An
incomplete pass is a term in
American footballAmerican football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, and often as Gridiron or Tackle football outside North America, is a competitive team sport known for combining strategy with physical play. The objective of the game is to score points by advancing the ball into the...
which means that a legal
forward passIn several forms of football a forward pass is when the ball is thrown in the direction of the opponent's end line.-American and Canadian Football:...
hits the ground before a player on either team gains possession. For example, if the
quarterbackQuarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the center, in the middle of the offensive line. Quarterbacks are the leaders of the offensive team, responsible for calling the play in the huddle...
throws the ball to one of his
wide receiverA wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
s, and the receiver either does not touch it or tries to catch it unsuccessfully, it is ruled as an incomplete pass. An incomplete pass causes the
downIn American and Canadian football, a down refers to a period in which a play transpires.-Description:A down begins with a snap or free kick , and ends when the ball or the player in possession of it is declared down by an official, a team scores, or the ball or player in possession of it leaves the...
to advance by one and the offensive team gains no yards.
An
incomplete pass is a term in
American footballAmerican football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, and often as Gridiron or Tackle football outside North America, is a competitive team sport known for combining strategy with physical play. The objective of the game is to score points by advancing the ball into the...
which means that a legal
forward passIn several forms of football a forward pass is when the ball is thrown in the direction of the opponent's end line.-American and Canadian Football:...
hits the ground before a player on either team gains possession. For example, if the
quarterbackQuarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the center, in the middle of the offensive line. Quarterbacks are the leaders of the offensive team, responsible for calling the play in the huddle...
throws the ball to one of his
wide receiverA wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
s, and the receiver either does not touch it or tries to catch it unsuccessfully, it is ruled as an incomplete pass. An incomplete pass causes the
downIn American and Canadian football, a down refers to a period in which a play transpires.-Description:A down begins with a snap or free kick , and ends when the ball or the player in possession of it is declared down by an official, a team scores, or the ball or player in possession of it leaves the...
to advance by one and the offensive team gains no yards. Additionally, the game clock is stopped.
Becoming a Fumble or Interception
However, if the receiver catches the ball and has possession of it, then loses control of it for any reason, it is ruled a
fumbleA fumble in American and Canadian football is when a player, who has possession and control of the ball, drops the ball. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession. A fumble may be forced by a defensive player who either grabs...
. In the NFL, both feet must be in bounds and the player must have clear control of the ball for a number of seconds without taking
pass interferenceIn American and Canadian gridiron football, pass interference is a penalty that occurs when a player interferes with an eligible receiver's ability to make a fair attempt to catch a forward pass. Pass interference may include tripping, pushing, pulling, or cutting in front of the receiver or...
into account. In other leagues, only one foot must be in bounds with clear possession carrying a lighter burden of proof.
If a member of the opposing team gains possession of the ball before it hits the ground, it is ruled an interception.
In fact, the last team to touch the football in an incomplete pass or fumble gains possession on the next down in
Canadian footballCanadian football is a form of gridiron football played almost exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide , attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
whereas clear possession by a player is necessary in American leagues.
Pass Interference Factor
If the receiver (or a defending player) is touched by a member of the opposing team in a way that prevents him from catching the ball, it is ruled
pass interferenceIn American and Canadian gridiron football, pass interference is a penalty that occurs when a player interferes with an eligible receiver's ability to make a fair attempt to catch a forward pass. Pass interference may include tripping, pushing, pulling, or cutting in front of the receiver or...
, resulting in a penalty against the touching player's team. The exception to this rule is if the ball is deemed 'uncatchable' by the referees, in which case a pass interference penalty is impossible.
Intentional Incomplete Pass
Often, whenever defensive players
blitzIn American football or Canadian football, a blitz or red dog is a team defensive maneuver in which one or more linebackers or defensive backs, who normally remain on the defensive team's side of the line of scrimmage during a play, are instead sent across the line to the offensive side to try to...
the quarterback, to avoid a sack, the quarterback will do what's known as "throwing the football away". This is a deliberate incomplete pass thrown off of the field in order to avoid loss of yardage. The main difference between this and intentional grounding is that the quarterback must leave the "pocket" of offensive lineman and throw past the line of scrimmage, so there is no penalty issued.
Any incomplete pass or spiking of the ball behind the line of scrimmage is considered a foul and will earn a penalty of anywhere from 10 yards to a loss of down depending on the league.