Forward Pass

Article 1 – Definition

A forward pass is one which is thrown by any Team A player from behind the line of scrimmage toward the Team B dead line, to any eligible receiver. The ball shall not touch the ground, goal post assembly, an official, or go out of bounds. A forward pass is illegal after a change of possession by either team.

A forward pass thrown to an eligible receiver behind the line of scrimmage is a screen pass.

If Team B gains possession from a fumble, blocked kick, etc., and subsequently loses possession again to Team A, a forward pass by either team is illegal.

The ball is considered to be in the possession of Team A until the pass is ruled complete or incomplete, or the ball becomes dead, or it is caught by Team B.

Article 2 – Number of Forward Passes

A forward pass shall be thrown once only on each down. A second forward pass on the same down shall be penalized.

Article 3 – Passer

The pass may be thrown by any Team A player who is behind the line of scrimmage when they throw the ball. The passer need not be the first player to receive the ball from the centre.

Article 4 – Eligible Receivers

The following players are eligible receivers:

• a) The player at each end of the scrimmage line at the snap, wearing numbers 0-49 or 80-99
• b) Players clearly back of the scrimmage line at the snap, wearing numbers 0-49 or 80-99
• c) A Team A player wearing numbers 0-49 or 80-99 who is in forward motion from a backfield position and within one yard of the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped.
• d) All players of Team B, whether or not the pass is legally thrown.
• e) All players of Team A, if the ball is touched by a B player.

Article 5 – Ineligible Receivers

Players of Team A wearing numbers 50-79 are ineligible receivers, regardless of what position they take in the line or behind the line. Exception, unless declared as eligible as indicated by rule 4-3-1 (Requirements for Legal Scrimmage)

• a) An ineligible receiver shall not be the first player of Team A to catch the ball or touch the ball in an attempt to catch it, before the ball has been touched by any eligible receiver.

• b) Ineligible receivers shall not go downfield beyond the neutral zone, unless they make contact with an opponent in the neutral zone and maintain this contact as they move downfield. However, should such player lose contact and no longer take part in the play, that player shall not be penalized.
• c) If an ineligible receiver is downfield on a kick from scrimmage situation that breaks down, becoming a pass play, and if that player no longer takes part in the play, they shall not be penalized.

• d) All Team A players may block downfield prior to the ball being caught on passes on or behind the line of scrimmage.

Article 6 – Completed Forward Pass

A player is inbounds if one foot is touching the ground inbounds, and neither the player nor the other foot is out of bounds, even though that foot may step out of bounds after possession is gained; or if a player is in the air, at least one foot comes down inbounds, before the player touches out of bounds (subject to item (d) of this article).

A forward pass is complete if it is caught inbounds as follows:

• a) When caught by a Team A eligible receiver, or simultaneously by two or more Team A eligible receivers.
• b) When caught by a Team B player, or simultaneously by two or more Team B players.
• c) When caught simultaneously by eligible receivers of both teams, the ball shall be awarded to Team A, even if it has been touched previously by Team B.
• d) When an eligible receiver tips the ball in an offside direction, and it is caught by an ineligible receiver, the forward pass is ruled complete at the point where the ball was tipped in the offside direction.
• e) A forward pass shall not be ruled as "completed" until the player, after catching the ball, maintains complete and continuous control of the ball throughout the process of contacting the ground, whether in the field of play, end zone or out-of-bounds.

Article 7 – Incomplete Pass

A forward pass is incomplete as follows:

a) When the ball touches the ground, goal post assembly, an official, a corner marker, Downsbox marker or yardstick assembly or goes out of bounds, even if previously touched by a player.

b) When an eligible receiver catches a pass while off the ground, inbounds, and lands on or outside a boundary line, with or without being contacted by an opponent.

Article 8 – Intentional Grounding

If Team A passer deliberately throws a forward pass that lands behind the line of scrimmage or Out of Bounds behind the line of scrimmage and to an area in which there is no eligible Team A receiver, to avoid a loss of yards, the team shall be penalized. However, the team shall not be penalized if the passer throws the ball across the line of scrimmage to an open area or Out of Bounds.

Article 9 – Interference

• a) Team A-Prior to a forward pass being thrown across the line of scrimmage, a Team A player may not initiate contact with or block a Team B player more than 1 yard in advance of the line of scrimmage, until the pass has been touched by an eligible receiver. "illegal block -Blocking Downfield".
  • A Team A player may not interfere with a Team B player who is about to intercept the forward pass. However, Team A players who are carrying out normal blocking tactics to protect the passer shall not be penalized for interference against a Team B player who is about to intercept the pass, if the Team A players are unaware that such an interception is imminent (see 6-4-10, note 2 (Forward Pass)).
  • After the pass has been touched by an eligible receiver, all A players may legally interfere anywhere within bounds.
  • Team A ineligible receivers who make contact in the neutral zone may maintain this contact beyond the neutral zone, (subject to 6-4-5-b-c (Forward Pass))) otherwise they may not proceed downfield until the ball is thrown. (Exception 6.4.5d (Forward Pass))
• b) Team B Team B players may interfere with Team A players in the neutral zone, and with any Team A player behind the neutral zone who is protecting the passer.
  • Team B players occupying positions behind their line may use their hands and arms to defend their position, stationary or in motion, against a Team A player who, as a potential blocker, threatens their defensive position, until the pass has been thrown. While the ball is in the air, no contact is permissible except as described in (c) following. These Team B players shall not interfere with a potential pass receiver who is not threatening their defensive positions.
  • It is illegal to pursue and contact an eligible pass receiver before the ball has been touched by an eligible receiver.
  • After the ball has been touched by an eligible receiver, players of either team may interfere legally. Team B players, after B has intercepted a pass, may interfere with Team A players anywhere within bounds, provided that the initial contact is made at or above the waist.
• c) Contact between two opponents is legal, provided such contact results from a simultaneous and bonafide attempt to play the ball, which occurs at the spot of possible completion of a pass, where each player is intent on playing the ball, where such contact is unavoidable and incidental to the effort involved in attempting to catch or bat the ball, and where each player is in an equally favourable position to play the ball. A player, who is not looking at, or for, the ball, cannot be considered to be playing the ball. A player cannot drive «through» an opponent to reach the ball. Even if this player reaches the ball, such prior contact is illegal. Defensive players have equal right to the path of the ball as eligible A receivers.
  • Inadvertent tripping by a player with equal position shall not be ruled as interference
• d) Screening Waving the hands or arms or «face guarding» in close proximity to an eligible pass receiver is illegal interference

Article 10 – Illegal Interference Penalties

a) Illegal interference is interference with an eligible receiver in the target area, or interference which prevents an eligible receiver from reaching the target area, when there is a reasonable expectation that the receiver would have had the opportunity to attempt to complete the pass.

Note 1: Pass interference shall not be penalized if, in the judgment of the official, the ball is clearly uncatchable.

Note 2: Pass interference behind the line of scrimmage must be interference against a player to whom the ball is thrown, or a player who is attempting to catch the pass.

Note 3: Pass interference occurs only after the ball has been thrown.

• a) Successful attempt
• L15 PLS, repeat convert, OR
• Repeat convert at PLS. Apply penalty L15 on kick off
• b) Unsuccessful Attempt
• Apply penalty L15 on kick off

Foul by Team B – option to Team A

• a) Successful attempt
• Accept score. Apply penalty L15 on kick off
• b) Unsuccessful attempt
• Repeat convert at B1 yard (1 metre) line, or 15 yds in advance of P.L.S., whichever is further from Team B goal line.

OR

– Repeat convert at PLS. Apply

Note 1: The normal restrictions near the goal line do not apply to Illegal Interference on a Forward Pass, and the full amount of the yardage shall be applied. The 15 yard (15 metre) penalty applied from the 16 yard (16 metre) line, or between the 16 yard (16 metre) line and the 1 yard (1 metre) line, will place the ball on the 1 yard (1 metre) line.

Note 2: The non-offending team may decline the penalty to allow the down to be used, and the ball returned to the PLS, if the pass is incomplete.

Exception: If a pass receiver who would normally be considered eligible either by number or by reporting to the Referee is made ineligible by position, and the defensive team interferes with the receiver's attempt to catch the ball on a forward pass, then both teams are subject to penalty, whether the Team A player touches the ball in an attempt to catch it or not. The foul for Team A Ineligible Receiver will be deemed to be the first foul for purposes of adjudicating the Dual Foul rule.

b) Illegal Contact with an Eligible Receiver

When there is an obvious passing situation, a Team B player may not create or initiate contact that redirects, restricts, or impedes the Team A receiver in any way except as stated in Art. 9. Even if the ball is not thrown, such illegal contact will still be penalized:

Article 11 – Interception in the End Zone

• a) A ball fumbled forward by A into the Team B end zone, which is recovered by B, shall be ruled as an intercepted pass.

• b) If a player intercepts a forward pass in the field of play while moving toward their team's goal line, and in the judgment of the official, this momentum carries that player into the end zone, possession is deemed to have been gained in the end zone.

• c) When Team B intercepts a pass in the end zone:

  • 1. Team B players may interfere anywhere within bounds in the attempt to advance the ball, provided the initial contact is made at or above the waist. If B fumbles the ball in this attempt, Team A may recover the ball legally. If Team A does not recover the fumbled ball, but only touches it, and it then goes out of bounds in the end zone, the last touching by A has no effect, and Team B will scrimmage at any point between the hash marks on B 20 yard (2 0 metre) line, with no score.
  • 2. If the ball goes dead in possession of B in the end zone, there is no score. B shall scrimmage at any point between the hash marks on the B 20 yard (20 metre) line.
  • 3. If Team B commits a foul in the end zone, or the field of play, while the ball is in the end zone, the penalty shall be applied from the 20 yard (20 metre) line or option.
  • 4. If Team A commits a foul in the end zone, or field of play, while the ball is in the end zone, the penalty shall be applied from the 20 yard (20 metre) line Team B may request the ball be placed at any point on or between the hash marks.
  • 5. If the foul in 3 or 4 above is Unnecessary Roughness, Rough Play, Objectionable Conduct, or No Mouthguard, the penalty shall be applied from the 20 yard (20 metre) line, or from the PBD at option of the non-offending team.

Article 12 – Miscellaneous

• a) Fumble It is not a forward pass if the ball is clearly fumbled or batted in an offside direction from behind the line of scrimmage.
• b) Pass or Fumble The passing motion begins when the passer has possession of the ball and starts a forward motion with the passing arm. If the passer is contacted after starting the passing motion, and the ball is dropped to the ground, it shall be ruled as an incomplete pass. If the passer is contacted before starting passing motion, and the ball is dropped to the ground, it shall be ruled as a fumble.
• c) Broken Play When a play starts as an obvious running play, and the ball carrier elects to throw a forward pass, all rulings applicable to a forward pass play shall apply – e.g. ineligible receivers may not proceed downfield before the ball is thrown, forward pass interference restrictions apply, etc. (Exception 6.4.5 (Forward Pass) d)