Can a quarterback cross the neutral zone and retreat back behind the neutral zone and throw a legal forward pass?

Yes! The only restriction is that the passer must be in or behind the neutral zone, with both feet, when the ball is released. Rule 7-5-1

Agreed.

Yes, over and back is legal in NF football (where are you overandback?).

NCAA Rules
 

Isn't this illegal in college?

Peace

Canadian Ruling
 

Legal.

Legal. Just remember, there is no defensive pass interference after the first pass is complete but the restrictions for A are still in place.

Foul in college. Any forward pass thrown after the ball has crossed the NZ (in player possession mind you!), is illegal in the NCAA book.

What a bizarre rule. Let me ask 2 related questions then...

Lineman #59 receives a legal handoff, runs 5 yards past the LOS, returns back behind the LOS, and throws a pass. Illegal man downfield?

Lineman #59 receives a legal handoff, runs 5 yards past the LOS, pitches to QB #11, who immediately throws a pass. Illegal man downfield?

If the pass is illegal, there is no foul for ineligble receiver downfield. That becomes a foul only if the pass is legal.

And to stretch it a little bit further:

1&10 on A 20. A1 fumbles the ball on A19, and the ball rolls to the A 21 (crosses the NZ). The ball is muffed (by A or B) at the A 21, and the ball rolls back behind the NZ. A2 picks up the ball at A 19, and throws a forward pass.

Legal. The ball crossed the NZ, but was never in player possession beyond the NZ. Therefore legal.

A's QB can throw a completed pass for 20 yards and then the receiver, chuck it back to him, and the QB can throw it again for all I care. Another one of those WACKY NFHS rules. This is one of the rules (which are few) that I have great disgust for. It's not real football.

No Limit on passes
 

In NHFS rules there is no restriction on how many passes can be thrown during a scrimmage down, just so long the passer is behind the NZ.

Well how many times do you need to use this rule in football? I have never used it.

Dommer, you have several posts above yours saying that even if the ball is IN possession past the NZ, and it returns to behind the NZ, it can be thrown. Then you imply (twice) that it's not legal.

And no one answered my question. If the lineman passes the NZ, pitches it back behind the NZ, does he then also have to get back to the NZ before a pass can be thrown?

YES
 

Linemen cannot go beyond the expanded NZ until the last pass thrown goes beyond the NZ.

Ineligible downfield.

Yes and yes. Linemen cannot be down field until the last pass is thrown. Now having said that, when is the last time you saw a lineman receive a hand off??? Keep in mind, a lineman number cannot be a back in Fed.

What rule prevents a player with a number 50-79 from being a back?

I think if this is legal then it should be changed. You teach a DB to stay with a receiver until the ball crosses the line. Thanks for all your responses.

It is legal! Like I said I've never seen or heard about it happening. So it's not that big of a deal. Guess you need to teach DB's to go back to the reciever when the ball goes back behind the LOS.

look at the chart, I do believe it is in rule one (don't have my rule book handy). Also the answer on part 2 to that was false.

The rule that applies to numbering requirements is rule 7-5-6a.
The rule that applies to ineligibles is rule 7-5-12.

The rule that defines a back is 2-30-3 and it has nothing to do with numbers.

Was he lined up as a running back?

If so, it was a legal handoff to a "runner". The fact that he was beyond the LOS when he tossed it back behind the LOS should not have any bearing on the ruling on this play. The lineman had been established as a runner, not a lineman.

There is a difference between being a back and an eligible receiver.

McCrowder,

I'm talking about NCAA rules. I do not only imply that a QB can not cross the NZ, return behind it, and throw a legal forward pass; I'm in fact stating that that is a fact! ;)

When re-reading the entire thread, it see that it is not clear that, except for my first post, I was talking about NCAA rules. Sorry about that.

[Edited by Dommer1 on Oct 4th, 2004 at 06:04 AM]

In both cases I'm going to flag for ineligible downfield. The restrictions for A continue throughout the down until the last pass is thrown. The theory is that A knows the play and should know the rules.

Thanks for the answer, Walt.

Dommer - I'm in Texas, so I'm under NCAA rules too. My hypothetical was to help me understand the Fed rules they were discussing.

Federation Rules. An ineligible numbered player may be lined up in the backfield and may block or receive a handoff or BACKWARD pass and run the ball. The player (say # 60) cannot receive a FORWARD pass or advance beyond the neutral zone during a forward pass play (untill the last pass crosses the neutral zone). A player in federation rules must be eligible by position and NUMBER (they CANNOT report to the referee with an ineligible number and make themselves legal). If this player advances beyond the neutral zone, he is guilty of ineligible receiver downfield and if he touches or catches the pass beyond the neutral zone, he is guilty of offensive pass interference. If he catches or muffs a FORWARD pass, in or behind the neutral zone, he is guilty of illegal touching. Just keep in mind no matter what position he starts the play in he still must have an eligible number to receive a forward pass.