1. A forward pass
may be touched or caught by any eligible receiver. All members of the defensive
team are eligible. Eligible receivers on the offensive team are players
on either end of line (other than center, guard, or tackle) or players
at least one yard behind the line at the snap. A T-formation quarterback
is not eligible to receive a forward pass during a play from scrimmage.
Exception: T-formation quarterback
becomes eligible if pass is previously touched by an eligible receiver.
2. An offensive team may make only
one forward pass during each play from scrimmage (Loss of 5 yards).
3. The passer must be behind his
line of scrimmage (Loss of down and five yards, enforced from the spot
of pass).
4. Any eligible offensive player
may catch a forward pass. If a pass is touched by one eligible offensive
player and touched or caught by a second offensive player, pass completion
is legal. Further, all offensive players become eligible once a pass is
touched by an eligible receiver or any defensive player.
5. The rules concerning a forward
pass and ineligible receivers:
(a) If ball is touched accidentally
by an ineligible receiver on or behind his line: loss of five yards.
(b) If ineligible receiver is illegally
downfield: loss of five yards.
(c) If touched or caught (intentionally
or accidentally) by ineligible receiver beyond the line: loss of 5 yards.
6. The player who first controls
and continues to maintain control of a pass will be awarded the ball even
though his opponent later establishes joint control of the ball.
7. Any forward pass becomes incomplete
and ball is dead if:
(a) Pass hits the ground or goes
out of bounds.
(b) Pass hits the goal post or the
crossbar of either team.
8. A forward pass is complete when
a receiver clearly possesses the pass and touches the ground with both
feet inbounds while in possession of the ball. If a receiver would have
landed inbounds with both feet but is carried or pushed out of bounds while
maintaining possession of the ball, pass is complete at the out-of-bounds
spot.
9. On a fourth down pass an incomplete
pass results in a loss of down at the line of scrimmage.
10. If a personal foul is committed
by the defense prior to the completion of a pass, the penalty is 15 yards
from the spot where ball becomes dead.
11. If a personal foul is committed
by the offense prior to the completion of a pass, the penalty is 15 yards
from the previous line of scrimmage.
Intentional Grounding of Forward Pass
1. Intentional grounding of a forward
pass is a foul: loss of down and 10 yards from previous spot if passer
is in the field of play or loss of down at the spot of the foul if it occurs
more than 10 yards behind the line or safety if passer is in his own end
zone when ball is released.
2. Intentional grounding will be
called when a passer, facing an imminent loss of yardage due to pressure
from the defense, throws a forward pass without a realistic chance of completion.
3. Intentional grounding will not
be called when a passer, while out of the pocket and facing an imminent
loss of yardage, throws a pass that lands at or beyond the line of scrimmage,
even if no offensive player(s) have a realistic chance to catch the ball
(including if the ball lands out of bounds over the sideline or end line).
Protection of Passer
1. By interpretation, a pass begins
when the passer -- with possession of ball -- starts to bring his hand
forward. If ball strikes ground after this action has begun, play is ruled
an incomplete pass. If passer loses control of ball prior to his bringing
his hand forward, play is ruled a fumble.
2. When a passer is holding the ball
to pass it forward, any intentional movement forward of his arm starts
a forward pass. If a defensive player contacts the passer or the 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.
3. No defensive player may run into
a passer of a legal forward pass after the ball has left his hand (15 yards).
The Referee must determine whether opponent had a reasonable chance to
stop his momentum during an attempt to block the pass or tackle the passer
while he still had the ball.
4. No defensive player who has an
unrestricted path to the quarterback may hit him flagrantly in the area
of the knee(s) or below when approaching in any direction.
5. Officials are to blow the play
dead as soon as the quarterback is clearly in the grasp and control of
any tackler, and his safety is in jeopardy.