Illegal Forward Pass, Interception, Flag Guarding

authored by Jake Harvanchik

3rd and 2 on A's 38. A-1 receives the snap and begins to scramble farther behind the line of scrimmage. B-1 attempts a flag pull when A-1 dips her shoulder down to prevent the pull. This contact is made at A's 35. A-1 evades the defender and throws a forward pass at A's 40. The pass is completed by A-3 who scores a touchdown. What are ways this can be enforced?

Team A has thrown an illegal forward pass.\nIn (i), if Team B accepts the illegal forward pass penalty, then it will be Team A's ball at A's 21 and a replay fourth down. Since B-8 flag guards, this is a double foul (Rule 10-3-3C), and the Referee should announce that both penalties offset. If Team B declines the penalty and Team A accepts the flag guarding penalty, then it's Team B's ball at B's 10.\nIn (ii), if Team B declines the illegal forward pass penalty, then it will be Team B's ball at B's 25. If Team B accepts the penalty, then Team B is awarded a new series at A's 11.