Backward Pass...or not.

[parepat]

2nd and 10 at A's 20. QB A1 takes snap and is in the process of being tackled by B 90 who has him by the shirt approximately 5 yards behind the LOS. A-1 attempts to dump the ball off to A 2 in near the line of scrimmage. At the same time B-90 swings A 1 around and the pass goes clearly backward where B-10 jumps on it at the A 10. NFHS...NCAA?

[CT1]

NFHS: This is a backwards pass, since its initial direction was not toward the opponent's end line. B's ball, 1st & (ten or goal) at the A-10.

[mbyron]

NFHS: sounds like a backward pass. It was thrown with its initial direction parallel to or toward the runner's end line.

1/10 for B at the +10YL.

[parepat]

I can swear that I recently read (Reddings I think) that said in this situation blow dead as incomplete pass. The point is that the backwards throw was caused by the contact from B. Does this sound familiar. Based on my recent posts, I probably don't know what I'm talking about.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by parepat

I can swear that I recently read (Reddings I think) that said in this situation blow dead as incomplete pass. The point is that the backwards throw was caused by the contact from B. Does this sound familiar. Based on my recent posts, I probably don't know what I'm talking about.

For NFHS? I don't see anything that references where the passer meant to throw it.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Redding

It is also a forward pass if a defensive player contacts the ball or the passer after forward movement of the passer's arm has begun, regardless of which direction the ball actually goes (2-31-2 Nt). Once the passer starts his arm forward, it is a forward pass regardless of which direction the ball leaves his hand or where the ball lands. The passer receives the benefit of the doubt as to whether the ball is thrown or fumbled. When in question, rule it a forward pass, and not a fumble.

In other words, in the OP was the arm coming forward when B-90 swung him around?

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

[Quote = Redding]It is also a forward pass if a defensive player contacts the ball or the passer after forward movement of the passer's arm has begun, regardless of which direction the ball actually goes (2-31-2 Nt). Once the passer starts his arm forward, it is a forward pass regardless of which direction the ball leaves his hand or where the ball lands. The passer receives the benefit of the doubt as to whether the ball is thrown or fumbled. When in question, rule it a forward pass, and not a fumble.

Wow. That directly contradicts the rule, which specifically bases the direction of the pass on the direction of the thrown ball, not on the direction the arm was moving when the throw started.

[Forksref]

Originally Posted by parepat

I can swear that I recently read (Reddings I think) that said in this situation blow dead as incomplete pass. The point is that the backwards throw was caused by the contact from B. Does this sound familiar. Based on my recent posts, I probably don't know what I'm talking about.

Then it would be a fumble (treated the same as a backward pass) if the contact caused ball to come loose.