Forward or Backward Pass

[jfurdell]

In NFHS, it's the initial direction of the pass that determines whether it's forward or backward.

In NCAA, the pass is considered forward if it touches the ground, a player, an official, or anything beyond the spot of the pass.

(The only potential thing I see making a difference here is a strong wind blowing an initially forward pass backwards.)

In either case, your first player is "laying the ball up" for the second player. If the flight of the ball is towards the opponent's goal line (NFHS) or the receiver touches the ball past the point where it was released (NCAA), it's a forward pass. The passer has to make sure the ball actually travels backwards.