Expert: Vic Winnek - 11/29/2008

Question
If a quarterback makes a handoff to a wide out who runs directly right to left after the snap then that player gives a backwards lateral to another wideout (a reverse) then that wideout passes the ball forward.  Is that legal.  Is the handoff by the QB considered a forward lateral/pass?  If so would the second pass be a legal pass.

Answer
Cory
Thanks for your question.  A hand off is not considered a forward pass -  it is considered handing the ball or a hand off.  A runner may hand or pass the ball backward at any time, except to throw the ball intentionally out of bounds to conserve time.

In the play you describe all the action is legal.

The QB may hand the ball or throw a backward pass to another player.  That player then becomes a runner and he may pass the ball forward provided he passes the ball while behind the line of scrimmage.

The play you describes has 1 backward pass and one forward pass.  You can have as many backward passes as you like but only one forward pass.

Passing the ball is throwing it. A pass continues to be a pass
until it is caught or intercepted by a player or the ball becomes dead.

To better understand, the NCAA Rules define Forward and Backward Pass as follows:
- A forward pass is determined by the point where the ball
first strikes the ground, a player, an official or anything beyond the spot of the pass. All other passes are backward passes. When in question, it is a forward pass rather than a backward pass when thrown in or behind the neutral zone.  Team A may make one forward pass during each scrimmage down before team possession changes, provided the pass is thrown from a point in or behind the neutral zone.

- When a Team A player is holding the ball to pass it forward toward
the neutral zone, any intentional forward movement of his hand or arm
starts the forward pass. If a Team B player contacts the passer or ball after forward movement begins and the ball leaves the passer’s hand, a forward pass is ruled regardless of where the ball strikes the ground or a player

- A snap becomes a backward pass when the snapper releases the ball [Legally snapping the ball (a snap) is handing or passing
it backward from its position on the ground with a quick and continuous motion of the hand or hands, the ball actually leaving the hand or hands in this motion].

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.

Vic Winnek
NCAA Football Official