lateral

[ajmc]

Originally Posted by dsurine

A lateral is not supposed to go forward, but almost all of them do. Two runners going forward and one laterals to the other. They are both running at approximately the same speed so the ball is going from one to the other and in relation to the two runners it is not going forward. But both runners have taken a step or two while the ball is in the air. So therefore the ball has really been passed forward in relation to the ground. What is the rule exactly.?

As is so often the case, FIRST it depends on which Rules Code you're referring to: Generally, however in the language of football, there is no such thing as a "lateral", there is only "Forward" and "Backwards" (like "Pregnant", either you are, or you are not)

Under the NFHS Code NF;2-31-2 defines a forward pass, "is a pass thrown with its initial direction toward the opponent's end line".

NF: 2-31-5 defines a backwards pass, "is a pass thrown with it's initial direction parallel or toward the runner's end line.