handing the ball backward - Fed & NCAA

[Robert Goodman]

Normally I wouldn't ask a question here I already know the answer to, but in case it comes up again this season in our league, I'd like to be able to cite as authority a discussion group like this one, and I might as well do it before traffic gets heavy. Thanks in advance.

The ball is snapped hand-to-hands between the legs to A1, who was standing legally in a position "sidesaddle" to the snapper. A2, beginning in a position on the line of scrimmage adjacent to the snapper, bucket steps, never turning more than about 90 degrees from forward, to go behind and around A1. A1 hands the ball to A2 during that movement. At the moment A1 lets go of the ball, as well as the moment A2 first touches it, A2 is ahead of neither A1 nor the ball.

Legal handing of the ball?