What is the status of the ball when interference occurs during a live play?

When interference occurs during live play, the correct status of the ball is that it is dead immediately. This means that the play is halted, and all action following the interference is negated. The primary reason for this rule is to ensure fairness, as interference can disrupt the natural course of the play and create an unfair advantage or disadvantage for one of the teams.

By declaring the ball dead, officials can address the situation appropriately and decide on the correct course of action, which often involves returning any players to their previous positions before the interference occurred. This helps maintain the integrity of the game and ensures that players adhere to expected conduct during gameplay. The other options suggest scenarios where play would continue or reset, which does not apply in cases of interference, as the immediate response is to stop the game for resolution.