You Make the call

LABUB · October 26th, 2009, 02:02 PM

White kicks off to Red. Red fields the ball at the one yard line, takes two steps (to the three) and throws a forward pass that hits the ground at the 12 yard line and White recovers. Or White catches it in the air and scores.
What do we have? This happens on a Friday Night.

Jref · October 26th, 2009, 04:16 PM

	Quote:	LABUB
	White kicks off to Red. Red fields the ball at the one yard line, takes two steps (to the three) and (1) throws a forward pass that hits the ground at the 12 yard line and White recovers. Or (2) White catches it in the air and scores. What do we have? This happens on a Friday Night.

Illegal Forward Pass in both cases.

In (1), the ball is dead when it hits the ground (incomplete forward pass). Penalize Red half the distance to the 1.5, 1st-& 10. The loss of down provision doesn't come into play since this was a change of possession down.

In (2), the ball remains live until White crosses the goal line. White will decline the penalty and take the touchdown.

aden · November 8th, 2009, 08:34 PM

you cannot have an illegal forward pass unless you start with a play from scrimmage,this was a kick so you have a forward lateral.

VolFan1 · November 8th, 2009, 10:59 PM

	Quote:	aden
	you cannot have an illegal forward pass unless you start with a play from scrimmage,this was a kick so you have a forward lateral.

I thought all "laterals" were considered forward passes or backward passes?

I also agree with Jeff's answer.

TideHead · November 9th, 2009, 12:49 AM

	Quote:	aden
	you cannot have an illegal forward pass unless you start with a play from scrimmage,this was a kick so you have a forward lateral.

Sorry, but I have to disagree here. Remember the Tennessee Titans Music City Miracle game and the controversy that followed. That was on a kickoff. If what you say is correct, there would have been no controversy on that play.

Jref · November 9th, 2009, 12:10 PM

	Quote:	aden
	you cannot have an illegal forward pass unless you start with a play from scrimmage,this was a kick so you have a forward lateral.

Aden, there is no such animal as a "forward lateral" in football. All passes are either forward or backward.

From the 2009 NFHS Rules Book:

"A forward pass is a pass thrown with its initial direction toward the
opponent’s end line. A backward pass is a pass thrown with its initial direction parallel with or toward the runner’s end line."

"An illegal forward pass is a foul. Illegal forward passes include:
a. A pass after team possession has changed during the down."

Since possession had changed during this down, Red has thrown an illegal forward pass.