A kick catch interference penalty is a penalty in football that is called on the kicking team when a player on the kicking team makes contact with a player on the receiving team, the returner, who is attempting to catch a kick. A kick catch interference penalty can also be called if a player on the kicking team touches the ball before it becomes a live ball. This results in a 15-yard penalty against the kicking team, therefore, the receiving team gains an additional 15 yards to the spot of the returner being down.
A kick catch interference penalty cannot be avoided by the returner calling a fair catch. The penalty is still called. However, if a player on the kicking team is pushed into the returner by another play on the receiving team, the penalty may be waived.