Here the question.

It’s related to play I hate most in all of HSFB. It’s that pass to the wide out while he’s still near the line of scrimmage.

Here’s what happened. The wide out lines up split wide to the left side of the offense.

The ball is hiked and the wide out takes one step forward across the line of scrimmage, the QB takes one step back, turns to the left and throws to the receiver.

An on rushing d-lineman gets a hand out the tips the ball. The ball is deflected and lands about 1 yard behind the line of scrimmage close to the receiver. The d-lineman breaking through lands on the ball and recovers it.

The call on the field was that it was a lateral and a fumble recovered by the defense.

To me, the receiver was forward of the line of scrimmage the pass was to him, it was a tip ball that fell incomplete. My call is incomplete pass, offense retains possession with a loss of down.

Does anyone know the rule.

Thanks

Yes, and it isn't you. There is no such thing as a 'lateral'. There are forward and backward passes. If a pass is not forward, it is backward.
A pass direction is indicated by the initial direction of the ball, not where a receiver is or what direction the passer is looking, or anything else. If the ball goes forward out of the passer's hand it's a forward pass. Doesn't matter what the final direction, because of wind, bats, or anything else. Same with the initial direction being backwards.
On this type of pass the normal mechanic is that the side guy on the side to which the pass thrown is responcible for the call of forward or backward. (If the QB takes sevral steps, then the call belongs to the Referee).
This is done so that the call is made by the person BEST in position to make the call. Anyone else does not have the needed angle.


[Edited by Jim S on Sep 19th, 2004 at 07:41 PM]

The answer by Jim S is correct. The initial direction of thre pass is the only thing that counts. If it is thrown forward (i.e. Towards a point closer to passer's goal line), it is forward. All other passes are backwards passes.

The rule is the original direction of the ball, so when the QB passed the ball if the direction was forward we have an incomplete pass.

Jim S, Snake~eyes and SJoldguy are correct.

Based on your description, and not having seen the play, I would think that this is a forward pass and should be ruled incomplete.

as a side note - the ball is "snapped" not "hiked".

REPLY: Not sure what state you're from, but if it's either Massachusetts or Texas, then even HS uses the NCAA rule book where the rule is different. In NCAA rules, a forward pass is determined by the point where the ball first strikes the ground, a player, an official or anything beyond the spot of the pass. All other passes are backward passes. When in question, it is a forward pass rather than a backward pass when thrown in or behind the neutral zone. Even though this "when in question" statement comes directly from the NCAA rule book, it shopuld be applied to Federation ball as well.