Is it spelled in NFL rules that arm going upward starts throwing motion?

quote:

---

The weirdest thing is this.... If you take the snap, turn around the opposite direction, and throw the ball, it is a fumble....So even IF their rule was that, it should be a fumble.

---

quote:

---

Not citing specifically the rule, but on broadcasts it has been "if the arm is starting forward motion" for years

---

quote:

---

when a Team A player is holding the ball to pass it forward, any intentional movement forward of his hand starts a forward pass.

---

quote:

---

Section 21 - Pass

Article 1. Pass

A pass is the movement caused by a player intentionally throwing, or shoveling/pushing (shovel pass) the ball.

Article 2. Passer And Passing Team

A player who makes a legal forward pass is known as the passer until the play ends. The teammates of any player who passes the ball forward (legally or illegally) are known collectively as the passing team or passers.

Article 3. Forward Pass

It is a forward pass if:

the ball initially moves forward (to a point nearer the opponent’s goal line) after leaving the passer’s hand(s);
the ball first touches the ground, a player, an official, or anything else at a point that is nearer the opponent’s goal line than the point at which the ball leaves the passer’s hand(s); or
when a Team A player is holding the ball to pass it forward, any intentional movement forward of his hand starts a forward pass.

Item 1. Contact by Team B Player.

If contact by an opponent materially affects a passer after the passer begins his throwing motion, it is a forward pass if he passes the ball, regardless of where the ball strikes the ground, a player, an official, or anything else. When this occurs, intentional grounding rules do not apply.

When a passer is contacted by an opponent before beginning his throwing motion, the direction of the pass is the responsibility of the passer, and intentional grounding rules apply.

Item 2. Passer Tucks Ball.

If the player loses possession of the ball during an attempt to bring it back toward his body, or if the player loses possession after he has tucked the ball into his body, it is a fumble.

Item 3. Passer Re-Cocks His Arm.

If the player loses possession of the ball while attempting to re-cock his arm, it is a fumble.

Item 4. Fumbled or Muffed Ball Goes Forward.

The fact that a fumbled or muffed ball goes forward is disregarded, unless the act is ruled intentional. If it is intentional, a fumbled ball that goes forward is a forward pass (8-1-1), and a muff is a bat (12-5-1).

Article 4. Backward Pass

It is a Backward Pass if the yard line at which the ball is first touched by a player or the ground is parallel to or behind the yard line at which the ball leaves the passer’s hand. A snap becomes a backward pass when the snapper releases the ball.

Note: If a pass is batted, muffed, punched, or kicked in any direction, its original designation as a forward pass or a backward pass does not change.

---

Loading Twitter/X Embed...
If tweet fails to load, click here.