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I grappled with backward pass coverage all this week after reviewing film of what we thought was a backward pass.
This is my take. The referee should always be on the side of the passer's arm. The NFHS rule states the initial direction; therefore, if the passer throws the ball on the stripe and the receiver catches in back of the stripe we must rule on the direction of the pass at the time of release.
Now it is physically impossible for a passer to throw a backward pass on his throwing side without turning his waist in a backwards direction. Of course, he could simply flip it backwards.
On the opposite arm the passer has to physically turn his body in the direction that is unless he flips it across his body.
If you keep those physical attributes in mind it will make that backward pass call easier.
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