Passing (7-2 & 7-3) Tony Dutton 10/9/2012

Forward & Backward Pass Forward: determined by point where ball first strikes the ground, a player, an official or anything beyond the spot of the pass. WIQ pass in or behind the neutral zone is forward. Any intentional movement of passer’s hand or arm starts the forward pass. WIQ ball is passed and not fumbled. 2.Backward: all other passes. A snap becomes a backward pass when the snapper releases it.

Backward Pass (7-2-1) Ball carrier may hand or pass ball backward at any time, except to throw the ball intentionally out of bounds to conserve time. PENALTY: 5 yards, spot of foul, loss of down if by Team A.

Backward Pass & Fumble (7-2-2) Caught or recovered by any inbounds player: continues in play. Exceptions: 1.Team A fumble on a try caught or recovered by player other than fumbler: No team A score. 2.Team A fumble on 4 th down, before a change of possession caught or recovered by Team A player other than fumbler: Ball is dead.

G RULING: Ball dead. No score for A. A7 fumbles at the 3. During the Try A79 recovers in the end zone.

G Touchdown. Any player may advance a backward pass. 41 muffs backward pass from QB. End 83 recovers the ball and advances into the end zone During the Try or 4 th Down 41 QB 83

G Ball dead at spot of fumble. 41 receives backward pass from QB, runs, then fumbles. End 83 recovers the ball and advances into the end zone. During the Try or 4 th Down 41 QB 83

G After the holder muffs the snap, the kicker recovers the ball and advances into the end zone. On the Try K H Touchdown. 2 points for Team A The snap is a backward pass.

RULING: Ball dead at the spot of the fumble. A8 fumbles short of the line to gain. 4 th & 8 A79 recovers beyond the line to gain. A8

G RULING: Touchdown. A7 fumbles at the 3. On 3rd down A79 recovers in the end zone.

Forward Pass (2-19-2) First strikes anything beyond the spot of the pass. WIQ: Pass thrown in or behind the neutral zone is forward rather than backward when. Intentional forward movement of passer’s hand or arm starts the forward pass. WIQ: Ball is passed not fumbled.

Legal Forward Pass (7-3-1) Pass by Team A; One forward pass during down; Before team possession changes; Pass is thrown from in or behind neutral zone. [Remember: player has not crossed until entire body has been beyond the neutral zone.]

Illegal Forward Pass (7-3-2) Thrown by Team A beyond the neutral zone. Thrown by Team B. Thrown by Team A after change of team possession. Second forward pass by A during down. Thrown after runner in possession goes or has been beyond the neutral zone. Thrown to conserve time, with conditions. Throw to save loss of yardage, with conditions.

Illegal Forward Pass to Conserve Time 1.If not thrown immediately to the ground after gaining control, or 2.If thrown after ball has touched the ground. 3.If thrown where no eligible Team A player has reasonable opportunity to catch (WIQ- player has opportunity). PENALTY: Five yards from spot of foul and loss of down. Clock? Starts on the ready.

A.R III On third down near the end of the half, field goal holder muffs the snap. Either he or the kicker recovers the ball and immediately throws it forward to the ground. RULING: Illegal forward pass. 5 yards from spot of pass, loss of down, and clock starts on the ready.

A.R IV Ball is snapped over the QB’s head. He recovers the ball and immediately throws it forward to the ground. RULING: Illegal forward pass. 5 yards from spot of pass, loss of down, and clock starts on the ready.

A.R V On 3 rd down near the end of the half, A1 muffs the snap. A1 or A4 catches the muffed ball and immediately throws it forward into the ground. RULING: Legal play.

A.R VII Seconds remaining in the half and the ball is ready for play. Team A quickly lines up and the ball is legally snapped to quarterback A12 who throws it forward directly to the ground. Team A’s formation was not legal at the snap. RULING: Illegal formation. 5 yards from the previous spot. Clock? Starts on the snap.

Illegal Forward Pass to Save Loss of Yardage If thrown where no eligible Team A player has reasonable opportunity to catch (WIQ- player has opportunity). PENALTY: Five yards from spot of foul and loss of down. Exception: Not illegal if thrown to: Avoid loss of yardage, and; Passer is or has been outside the tackle box, and; Ball lands beyond the neutral zone. Clock starts on the snap.

Change of possession. Illegal forward pass by B.

Illegal forward pass. Neutral Zone Pass thrown to save loss of yardage. Ball lands behind NZ.

Second forward pass by A. Illegal.

Eligible to Touch (7-3-3) All Team B players Team A players (two conditions): 1.Right number: other than 50-79, and 2.Right position: On end of line of scrimmage, Legally in the backfield, or In position to receive hand-to hand snap.

After 25 shifts into backfield, 98 becomes eligible. 73 remains ineligible by number.

Eligibility Lost (7-3-4) Eligible offensive player who goes out of bounds becomes ineligible. Exception: 1.Blocked out of bounds by opponent, and, 2.Attempts to return inbounds immediately. PENALTY – Loss of down at previous spot.

85 returns immediately. 87 runs behind the bench. ILLEGAL

Eligibility Gained (7-3-5) All players become eligible when a legal forward pass touches: A Team B player An official

65 eligible after touch by B. 65 ineligible if not touched by B.

Catch, Interception, Recovery (2-2-7) Catch is gaining possession of a live ball in flight. Catch of opponent’s fumble or pass is interception. Gaining possession of a live ball after it strikes the ground is recovery. To catch, intercept, or recover a player who leaves his feet must have possession when first returning to ground in bounds or when forward progress is stopped. Loss of ball simultaneous to returning to ground is not a catch, interception or recovery.

Completed Pass (7-3-6) Caught by a player of the passing team who is inbounds (must maintain control of the ball while going to the ground). Simultaneous catch: ball becomes dead and belongs to the passing team.

G X Airborne receiver grasps ball, falls to ground inbounds, and ball comes loose touching the ground. A.R XI RULING: Incomplete pass.

G X Airborne receiver grasps ball, falls to ground inbounds, ball comes loose, and receiver regains control before ball touches the ground. A.R XII RULING: Completed pass.

G Airborne receiver grasps ball, first touches in bounds with toe, falls to ground out of bounds, ball comes loose, and receiver regains control before ball touches the ground. A.R XIII RULING: Incomplete pass. X

Incomplete Pass (7-3-7) Pass touches the ground or is out of bounds. Player leaves his feet, receives the pass and first lands on or outside the boundary line. 1.Incomplete legal forward pass belong to the passing team at the previous spot. 2.Incomplete illegal forward pass belongs to passing team at spot of foul. Exception: If the offended team declines the penalty for an illegal pass thrown from the end zone, the ball shall next be put in play at the previous spot.

Safety or B’s ball at the previous spot. See A.R II 4th & 9 Team A throws an illegal pass from its end zone.

Safety or B’s ball at the 20. A.R III 3 rd & 9. B intercepts and is downed at the 20.

Illegal Contact and Pass Interference (7-3-8) Illegal contact by either team prohibited: When legal forward pass, Crosses the neutral zone, From time of snap until ball is touched by any player or an official.

Crosses Neutral Zone (2-19-3) 1.When a legal forward pass first strikes the ground, a player or an official or anything beyond the neutral zone. 2.It is beyond or behind the neutral zone where it crosses the sideline.

Offensive Pass Interference (7-3-8-b) Legal forward pass crosses the neutral zone. Contact beyond the neutral zone. Contact that interferes with a Team B player.

Offensive pass interference.

80 pushes off. Offensive pass interference.

Not Offensive Pass Interference Immediate charge at snap and, Contact not more than one yard beyond neutral zone, and Contact does not continue more than 3 yds. Both players making a simultaneous and bona fide attempt to catch the pass. Offensive player impedes an opponent in the area while the pass is in flight, and pass not catchable.

Catchable Forward Pass (2-19-4) Untouched legal forward pass, Beyond the neutral zone, and Eligible Team A player has reasonable opportunity to catch. WIQ: Pass is catchable.

Simultaneous and bona fide attempt to catch the pass.

Defensive Pass Interference (7-3-8-c) Contact beyond the neutral zone, Intent to impede is obvious, Catchable forward pass, and Only after a legal forward pass is thrown.

Illegal if 20 makes contact before the ball is touched.

Obvious intent to impede.

Illegal if intent to impede is obvious.

Not Defensive Pass Interference Immediate charge at snap and, Contact within one yard beyond neutral zone. Both players making a simultaneous and bona fide attempt to catch the pass. Team B player legally contacts an opponent before the pass is thrown. When Team A potential kicker from scrimmage kick formation simulates a kick by throwing the ball high and deep.

Comments on Interference from (7-3-9) Either team may interfere: 1)Behind the neutral zone. 2)Beyond the neutral zone after the pass has been touched. Interference rules apply only when a legal forward pass crosses the neutral zone. Physical contact is required for interference. Each player has territorial rights. Interference only if intent to impede is obvious.

Use of Hands or Arms by Defense c e

9-3-4-c Defensive players may use hands and arms to push, pull, ward off or lift offensive players obviously attempting to block them. Defensive players may ward off or legally block an eligible pass receiver until that player occupies the same yard line as the defender or until the opponent could not possibly block him. Continuous contact is illegal.

9-3-4-e When a legal forward pass crosses the neutral zone during a forward-pass play and a contact foul that is not pass interference is committed beyond the neutral zone, the enforcement spot is the previous spot. PENALTY: 10 or 15 yards from the previous spot, plus first down if the foul occurred against an eligible receiver before the pass was touched.

A.R I A Team B player, defending against a legal forward pass beyond the neutral zone, has his back to the ball and is waving his arms in the face of an eligible player of Team A, who, in his attempt to catch the pass bumps into the Team B player. RULING: Pass interference by the Team B player. He was not making a bona fide attempt to catch or bat the pass.

RULING: Offensive pass interference if legal forward pass beyond the neutral zone. A.R V Before the ball is thrown, A88 moves directly in front Of B1 who pushes A88. A88 then uses his hands to contact B1. A88B1 QB

RULING: Offensive pass interference if the legal forward pass crosses the neutral zone. If B1’s block was below the waist and beyond the neutral zone, the live-ball fouls offset. A.R VI Before the ball is thrown, A88 slants inside where linebacker B1 attempts to block him. A88 uses his hands to shove B1 away. A88 B1 QB

RULING: No foul. A.R IX A88 and B2 are running closely together. Before or after the ball has been thrown. Either one or both fall when their feet become entangled. Neither player was tripped intentionally. A88 B2 QB

RULING: No foul because the ball has not been thrown. A.R IX Before the pass is thrown, A88 and B1 are running shoulder to shoulder and side to side. A88 breaks to the inside. B1 does not move, and A88 collides with him. A88 B1 QB

RULING: Defensive pass interference. A.R IX Before the pass is thrown, A88 and B1 are running shoulder to shoulder and side to side. A legal forward pass is thrown toward The goal post. While the ball is in the air, A88 breaks toward the catchable pass. B1 does not move, makes no attempt to go for the pass, and A88 collides with him. A88 B1 QB

Penalty Enforcement: Offensive Pass Interference 15 Yards from the previous spot.

Penalize A 15 yds from the 25 and repeat the down.

Penalty Enforcement Defensive Pass Interference Foul less than 15 yds from previous spot: spot foul, first down. Foul 15 or more yds from previous spot: A’s ball 15 yds from previous spot, first down. Half-the-distance rules do not apply. (10-2-3) No penalty enforced from outside the 2- yd line shall place the ball inside the 2. Half-the-distance if previous spot on or inside the 2 or on try from the 3.

Half the distance if previous spot was on or inside the 2.

Half the distance does not apply (10-2-3).

15 yards from previous spot. 1 st & 10 at B’s 10.

Ineligibles Downfield (7-3-10) Applies to originally ineligible player. Must be in or behind the neutral zone until the ball has been thrown. Exceptions: 1.Charges immediately after snap. 2.Contacts an opponent not more than 1 yd beyond neutral zone. 3.Does not continue contact more than 3 yds beyond the neutral zone. 4.Remains stationary when contact is lost.

Illegal.

More than 3 yards.

Illegal Touching (7-3-11) No originally ineligible player. Intentionally touch a legal forward pass. Until it has touched an opponent or an official. PENALTY: 5 yds form previous spot (no loss of down).

Intentional touching is illegal.

Illegal touching. Ball has not touched an opponent.

Unintentional touching not illegal.

And That’s All