Rule 8 — Forward Pass, Backward Pass, Fumble
Section 1 — Forward Pass
Article 1 — Definition
It is a forward pass if: (a) the ball initially moves forward after leaving the passer's hand(s); (b) the ball first strikes the ground, a player, an official, or anything else at a point that is nearer the opponent's goal line; or (c) a ball is intentionally fumbled and goes forward.
Article 2 — Legal Forward Pass
The offensive team may make one forward pass from behind the line during each down. If the ball crosses the line of scrimmage, a forward pass is not permissible.
Item 1. Illegal Passes include: a pass thrown when the passer's entire body is beyond the line of scrimmage; a second forward pass from behind the line; a forward pass after the ball crossed and returned behind the line; and a forward pass after a change of possession.
Penalties:
- (a) For a forward pass from beyond the line: Loss of down and five yards from the spot where the ball is released.
- (b) For a second forward pass from behind the line: Loss of down and five yards from the previous spot.
- (c) For a forward pass thrown after a change of possession: Loss of five yards from where the ball is released.
Article 3 — Completed or Intercepted Pass
A forward pass is complete or intercepted if a player who is inbounds: (a) secures control of the ball in his hands or arms prior to the ball touching the ground; and (b) touches the ground inbounds with both feet or with any part of his body other than his hands; and (c) after (a) and (b) have been fulfilled, clearly performs any act common to the game, or maintains control long enough to do so.
Article 4 — Incomplete Pass
An incomplete pass is a loss of down, and the ball returns to the previous spot. Any forward pass (legal or illegal) is incomplete if: (a) the process of the catch is not completed; (b) the ball goes out of bounds; or (c) a player first touches a pass after having been out of bounds.
Article 5 — Eligible Receivers
The following players are eligible to catch a forward pass thrown from behind the line: (a) Defensive players; (b) Offensive players on either end of the line with eligible numbers or having legally reported; (c) Offensive players legally at least one yard behind the line at the snap; (d) All offensive players after the ball has been touched by any defensive player or any eligible offensive player; (e) An eligible receiver forced out of bounds by an opponent's foul who has reestablished inbounds.
Article 6 — Ineligible Receivers
All offensive players other than those in Article 5 are ineligible to catch a legal or illegal forward pass.
Article 7 — Legal Touching
A forward pass (legal or illegal) thrown from behind the line may be touched by any eligible player. A pass in flight may be tipped, batted, or deflected in any direction by any eligible player.
Article 8 — Illegal Touching of a Forward Pass
It is a foul for illegal touching if a forward pass thrown from behind the line is first touched intentionally or is caught by an originally ineligible offensive player.
Penalty: For illegal touching of a forward pass: Loss of five yards at the previous spot.
Penalty: For illegal touching after being out of bounds: Loss of down at the previous spot.
Section 2 — Intentional Grounding
Article 1 — Definition
It is a foul for intentional grounding if a passer, facing an imminent loss of yardage because of pressure from the defense, throws a forward pass that is not in the direction and vicinity of an originally eligible offensive receiver.
Item 1. Passer Outside Pocket Area. Intentional grounding will not be called when a passer who is outside the pocket throws a forward pass that lands at or beyond the line of scrimmage extended.
Item 3. Stopping Clock. A T-Formation Quarterback is permitted to stop the game clock legally to conserve time if, immediately upon receiving the snap, he begins a continuous throwing motion and throws the ball directly into the ground.
Penalty: For intentional grounding: (a) loss of down and 10 yards from the previous spot; or (b) loss of down at the spot of the pass if the spot is more than 10 yards from the previous spot; or (c) a safety if the passer's entire body and the ball are in his end zone when the ball is thrown.
Section 3 — Ineligible Player Downfield
Article 1 — Legal and Illegal Acts
On a scrimmage play during which a legal forward pass is thrown, it is a foul if the entire body of an ineligible offensive player is more than one yard beyond the line of scrimmage before the pass has been thrown.
Penalty: For ineligible offensive player downfield: Loss of five yards from the previous spot.
Section 4 — Legal and Illegal Contact With Eligible Receivers
Article 1 — Legal Contact Within Five Yards
Within the area five yards beyond the line of scrimmage, a defensive player may chuck an eligible receiver in front of him. The defender is allowed to maintain continuous and unbroken contact within the five-yard zone, so long as the receiver has not moved beyond a point that is even with the defender.
Article 2 — Illegal Contact Within Five Yards
Within the five-yard zone, a defender may not make initial contact in the back of a receiver, nor may he maintain contact after the receiver has moved beyond a point that is even with the defender.
Article 3 — Illegal Contact Beyond Five-Yard Zone
Beyond the five-yard zone, a defender cannot initiate contact with a receiver who is attempting to evade him.
Penalty: For illegal contact by the defense: Loss of five yards and automatic first down.
Article 5 — Illegal Cut Block
It is an illegal cut block if: (a) a flexed receiver (more than two yards outside the tackle) is blocked below the waist; or (b) a receiver within two yards of the tackle is blocked below the waist after he goes beyond the line of scrimmage.
Penalty: For illegal cut block: Loss of 15 yards and automatic first down.
Article 6 — Defensive Holding
It is defensive holding if a player grasps an eligible offensive player (or his jersey) with his hands, or extends an arm or arms to cut off or encircle him.
Penalty: For holding by the defense: Loss of five yards and automatic first down.
Section 5 — Pass Interference
Article 1 — Definition
It is pass interference by either team when any act by a player more than one yard beyond the line of scrimmage significantly hinders an eligible player's opportunity to catch the ball. Pass interference can only occur when a forward pass is thrown from behind the line of scrimmage.
Article 2 — Prohibited Acts by Both Teams While the Ball Is in the Air
Acts that are pass interference include, but are not limited to: contact that restricts the opponent's opportunity; playing through the back of an opponent; grabbing an opponent's arm(s); extending an arm across the body of an opponent; cutting off the path of an opponent; hooking an opponent; and initiating contact by shoving or pushing off.
Article 3 — Permissible Acts by Both Teams While the Ball Is in the Air
Acts that are permissible include: incidental contact when both players are competing for the ball; inadvertent tangling of feet; contact when the pass is clearly uncatchable; laying a hand on an opponent without restricting him; and contact by a player who has gained position on an opponent.
Penalty: For pass interference by the defense: First down for the offensive team at the spot of the foul.
Penalty: For pass interference by the offense: Loss of 10 yards from the previous spot.
Section 6 — Enforcement Spot
Article 1 — Enforcement Spot
If there is a foul by either team from the time of the snap until a forward pass thrown from behind the line ends, the penalty is enforced from the previous spot, with exceptions for intentional grounding and defensive pass interference.
Section 7 — Backward Pass and Fumble
Key provisions govern the treatment of backward passes (which may be advanced by either team if recovered), fumbles (including restrictions during the final two minutes, fourth down, and on Try plays), and their enforcement.