Expert: Thom Brooks - 11/29/2008

Question
If a QB hands the ball off to a player running right to left and that hand off occurs between the QB and the line of scrimmage is that considered a forward pass?  Would the reciever (player A) of that hand off be able to then make a forward pass?  What if player A then did a backward lateral to player B would player B then then be able to make a forward pass to a downfield reciever.

Answer
Cory, hello!

Handing the Ball Forward
ARTICLE 6. No player may hand the ball forward except during a
scrimmage down as follows:
a. A Team A player who is behind his scrimmage line may hand the ball
forward to a backfield teammate who is also behind that line.
b. A Team A player who is behind his scrimmage line may hand the ball
forward to a teammate who was on his scrimmage line when the ball was
snapped, provided that teammate left his line position by a movement
of both feet that faced him toward his own end line and was at least two
yards behind his scrimmage line when he received the ball (A.R. 7-1-
6-I).
PENALTY—Five yards from the spot of the foul; also loss of a down if by
Team A before team possession changes during a scrimmage
down [S35 and S9].



The ball could still be passed if lateraled back.  Yes, a backward lateral to player B would allow the a forward pass by player B.  It would be illegal for there to be two forwrard passes.  

Take care,

Thom Brooks




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