An incomplete pass, is a term in American football which means that a legal forward pass hits the ground before a player on either team gains possession. For example, if the quarterback throws the ball to one of his wide receivers, 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 down to advance by one and the offensive team gains no yards. Additionally, the game clock is stopped. However, if the receiver catches the ball, has possession of it (rules vary by league), then loses control of it for any reason, it is ruled a fumble. If a member of the opposing team gains possession of the ball before it hits the ground, it is ruled an interception. United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... In American and Canadian football, a forward pass — usually called simply a pass — is a throwing of the football from a member of the team in possession of the ball to another member of the same team who is closer to that teams goal. ... The quarterback is a position in the offensive backfield of American and Canadian football, directly behind players of the line. He is generally the leader of the offensive team when it is on the field, responsible for initiating play by receiving the snap of the ball from the center. ... Jerry Rice holds many career records for wide receivers in the National Football League. ... In American and Canadian football, a down refers to a period in which a play transpires. ... A fumble in American football and Canadian football occurs when an offensive player such as the quarterback or a running back drops the ball while it is still in play. ... In Canadian or American football, an interception occurs when a quarterbacks pass is caught by a player on the opposing team. ...

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 interference, 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. In American Football pass interference is when a player interferes with an eligible receivers ability to make a fair attempt to catch a forward pass. ...