Raleigh, N.C. — This rule is another example of differences between high school, college, and professional football. Like last week's topic, pass interference has a different set of rules that is commonly misunderstood.

Former official Jim Pacheco is helping WRAL answer officiating questions this season while he is taking a leave from officiating in the NCHSAA. If you have a question for Jim that you would like answered on "The Rules," send it to stevens@ncsportsreport.com, and we may use it as one of our topics.

Here is what Jim had to say about pass interference:

Pass interference rules vary between NFL, NCAA, and NFHS rules in regards to enforcement and definition. For example, for NCAA, the pass has to be "catchable" and there is has to be contact, whereas in high school, it does not have to be catchable and face guarding is a foul. I often hear coaches in high school games complaining that the pass was not catchable. That is an NCAA rule, not high school. To simplify the definition, we will only discuss the High School rule.

1. Interfering with the receiver's ( or defender's) attempt to catch a forward pass that is beyond the line of scrimmage, or face guarding ( putting hands in the face of the receiver ,or defender) in order to prevent seeing the pass, is a foul.

Both offense and defense have a right to the ball. Pass Interference restrictions end when the pass is touched by a defensive player or a eligible offensive receiver.

( Penalty is 15 yards, automatic 1st down for defensive P.I. 15 yards, loss of down for offensive P.I.)

Determining whether the contact is illegal is a judgment call. Some factors that need to be considered when determining whether P.I. has occurred are:

1. Was the offender playing the man or attempting to catch the ball. Contact that is incidental or unavoidable during both players attempting to catch the ball is NOT interference. If I see a defender contacting the receiver before the pass arrives, with his back to the ball, my flag is coming out.

2. The defender went through the receiver to deflect the pass. In this case, the defender had to contact the receiver before he could get to the ball.

3. Like the block/charge rule in basketball, I look at the play from an advantage/disadvantage point of view.

4. Was the pass forward and beyond the line of scrimmage. It is common to see contact before the catch on screen passes. If the pass does NOT cross the line of scrimmage, it can't be pass interference.