Illegal Forward Pass

[bryce324]

Hey Everyone,

We had quite a debate among friends about this one so I hope that you can clear it up. What makes a forward pass illegal? It is the ball being in front of the line of scrimmage, part of the player, the whole player? I was under the impression that if a quarterback has one foot in front of the line of scrimmage and one foot behind it, he is still able to throw a legal forward pass. Anyone have an answer? It's much appreciated.

[Snake~eyes]

Depends what type of rules your talking about.

NFHS is both feet must be in or behind the neutral zone when the pass is thrown.

I believe NFL says the ball must be in or behind the nuetral zone when the pass is thrown.

[Theisey]

NCAA: here's what makes a forward pass illegal.

Illegal Forward Pass
ARTICLE 2. Aforward pass is illegal:
a. If thrown by a Team A player who is beyond the neutral zone [S35 and
S9].
b. If thrown by a Team B player or if thrown by a Team Aplayer after team
possession has changed during the down [S35].
c. If it is the second forward pass by Team A during the same down [S35
and S9].
d. If, to conserve time, the pass is not thrown immediately after the ball is
first controlled after the snap or is thrown after the ball has touched the
ground. If, to conserve time, the pass is thrown where no eligible Team
FR-93
Aplayer has a reasonable opportunity to catch it (A.R. 7-3-2-II-VIII) [S35
and S9].
e. If thrown from in or behind the neutral zone after a runner in possession
of the ball has gone beyond the neutral zone [S35 and S9].


As (a) states, the player must be beyond the NZ. That means any part of him before releasing the ball.