The points of origin and termination of said pass are equidistant from any yard line when such measurements are parallel. While possible, the phenomenon is not measureable by the human eye, and therefore ruled not possible in a football game at this time. To simplify the analogue nature of the game, passes have been categorized into 1 of 2 categories: forward and backwards. :p

oh stop.
 

If you throw a 10yd backward pass and it's dropped is it a incomplete pass or ruled a lateral? your technical description is very impressive.

Ed, I don't have a historian's viewpoint, but I do remember in the early-to-mid-80s a rule was changed that affected my high school team, as well as most teams. The old rule had no numbering exception, but allowed teams to put smaller, quicker guys who were typically backs play speacial teams with a special slip-over vest that had an ineligible number on it.

THat was changed with the numbering exception that allowed the same players to play the same positions on special teams without those slip-over vests.

Another interesting item came up about 10 years ago when a coach around here had someone sew a flap onto a jersey made out of the jersey's material -- same color. (I hope I can describe this right) The flap was in the upper square of the block 8 of jersey number 81. The flap had velcro to hold it in place in one of two positions. Either it was in the middle of the 8, or you moved it and it covered one side, making it a 6. So 81 becomes a 61. The purpose of that shirt was to use a kid who they wanted to be a tight end, but might need as a tackle.

From what I remember, it was determined to be illegal and I don't think it was ever used in a game. That could be the answer to the A-11 -- nine guys are wearing 80-89, and five interior linemen pull the flap to be nmbered in the 60s on any particular play.:eek:

It's ruled a grounded backward pass.

Rule 2-31 Passing

ART. 2 . . . A forward pass is a pass thrown with its initial direction toward the opponent’s end line.

ART. 3 . . . A forward pass has gone beyond the neutral zone if at any time during the pass, the entire ball is beyond the neutral zone.

ART. 4 . . . A forward pass ends when it is caught, touches the ground or is out of bounds.

ART. 5 . . . A backward pass is a pass thrown with its initial direction parallel with or toward the runner’s end line.

ART. 6 . . . A backward pass ends when it is caught or recovered or is out of bounds.

Now, there are some who will say that the word 'lateral' does not exist in the rule book. They would be incorrect.

Rule 2-9 Fair Catch

ART. 3 . . . A valid fair-catch signal is the extending and lateral waving of one arm, at full arm’s length above the head, by any member of the receiving team.

Rule 2-17 Free-Blocking Zone

ART. 1 . . . The free-blocking zone is a rectangular area extending laterally 4 yards either side of the spot of the snap and 3 yards behind each line of scrimmage. A player is in the free-blocking zone when any part of his body is in the zone at the snap.

Rule 2-26 Lines

ART. 6 . . . The sideline is the lateral limit of the field of play and the end zones. It extends from one end line to the other.

Rule 7-1 Before the Snap

ART. 2 . . . The snapper may lift the ball for lateral rotation but may not rotate end-for-end or change the location or fail to keep the long axis of the ball at right angles to the line of scrimmage.

There are some other mentions of 'lateral' in the book but it's in reference to 6, 8 and 9 player games.

Same thing as tie goes to the runner in baseball. In my world, there's no such thing as a tie. :D

The terms "lateral" and "backward[s]", although not equivalent in ordinary language, have a long history of equivalence as applied to passes in North American football, even if not all codes currently use the terms. AFAIK Canadian football has never used "backwards" as the descriptor.

NCAA at one time used the phrase "lateral or backwards". The phrase quickly migrated to the Definitions under "pass" (where it defined synonyms), was retained by NFL, and the "lateral or" part was eventually deleted (separately) by Fed & NCAA. However, outside of the Definitions section, NFL refers only to the "lateral" version of the term.

Robert