Illegal Batting of a Backwards Pass

[Fatso]

It is illegal for A to bat a backwards pass forward. 

So what happens if B recovers the ball after the illegal bat?   Also, does it matter if the backwards pass is in flight or grounded, any difference?

thx

[ncwingman]

It is illegal for A to bat a backwards pass forward. 

So what happens if B recovers the ball after the illegal bat?   Also, does it matter if the backwards pass is in flight or grounded, any difference?

thx

B can decline the foul for the illegal bat and keep the ball, or enforce the foul if that's a better result somehow. I could come up with some scenarios, like they then fumbled the ball back to A, but they're probably going to decline the foul and keep the ball.

Nobody can bat a grounded pass or fumble. Anybody (eligible receivers for a pass) can bat a pass or fumble in flight - except for what you mentioned, A cannot bat the backward pass in flight forward. None of that changes the fact that B can recover a backward pass or fumble. Illegal batting does not change the status of the ball.

[Fatso]

B can decline the foul for the illegal bat and keep the ball, or enforce the foul if that's a better result somehow. I could come up with some scenarios, like they then fumbled the ball back to A, but they're probably going to decline the foul and keep the ball.

Nobody can bat a grounded pass or fumble. Anybody (eligible receivers for a pass) can bat a pass or fumble in flight - except for what you mentioned, A cannot bat the backward pass in flight forward. None of that changes the fact that B can recover a backward pass or fumble. Illegal batting does not change the status of the ball.

Got it, thanks. 

[Ralph Damren]

A  for batting a backward pass forward originated in a UMaine-UNH game.......

SCENE: UNH  @ UMaine back in the 1970's . Rainy/cold day, I was at a frat house lunching on some ' antifreese' in pre-game. Field conditions were less than poor,0-0 game ,4th period , UMaine in FG range.....

ACT I : Ball snapped to holder, he pitches ball backwards towards kicker;

ACT II : Kicker was also an excellent vollyball player, he bats the backward snap forward, towards goal line;
ACT III : UNH had one player back and watched as ball  toward EZ. 

ACT IV : Big ole' TE for Maine lumbered down ,scooped up the ball and stepped into EZ  .

ACT V :  (NCCAA = 5-man crew back then .

ACT VI : My buddies and I all leaped to ourfeet  'some fell, pre game 'meal' may have been acause

ACT V : Maine won 6-0, the play made NFL Highlights. NCAA outlawed this play at end of season, NFHS did the same the following year.

EPILOGUE: Jack Bicknell was Maine's coach back then, he later went to BC and coached Doug Flute 

[bossman72]

It is illegal for A to bat a backwards pass forward. 

So what happens if B recovers the ball after the illegal bat?   Also, does it matter if the backwards pass is in flight or grounded, any difference?

thx

The batting does not change the status of the ball.  It's still a backward pass in this scenario.