Backwards Pass or Fumble

[Derock2004]

Originally posted by svm1010
I have read Rule 2 throughly.

2-19-1 "Handing the ball is transferring player posession from one player to a teammate in such a way that the ball is still in contact with the first player when it is touched by the teammate."

2-29-1 "Passing the ball is throwing a ball that is in player possession. In a pass, the ball travels in flight."

in an "under the center" snap, the ball would more than likely touch the QB's hands before the snapper has released the ball. If this is the case then we have handing, not passing. According to the handing definition we should have a fumble.

BTW the loose ball play is defined in 10-3-1c and if that's the case then all plays begin as loose ball plays and ALL snaps are backwards passes.

With that being said, why do they include the "Handing" wording in the definition of a snap?

Handing and Passing...
In an "under the center" snap the ball is being snapped or handed directly to the QB. In a "long snap formation" the ball is being passed backwards to the QB. All plays begin with a legal snap which means the center must hand OR pass the ball backwards AND release the ball. In both situations, handing AND passing, if the QB touches but never possess the ball you have a Muff. If the QB possess and then lose the ball you have a Fumble.