Illegal Forward Pass?
 

A1 drops back to pass, but then runs beyond the line of scrimmage. To avoid a tackle, he retreats back behind the line of scrimmage, and then throws a forward pass beyond the line. Is this a foul? Would it make any difference if the pass did not go beyond the line? Thanks for everyone's help and input.

It is a foul and no, it wouldn't make a difference, at least under NCAA. I assume all codes are virtually identical. There is no stipulation under the rule about the forward pass crossing the line of scrimmage.

Legal under NFHS.

Canadian Ruling
 

No. The first from-scrimmage forward pass was thrown from behind the LS. Nothing illegal about that.

No. This still qualifies as a screen pass and the blocking downfield exceptions still apply. (Interresting ruling to confirm though, given our recent rule changes surrounding screen passes.)

You'd assume wrong for HS play in 48 states :)

I'm truthfully shocked that this is legal in fed. It violates, to me, just about every offensive principle of football.

Another reason why I pray Texas does not go Fed next year or ever. However, I will make clear from now on that I don't know fed, as I've only seen the cover of a Fed football book once (~1990) and have never opened it.

I think blocking below the waist in the open field is pretty dangerous, so we're even. :D

legal
 

That's legal under NFHS. Need to watch for the ineligibles down field when the ball is thrown. No telling where the line guys will be when the QB passes the LOS.

Ya, and you'd better look a little further downfield than normal, cuz they may think he can do nothing but run after crossing the LOS and be 15-20 yards downfield before he throws it.

I'd be shocked if no ineligibles were downfield on this play. Your first clue as an umpire would be if you looked around and you felt really lonely near the LOS. :)

Also, remember (under Fed) the QB can go downfield and then retreat behind the line to throw the pass but the linemen cannot. If Tackle A76 goes downfield and then retreats back behind the line and then a legal pass is thrown downfield, it is a foul on A76 for being downfield earlier in the play.

And the 2 forward passes on a play that was legal 2 years ago didn't violate your offensive principles? Sure did mine - glad they got rid of that.

I think even this is legal in FED - sweep around the right side, RB goes 5 yards past the line of scrimmage, and throws it back to QB, who (assuming no illegally downfield linemen or illegal blocks downfield by any offensive players) then throws it 40 yards downfield to the left for a TD.

REPLY: Unfortunately, there are probably a number of FEDERATION officials who can say the same thing! :o