Unintentional Forward Pass Beyond LOS

[CT1]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

Then you're thrown back on 2-31-1&2, which leave it arguable as to exactly when a pass begins in Fed rules. It says, "In a pass, the ball travels in flight." However, it's not clear whether that's just a requirement for there having been a pass or defines the entire extent of the pass. If it defines the entire extent of the pass, then the movement of the ball in the passer's hand is not part of the pass and so doesn't determine its initial direction. If, however, it just determines that a pass has occurred, then with the wording "throwing the ball" it is at least arguable that the motion of the ball in the passer's hand is its initial direction.

Robert:

Since you don't have a pass until the ball is "in flight", it follows that the initial direction of a pass is the direction it takes after leaving the passer's hand.