THE PASSING GAME General 1.A pass is the result of throwing the ball, a deliberate act in which the ball leaves the passer ’ s hands and travels in flight. 2.An airborne receiver who catches the ball while in the air must maintain possession when he contacts the ground. Put another way, the ground can cause an incompletion. 3.An airborne receiver who catches the ball while in the air must maintain possession and his first contact with the ground must be inbounds to be ruled a catch. 4.A simultaneous catch belongs to the offensive team, and the ball becomes dead. Both players must be inbounds.

Forward Pass 1.A passer is the player who throws a legal forward pass. He becomes a passer when he releases the ball and remains a passer until the pass ends, or until he moves to participate in the play. 2.The passer is protected from roughing only on legal forward passes. 3.A pass is forward if it is thrown with its initial direction toward the opponent ’ s end line. 4.It is a forward pass if a defensive player contacts the passer or the ball after the passer has started his arm forward. 5.If a player is attempting a forward pass and there is a question as to whether it ’ s a forward or backward pass, it is to be ruled forward.

6.Only one forward pass may be thrown during a scrimmage down. 7.A forward pass may be batted in any direction by any player eligible to touch it. (Generally 6 offensive players and all eleven defensive players) 8. A forward pass is illegal if: a. It is thrown when the passer is beyond the neutral zone b. It is thrown by either team after a change of team possession c. It is a second forward pass by the offense during the down d. The passer, to save yardage or to conserve time, intentionally grounds the ball, or throws it into an area where there is no eligible receiver e. The passer spikes the ball in order to stop the clock and does not release the ball immediately after controlling a hand-to-hand snap or does so after a muffed snap has touched the ground

Backward Passes 1.Any player may throw a backward pass at any time. 2.All players may touch and catch a backward pass. 3.A grounded backward pass is a live ball if recovered can be advanced. 4.A player of the passing team may not bat a backward pass forward. 5.An opponent of the passing team may bat a backward pass in flight in any direction. 6.A grounded backward pass may not be batted by any player in any direction. 7.A backward pass that goes out of bounds belongs to the passing team at the out of bounds spot unless it was 4 th down.

Eligibility 1. Eligibility rules apply only to legal forward passes. 2. All defensive players are eligible. 3.An offensive player is eligible if he wears a number other than and is either on the end of his line or legally in the backfield at the snap. (A maximum of 6 offensive players are eligible) 4.A player who is eligible at the snap remains eligible throughout the down. If he voluntarily goes out of bounds during the down and returns inbounds and participates he is guilty of illegal participation. If he is blocked/shoved out of bounds he must return inbounds immediately to avoid an illegal participation foul 5.If a defensive player touches the pass anywhere, all offensive players become eligible 6.If a ineligible player catches, bats, or muffs a pass before it touches an opponent, it is illegal touching 7.No ineligible offensive players can advance beyond the neutral zone until the pass is thrown. This does not apply to players who contact an opponent and maintain contact within the expanded neutral zone.

Pass Interference 1.Pass interference rules only apply when a legal forward pass crosses the neutral zone. There cannot be pass interference behind the neutral zone. 2.In most cases, pass interference involves contact between opponents; however, it is not required. Face guarding is also pass interference when it occurs in bounds and beyond the neutral zone. 3.Offensive players restrictions begin at the snap, however, contact in the expanded neutral zone where it is clear no advantage is gained is ignored but is not to continue beyond the expanded neutral zone. 4. Defensive players restrictions begin from the time a forward pass is thrown. 5.Restrictions end for all offensive players if a defensive player touches the pass. 6. Restrictions end for defensive players if the pass is touched by any player.

Momentum Exception The momentum rule applies when a defensive team player intercepts a forward or backward pass inside his five yard line and his momentum carries him into the end zone and the ball becomes dead there. The defensive team is awarded a new series of downs where the ball was intercepted.

PASS INTERFERENCE Getting an angle on pass plays to determine interference is best accomplished by: 1. Not getting beat on the play 2. Anticipating the routes of the receivers in your area and adjusting to their patterns 3. Looking between the head and waist 4. Don ’ t follow the ball. If you see the head and arms you will know the ball is coming

There are two indicators that make a player 'suspect' for PI: 1. Bite - when a player 'bites' on a move and then has to try to recover, such as when a receiver does a hook 'n' go – if the defender bites on the hook, he will frequently try to recover by grabbing the receiver as he goes by, etc., which can turn into PI 2. Chase - when a player is chasing an opponent, either by design or because he is beaten, he will tend to commit PI

Defensive Pass Interference is: 1.Contact by a defender not playing the ball on a receiver trying to make a catch 2.Playing through the back of a receiver in an attempt to play the ball 3.Extending an arm across the receivers body restricting the receiver ’ s movement is interference regardless if the defender is making a play on the ball 4.Grabbing a receivers arm in a way that hinders his opportunity to make the catch 5.Cutting off the path of the receiver without making a play on the ball 6. The defender hooking and turning the receiver prior to the ball arriving 7. The defender waiving his hands/arms in the receivers face

Defensive Pass Interference is not: 1. Incidental contact 2. Feet tangled 3. Both looking for the ball 4. Both not looking for the ball 5. Four hands in the air 6. Contact on making a play on the ball by both playing the ball 7. Contact that is obviously away from the pass

Offensive pass interference is: 1.Blocking downfield before the ball has been touched (Commonly referred to as the PICK play) 2.Shoving or pushing off, and creating separation. (This is the most common type of OPI) 3. Driving through a defender who had established position.

Offensive pass interference is not: 1. Incidental contact 2. Feet tangled 3. Both looking for the ball 4. Both not looking for the ball 5. Four hands in the air 6. Contact on making a play on the ball by both playing the ball 7. Blocking when the pass does not go beyond the neutral zone

When In Doubt 1. The passer has not intentionally grounded the ball 2.A Team A player has a reasonable opportunity to catch a pass 3.The ball is a forward pass and not fumbled during an attempted forward pass 4.The pass is incomplete rather than a fumble 5.As to “ caught or trapped ” the pass was trapped and incomplete 6. The pass was released in or behind the neutral zone rather than beyond it 7.It is a forward pass rather than a backward pass when thrown in or behind the neutral zone 8.The pass is backward rather than forward when thrown beyond the neutral zone or when there is no neutral zone 9. The ball has not been touched on a forward pass