this is why i want the official rule from the rulebook.


i believe the only thing that matters is the release point
and the catch point. if the catch point is forward of the
release point then its an illegal forward pass.

this is football were talking about not physics.

Here is the official rule 2-29-5 A backward pass is a pass thrown with its "initial direction" parallel with or toward the runner's end.

Notice there is no mention of where the ball is caught. Consider the initial direction of a pass is clearly backward when a sudden gust of wind push it forward. That is a backward pass.
Or, if the passer initially throws the pass backward and the offensive player who touches the ball is moving backward. The initial direction is backward.

Thanks Ed.

Then you would be wrong. The only thing that matters is the initial direction of the pass.

I'm not talking physics either, mary. The intial direction of a pass determines whether it's forward or backwards. That is true in high school, college, and the pros. In the play that you reference, the initial direction of the pass was backwards. You asked about momentum. That was my only reason for referring to my example.

BTW, there's no need for a new post. Simply click Add Reply and we can discuss this under one thread, not a new one every time you reply.

what rulebook is that from?
high school or nfl?
someone quoted me the exact same rule numbers and all
and said it came from the fhsa.
i want the nfl rule only.

are there any interpretations that go along with the rule?
(only if you are quoting the nfl rule)

Mary,

I gained an education myself in researching this rule. Since the National Federation of High Schools Sports Association (NFHS) was previously quoted, let's bypass a repeat.

In substance NFHS, NCAA and NFL rules are all the same.

The NFL rule (courtesy of the Vikings web site http://www.purplepride.org/rules/digest4.cfm) states a backward pass is:

Any pass not forward is regarded as a backward pass. A pass parallel to the line is a backward pass. A runner may pass backward at any time. Any player on either team may catch the pass or recover the ball after it touches the ground.

Contrast that with the NCAA rule

F o r w a rd and Back w a rd Pa s s
A RTICLE 2. a. 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.

Generally, all three codes try to maintain consistency within the fundamentals of the game. Therefore, a backward pass is a backward pass in any code and no interpretation is necessary.