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RULE 7 — PART 2 OF 2

What's in This Deck

Handing the Ball

Fumble and Backward Pass

Forward-Pass Classification

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SECTION 3 · ART. 1–3

Handing the Ball

Any player may hand the ball backward at any time.
No player may hand the ball forward, except during a scrimmage down before a change of possession, with both players in or behind the neutral zone, to:

A lineman who has clearly turned to face his own end line (a half-turn of both feet) and is at least 1 yard behind his line when he receives it.
A back, or a teammate who at the snap was on the end of his line and was neither the snapper nor adjacent to him.

After a change of team possession during a scrimmage down, no player may hand the ball forward to a teammate at all.

Penalty

Illegal handing: 5 yards and loss of down
The loss-of-down part doesn't apply once possession has already changed

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CASE PLAY — 7.3.2

Illegal Handing — Where Was the Ball?

THE PLAY

Quarterback A1 takes the snap and hands the ball forward to back A2. The handing is done: (a) behind the neutral zone; (b) in the neutral zone; or (c) beyond the neutral zone.

THE RULING

Legal in (a) and (b), but a foul in (c).

The BALL's position determines whether the handing happened behind, in, or beyond the neutral zone. But whether it counts as forward handing at all is determined by the RECEIVING player's position — two different reference points for two different questions.

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SECTION 4 · ART. 1–4

Fumble and Backward Pass

During any down, a player in possession may make a backward pass, or may lose possession through a fumble.
If a fumble or backward pass is caught or recovered by any player, he may advance it.
The ball belongs to the passing or fumbling team — unless lost after fourth down — if the fumble or backward pass:

Goes out of bounds between the goal lines; or
Becomes dead inbounds with no player in possession; or
Becomes dead inbounds while opponents are in joint possession.

If a fumble or backward pass goes out of bounds behind a goal line, the ball belongs to the team defending that goal — resulting in a touchback or a safety.

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CASE PLAY — 7.4.3

Joint Possession of a Pass, Kick, or Fumble

THE PLAY

An offensive and a defensive player simultaneously gain possession of a live ball that is: (a) a legal forward pass, and both players are touching inbounds; (b) a scrimmage kick muffed by R beyond the neutral zone; or (c) a fumble by A1 on a running play.

THE RULING

The down ends in every case, but the ball goes to different teams depending on what kind of loose ball it was:

(a) Complete pass — the ball belongs to A at the spot of completion.

(b) The ball belongs to R at the spot of recovery.

Simultaneous possession is resolved differently for a pass (favors the passing team), a kick (favors the receiving team), and a fumble (favors whoever had it last) — the type of loose ball drives the outcome, not just who got there first.

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SECTION

Forward-Pass

Classification

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SECTION 5 · ART. 1, 3

Legal Forward Pass, and Enforcement

It's a legal forward pass if, during a scrimmage down and before team possession has changed, an A player throws the ball with both feet in or behind the neutral zone at release.

Only one forward pass may be thrown during the down.

If the penalty for an illegal forward pass is accepted, measurement is from the spot of the pass.

If the offended team declines the distance penalty, it chooses between having the down counted at the spot of the illegal incomplete pass, or (if caught/intercepted) having the ball put in play by whatever follows the catch.

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SECTION 5 · ART. 2

What Makes a Forward Pass Illegal

An illegal forward pass is a foul. Illegal forward passes include:

A pass after team possession has changed during the down.
A pass from beyond the neutral zone.
A second (or later) forward pass thrown during the same down.
A pass intentionally thrown into an area with no eligible offensive receiver, or thrown incomplete to save yardage or conserve time.

Penalties

Possession already changed: 5 yards
Beyond the neutral zone, or a second pass: 5 yards + loss of down
Intentional grounding: 5 yards + loss of down

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SECTION 5 · ART. 2 (EXCEPTIONS)

The Two Grounding Exceptions

EXCEPTION 1 — Conserving Time: It's legal for a player positioned directly behind the snapper to intentionally throw the ball forward to the ground immediately after receiving the snap, as long as the snap was neither muffed nor already touched the ground.
EXCEPTION 2 — Conserving Yardage: It's legal to intentionally throw an incomplete forward pass if ALL of the following are true:

The passer has possessed the ball beyond the lateral boundary of the free-blocking zone as established at the snap;
The pass reaches the neutral zone, including its extension beyond the sideline; and
The passer is the only player to possess the ball after the snap ends.

Why These Are Narrow

Exception 1 only covers the very first play from the snap — any mishandling voids it
Exception 2 fails the instant a second player (even briefly) touches the ball after the snap

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SECTION 5 · ART. 4–5

Complete and Incomplete Passes

A forward pass — legal or illegal — is complete, and the ball may be advanced, when caught by any player of A or B.

If a forward pass is caught simultaneously by two opponents, the ball becomes dead and belongs to the passing team.

A forward pass is incomplete, and the ball becomes dead, when the pass touches the ground or goes out of bounds — or when an airborne player possesses it and his first contact with the ground (or anything besides a player or official) is on or outside a boundary.

An incompletion still counts as a down, unless it happens after a change of possession. If the pass was legal, the passing team snaps again at the previous spot (unless lost after fourth down).

Quick Reference

Completed: caught by an eligible A receiver, an ineligible A receiver, any interception, or (dead ball) simultaneous catch by opponents
Incomplete: touches the ground, goes out of bounds, or an airborne player's first contact is out of bounds

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SECTION 5 · ART. 6

Eligible Receivers

Pass eligibility rules apply only to a legal forward pass. Eligible receivers are:

All A players eligible by position and number — those on the ends of the scrimmage line, or legally behind it, at the snap (up to six total), numbered 0–49 or 80–99.
All A players, once B touches a legal forward pass.
All B players, always.
A player eligible at the start of the down stays eligible for the rest of the down.

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SECTION 5 · ART. 7–9

Pass Interference — Scope, Start, and End

Pass interference restrictions apply only beyond the neutral zone, and only if the legal forward pass — untouched by B in or behind the neutral zone — crosses it. Restrictions are in effect for all A and B players until the ball is touched or the pass is incomplete.
Restrictions begin: for A, with the snap. For B, when the ball leaves the passer's hand.
Restrictions end for: all eligible A players once the pass is touched by anyone; all ineligible A players once B touches the pass (though ineligible A players may still legally block to ward off an opponent); all B players once the pass is touched by anyone; and everyone, once the pass is incomplete.

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SECTION 5 · ART. 10–11

What Is (and Isn't) Pass Interference

It's forward-pass interference if a player of A or B, beyond the neutral zone, interferes with an eligible opponent's opportunity to move toward, catch, or bat the pass.
It's NOT pass interference if:

Unavoidable contact happens when two or more eligible players make a simultaneous, bona fide attempt at the pass.
Contact by A is immediately made on a B lineman and doesn't continue beyond the expanded neutral zone.
Contact by B is obviously away from the direction of the pass.

Penalty

Pass interference: 15 yards

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SECTION 5 · ART. 12–13

Ineligible Players Downfield, and Illegal Touching

Ineligible A players may not advance beyond the expanded neutral zone on a legal forward-pass play before a pass that crosses the neutral zone is in flight. If B touches the pass in or behind the neutral zone, this restriction ends.
An ineligible A player has illegally touched a forward pass if he bats, muffs, or catches a legal forward pass — unless B touched it first.

Penalties

Ineligible downfield: 5 yards
Illegal touching: 5 yards + loss of down

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TABLE 7-5

Fouls by Zone — Where the Touching Happened

Foul Type	Action	Behind NZ	In NZ (incl. ENZ)	Beyond ENZ
Pass Interference	Strike / muff / catch by ineligible	No	No	Yes (15 yd) if it's also interference — otherwise no
Ineligible Downfield	Strike / muff / catch by ineligible	No	No	Yes (5 yd) if not yet touched
Illegal Touching	Accidental strike	No	No	No
Illegal Touching	Muff by ineligible	Yes (5 yd, loss of down)	Yes (5 yd, loss of down)	Yes (5 yd, loss of down)
Illegal Touching	Catch by ineligible	Yes (5 yd, loss of down)	Yes (5 yd, loss of down)	Yes (5 yd, loss of down)

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TABLE 7-5 SUMMARY

Fouls During Forward-Pass Plays

Foul	Penalty	Enforcement Spot
Illegal forward pass — possession already changed	5 yards	End of run or related run
Illegal forward pass — beyond NZ, 2nd pass, or intentional grounding	5 yards + loss of down	End of run or related run
Forward pass interference (A hinders B, or B hinders A)	15 yards	Previous spot
Ineligible receiver downfield	5 yards	Previous spot
Illegal touching by an ineligible receiver	5 yards + loss of down	Basic spot

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CASE PLAY — 7.5.1

The Passer's Foot Position at Release

THE PLAY

Quarterback A1 runs wide and, near the neutral zone, decides to throw a forward pass. As he releases the ball: (a) his foremost foot is touching the ground in the neutral zone, or (b) his foremost foot is breaking the plane of B's side of the neutral zone.

THE RULING

(a) It's a legal forward pass — the neutral zone itself counts as "in or behind" it.

(b) It's an illegal forward pass, because the passer's foremost foot was located beyond the neutral zone at release. The foot's location — not the ball's — is what's being measured here.

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CASE PLAY — 7.5.2 — A, C

Grounding at an Unoccupied Spot or a Defender

THE PLAY

(A) Quarterback A1 drops back, can't find a receiver, and: (a) throws the ball to the ground; (b) throws it to the ground in an area occupied only by defensive players; or (c) deliberately throws it at the legs of onrushing defensive linemen. In (b) and (c), neither exception applies.

(C) A1 drops back and, whether or not under pressure, throws the ball forward: (a) at the feet of two onrushing defensive linemen; or (b) inbounds or out of bounds to an area with no eligible receiver.

THE RULING

(A) Illegal forward pass in all three — (a), (b), and (c). Penalize A 5 yards from where the run ended, and the down counts in every case.

(C) (a) is an illegal forward pass. For (b), officials must check two things: was the passer beyond the free-blocking zone's lateral boundary, and did the pass reach the neutral zone (including its sideline extension)? If both are true, it's legal under Exception 2 — the down counts, no foul. If either is false, it's illegal.

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CASE PLAY — 7.5.2 — B, F

Misusing the Conserve-Time Exception

THE PLAY

(B) Quarterback A1 is directly behind the snapper. (a) He muffs the snap but scoops it off the ground and spikes it forward, as if under Exception 1; or (b) he receives the snap, but his spike attempt hits the snapper's leg and ricochets into the air — he catches it and immediately spikes it forward.

(F) A1 throws a legal forward pass: (a) it's tipped by B1 behind the expanded neutral zone, A1 catches it, and throws a SECOND pass to A8; or (b) A1's pass to A5 (who's behind the line) is followed by A5 throwing another forward pass to A11, who advances for a first down.

THE RULING

(B) Illegal forward pass in BOTH (a) and (b). Once the ball has touched the ground, Exception 1 no longer applies — for a "direct snap" to qualify, the ball must go straight from the snapper to the intended receiver without being muffed, fumbled, or mishandled in any way.

(F) Illegal forward pass in both — a second forward pass during the same down is illegal regardless of what happened to the first one.

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CASE PLAY — 7.5.2 — D, H

Misusing the Conserve-Yardage Exception

THE PLAY

(D) A1 takes the snap and hands or pitches to A2, who: (a) runs right beyond the free-blocking zone boundary and throws the ball beyond the neutral zone extended, out of bounds, to an unoccupied area; or (b) takes two steps forward, pitches back to A1, who scrambles right beyond the free-blocking zone boundary and does the same thing.

(H) A1 is in shotgun, with A2 legally in motion parallel to the line. At the snap: (a) A1 takes the snap and, sensing a blitz, throws the ball to the ground; or (b) A2, directly behind the snapper at the snap, receives it and throws it to the ground sensing a loss of yardage.

THE RULING

(D) Illegal forward pass in both (a) and (b) — Exception 2 requires the PASSER to be the only player who possessed the ball after the snap. In both cases, someone else touched it first.

(H) Illegal forward pass in both. Exception 1 exists purely to conserve TIME, not yardage — throwing it away because of an anticipated loss of yardage doesn't qualify, no matter who's taking the snap.

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CASE PLAY — 7.5.2 SITUATION E

A Simulated Fumble Is an Illegal Pass

THE PLAY

Runner A1 advances 5 yards beyond the neutral zone to B's 3, where he's tackled. As he goes down, he simulates a fumble by tossing the ball forward into the end zone, where A2 downs it.

THE RULING

Illegal forward pass by A1. The penalty is 5 yards from the spot of the pass, plus loss of down. And if A1 is contacted after releasing the ball, it's not roughing the passer — he lost that protection the moment he threw a pass from beyond the neutral zone.

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CASE PLAY — 7.5.2 SITUATION G

A Legal Spike, With a Separate Foul

THE PLAY

In the last seconds of a half, A1 completes a pass to A2 at B's 20. The ball is spotted, marked ready for play, and the clock is signaled to start. In the rush to stop the clock, only A's snapper and quarterback A1 are in legal position when the ball is snapped and legally "spiked." A foul for illegal formation occurs at the snap.

THE RULING

The spike itself is legal. Since the spike doesn't create a foul on its own, the only applicable foul here is illegal formation. Because the clock stoppage was caused by the earlier incomplete pass (not the spike), the clock starts on the snap, not on the ready signal.

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CASE PLAY — 7.5.4 SITUATION A

Simultaneous Catch Near the Goal Line

THE PLAY

Airborne A1 and B1 simultaneously gain possession of a legal forward pass near the goal line and return to the ground where: (a) both land in the field of play inbounds; (b) both land in the end zone with the ball; (c) A1 lands in the end zone, B1 in the field of play inbounds; (d) B1 comes down in the end zone, A1 in the field of play; or (e) A1 lands in the end zone, B1 lands out of bounds.

THE RULING

(a) The ball is dead, belonging to A at the yard line through the ball's foremost point when both players hit the ground inbounds.

(b) Touchdown.

(c) and (d): the pass is complete at the yard line through the ball's foremost point when the players hit the ground inbounds — if the ball had already crossed the goal line plane, it's a touchdown either way.

(e) Incomplete pass. A true simultaneous catch requires joint possession AND both players contacting the ground inbounds — not necessarily at the exact same instant.

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CASE PLAY — 7.5.4 SITUATION B

Contact While Airborne Over the End Zone

THE PLAY

A pass from A1 is possessed by A2 while he's airborne above B's end zone. B1 contacts him, and A2 loses control. The ball: (a) falls to the ground; (b) is caught by eligible A3 in B's end zone; or (c) is intercepted and downed by B2 in the end zone.

THE RULING

(a) Incomplete pass. (b) Touchdown. (c) Touchback.

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CASE PLAY — 7.5.4 — C, D

Sideline Interceptions and Touching

THE PLAY

(C) B1 is near the sideline (not yet out of bounds) and attempts to intercept a pass while airborne: (a) the ball touches one hand, deflects to the other without secure possession, and B1 lands with his first foot inbounds and second simultaneously out of bounds; (b) he deflects it into the air but catches it after coming down inbounds; or (c) he's juggling the ball as he takes two steps inbounds, then goes out of bounds.

(D) A passed or fumbled ball is near a sideline. B1 gets the ball in his hands while his foot is on the sideline.

THE RULING

(C) Interception in (b) only — NOT in (a) or (c), since possession was never secured before going out of bounds in those cases.

(D) The ball becomes dead the instant it's touched — since touching happens before possession is secured, there's no "catch" or "recovery" here at all.

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CASE PLAY — 7.5.4 — E, F

The Momentum Exception

THE PLAY

(E) B1 leaps over his own 2-yard line and gets A's pass in his grasp, returning to the ground inbounds in his own end zone.

(F) B1 leaps over his own 2-yard line and gets A's pass in his grasp, but returns to the ground on his 1-yard line — his momentum then carries him back into his own end zone, where he's downed.

THE RULING

(E) B1's interception wasn't complete until he came down inbounds — in his own end zone. He now possesses a live ball there and may run it out, or down it for a touchback. Momentum doesn't apply, because the catch itself happened in the end zone.

(F) The interception was made in the field of play, and momentum carried him into the end zone — so the momentum exception applies. The spot of the interception, B's 1-yard line, is where B's series starts.

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CASE PLAY — 7.5.4 — G, I

Forward Progress Decides the Outcome

THE PLAY

(G) A8, in B's end zone, leaps to catch a pass and is contacted by B2, forcing him to come down inbounds on B's 1-yard line, where he's downed.

(I) Airborne A1 jumps to catch a legal pass. While still in the air, B1 tackles and holds him momentarily without touching the ground, then carries him: (a) backward toward A's goal, or (b) forward toward B's goal. A1 then lands out of bounds with the ball.

THE RULING

(G) Touchdown — A8's forward progress was stopped over B's end zone by B2's contact. Even though the actual catch wasn't completed until he came down inbounds, his forward progress being stopped in the end zone is what controls the ruling.

(I) Completed pass in both (a) and (b) — forward progress was stopped the moment B1 held him in the air. The ball is dead at the spot where that progress stopped, regardless of which direction he was carried afterward or that he ultimately landed out of bounds.

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CASE PLAY — 7.5.4 SITUATION H

Where the Sideline Meets the Goal Line

THE PLAY

A pass from A1 is thrown near the intersection of the sideline and the goal line. A2, running toward the goal line, leaps and possesses the pass at the 3-yard line, then is forcibly: (a) contacted from the front by B1 (not carried), landing out of bounds opposite B's 4; (b) contacted from the side by B1, first hitting the ground out of bounds opposite the 3; (c) grasped from behind and carried by B1, first hitting the ground out of bounds 1 yard beyond the goal line; or (d) tackled from behind by B1, first hitting the ground in the end zone.

THE RULING

(a) and (b): incomplete pass — A2 was not carried, so his own path out of bounds ends the down as an incompletion.

(c) and (d): touchdown — in both, B1 carried A2, meaning forward progress (not A2's own landing spot) controls, and progress had already reached the end zone.

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CASE PLAY — 7.5.6

When Blocking Restrictions Don't Apply

THE PLAY

Quarterback A1 drops back and throws a forward pass toward the sideline to A2, who is behind the neutral zone. A2 then throws a forward pass to A3, 15 yards downfield. (a) B1 blocks A2 behind the line before A2 touches the ball; (b) B1 tackles A2 before he touches the pass; or (c) B1 pushes A3 before he touches the pass, and B1 intercepts.

THE RULING

(a) Legal block — pass interference restrictions for B don't apply to a forward pass that never crosses the neutral zone.

(b) Holding foul by B1.

(c) Legal contact — there are no pass interference restrictions on an illegal forward pass. (Separately, A2 has also committed a foul for throwing an illegal forward pass.)

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CASE PLAY — 7.5.7

A Screen Pass Touched Behind the Neutral Zone

THE PLAY

(A) A1 throws a screen pass behind the neutral zone. B1 touches it in or behind the neutral zone, and it continues in flight beyond it: (a) A2 has already gone downfield and blocks B2 before the pass is touched; or (b) ineligible A2 is already downfield beyond the neutral zone before the pass is even in flight.

(B) Similar screen pass to flanker A2, deflected by B2 so its flight is altered beyond the neutral zone, with ineligible A8 already beyond the expanded neutral zone before the pass was released.

(C) A1 throws a pass touched behind the neutral zone by B7. It then touches ineligible A2 beyond the neutral zone and falls incomplete.

THE RULING

All three are legal / no foul — the common thread is that B touched the pass in or behind the neutral zone. Once that happens, downfield blocking by A players and ineligible A players being downfield are BOTH no longer restricted, because the ball's later flight beyond the neutral zone doesn't erase that first touch. In (C), no illegal touching occurred for the same reason — the pass had already been touched by B before it reached the ineligible A2.

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CASE PLAY — 7.5.8, 7.5.9

Pass Interference Timing

THE PLAY

(7.5.8) A81 goes downfield, pushes off B22 to help him make his cut toward the sideline, and catches A1's pass. The push happened before B4 tipped the pass.

(7.5.9) On second down, A1 throws an underhand shovel pass to A2 (behind the neutral zone). A2 throws it back to A1, who then throws forward beyond the neutral zone to A3. B1 blocks A3 away from the ball and intercepts A1's pass.

THE RULING

(7.5.8) This can be ruled pass interference — restrictions for Team A begin at the snap, well before any tip occurred.

(7.5.9) Legal contact by B1, but an illegal forward pass by A1 (a second forward pass in the down). Pass interference restrictions for B ended the moment the shovel pass was touched by anyone. B will likely decline the illegal-pass penalty and just keep the interception — though if accepted, it's 5 yards and loss of down from the spot of the pass, with A retaining the ball.

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CASE PLAY — 7.5.10 SITUATION A

When Interference Becomes a Double or Multiple Foul

THE PLAY

During a pass play where the ball crosses the neutral zone, ineligible A1 is illegally downfield, and: (a) B1 illegally contacts him with an elbow; or (b) A1 blocks B1.

THE RULING

(a) B1's personal foul and A1's illegal-downfield foul combine into a double foul — the down is replayed. B1's contact is NOT defensive pass interference, because interference can only occur against an ELIGIBLE receiver, and A1 wasn't one. (Had there been no contact and A1 touched the pass instead, that would have been illegal touching.)

(b) This is a multiple foul — ineligible illegally downfield, AND offensive pass interference.

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CASE PLAY — 7.5.10 SITUATION B

A Downfield Block — Legal or Interference?

THE PLAY

Eligible receiver A1 blocks an opponent 10 yards downfield while a pass is in flight. The pass is completed to A2, who is: (a) beyond the neutral zone, or (b) behind the neutral zone when he catches it. The covering official, seeing A1's block, immediately drops a flag.

THE RULING

(a) It's a foul for pass interference. (b) It's a legal block.

The official was right to flag it in the moment in (b) too — downfield, there's no way to know in advance whether the pass will end up completed beyond or behind the neutral zone, so flagging first and confirming after is the correct mechanic.

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CASE PLAY — 7.5.10 — C, D

No Contact, No Foul — Usually

THE PLAY

(C) A1 or B1 is positioned to catch or intercept a pass beyond the neutral zone. A nearby opponent turns his back to the ball, faces the potential receiver, and waves his arms to block his vision — without making contact.

(D) B3 gets in the path of receiver A4 without making contact. A4 either (a) slows down to avoid contact, or (b) initiates contact trying to reach the ball anyway.

THE RULING

(D) No foul in (a). In (b), it's A4 who commits offensive pass interference — by initiating the contact himself, even though B3 never touched him first.

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CASE PLAY — 7.5.10 SITUATION E

Interference Combined With Being Downfield Illegally

THE PLAY

A1 throws a screen pass behind the neutral zone. B1 touches it, and it continues in flight beyond the neutral zone: (a) A2 has already gone downfield and blocks B2 before the pass is touched; or (b) ineligible A3 is already downfield beyond the neutral zone before the pass is in flight.

THE RULING

Legal in both — because B1 touched the pass in or behind the neutral zone, the downfield restrictions on A2's block and on A3 being downfield are both lifted, just as in the earlier screen-pass rulings.

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CASE PLAY — 7.5.11

Contact After the Pass Is Clearly Uncatchable

THE PLAY

(A) A11 runs a deep post pattern. B11 either (a) contacts him, knocking him off his path, or (b) grabs his jersey — in both cases, after the pass has already crossed the neutral zone and is clearly headed away from A11.

(B) A11 runs straight upfield. After the ball has left the passer's hand, B9 illegally blocks him, throwing him off his pattern. The pass is completed to A10, clearly on the opposite side of the field.

THE RULING

(A) No pass interference in (a) — the pass was clearly not intended for A11. But (b) is still a foul, for illegal holding, regardless of where the pass was headed.

(B) No pass interference call on B9 either — but a flag should have been thrown for the illegal block. Not every foul near a receiver during a pass play is pass interference; some are simply their own separate foul.

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CASE PLAY — 7.5.12

Ineligible Players and the Expanded Neutral Zone

THE PLAY

(A) At the snap, interior lineman A1 moves about 3 yards downfield, finds no one to block, and retreats behind the neutral zone to block for A2, who eventually throws a pass that crosses the neutral zone.

(B) Before A1 throws a pass beyond the neutral zone, A2 contacts lineman B1 and drives him back 4 yards.

THE RULING

(A) A1 is an ineligible player illegally downfield. The prohibition starts at the snap — the fact that he retreated behind the neutral zone before the pass was thrown doesn't matter. Ineligible A players may advance into the EXPANDED neutral zone during a pass down, but never beyond it.

(B) Offensive pass interference by A2 — he drove B1 beyond the expanded neutral zone, which is exactly the kind of contact the expanded-zone boundary exists to prevent.

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CASE PLAY — 7.5.13

Illegal Touching, and Becoming Eligible

THE PLAY

(A) Ineligible receiver A2 — behind, in, or beyond the neutral zone, having done nothing that could be pass interference — is involved when A1's forward pass: (a) accidentally strikes him in the back; (b) is muffed by him; or (c) is caught by him.

(B) A1's forward pass is deflected by B1, then caught by interior lineman A2 behind the neutral zone.

THE RULING

(A) No foul in (a) — accidental contact isn't illegal touching. But (b) and (c) both ARE illegal touching — muffing or catching the ball is treated as intentional, not accidental, even if it doesn't feel that way in the moment.

(B) No foul at all — A2 became an eligible receiver the instant B1 touched the pass, so his catch behind the neutral zone is completely legal.

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

Rule 7, Part 2 — Recap

Forward handing and backward handing are judged by different reference points — the BALL's position tells you behind/in/beyond the neutral zone, but the RECEIVING PLAYER's position tells you whether it's forward handing at all.

The two grounding exceptions are narrow by design: Exception 1 covers only an unmishandled direct snap; Exception 2 requires the passer to be the ONLY player who touched the ball after the snap. Either one breaks the moment the ball is mishandled or shared.

Pass interference restrictions only exist beyond the neutral zone, and only for a pass that's still untouched when it gets there — once anyone touches it, or it goes incomplete, those restrictions end for everyone.

A screen pass touched by B in or behind the neutral zone unlocks downfield blocking AND downfield ineligible players at the same time — one touch resolves two separate restrictions.

Forward progress often decides a catch ruling before the actual catch is even complete — if a defender's contact stops progress in the end zone, it's a touchdown even if the receiver comes down somewhere else.

The momentum exception only applies when the catch itself happens in the field of play and carries the receiver into the end zone — if the catch is completed IN the end zone to begin with, momentum never enters into it.