinNC]

Not every contact is pass interference.  Not every pass interference call is on the defense.  7th graders bodies are not quite as "shifty" as older players and tend to move in straight lines.

Coaches will try to tell you that ANY contact is pass interference, not true.

"Coach, your TE initiated the contact.  If I have anything at all, it would be OPI"

[Grant - AR]

...they collided right when the ball was just above the hands of the TE...

To me, this is the most telling part of your description.  If the contact happened as the ball was going over the hands of the TE, I'm passing on this. 

[TampaSteve]

Not every contact is pass interference.  Not every pass interference call is on the defense.  7th graders bodies are not quite as "shifty" as older players and tend to move in straight lines.

Coaches will try to tell you that ANY contact is pass interference, not true.

"Coach, your TE initiated the contact.  If I have anything at all, it would be OPI"

Agreed. I got nothing.  From description, TE jumped into B.  What'd B do for DPI?- nuttin.

[refsmitty]

Good no call!

[Curious]

From what you reported, this was a "no call".

For a second-year official, your instincts served you well - better than a lot of "experienced" officials I know (when they have the "whole sideline screaming at them.....").

[RickKY]

Remember that interference is contact or position (face guarding) that interferes with an opponent's opportunity to move toward or catch a kick or a pass.  KCI, OPI and DPI all use this or similar language.

Thus, to have DPI in your case, you must judge that B's action interfered with A's opportunity.  Based on what you said the pass was slightly high, and the jump was slightly late, and the contact did not occur before the ball arrived. 

[BoBo]

two words to remember "advantage- disadvantage"

did someone benefit from the contact or hinder the other thus giving someone an advantage or disadvantage to make or catch the ball.

[hoochycoochy]

Don't shoot skinny rabbits.  Make the foul scream at you to flag it before you consider grabbing for your flag.  From the sounds of it, you done good.

[110]

Lemme ask one question: are you sure you saw it as you describe it? I mean, did it happen exactly as you say it did, , and you're 100 per cent sure of it?

If so - then you made the right call by the sounds of it. The reason I ask the above is simple: if you were in the right place, and saw the whole play, the matter rests with your decision. Sounds to me you decided correctly ... to paraphrase others, a great lesson I was told early in my career and learned later: if you THINK it's a foul, it probably ain't. If you KNOW it's a foul, throw your flag.