2-13-1-d says: A backward handoff occurs when the ball carrier releases the ball before it is beyond the yard line where the ball carrier is positioned.
With that in mind it would seem to follow then that a forward handoff would occur when the ball carrier releases the ball after it is beyond the yard line where the ball carrier is positioned.
However the following two plays seem to differ.
NCAA Replay Casebook - Page 39 - play #23 - Legal Handoff
A 1/10 @ A20. A22 runs to the 50. As he is being tackled, he hands the ball to A30 who is running parallel with him. A30 initially touches the ball at the 50 but doesn’t control it until the Team B 48-yard line. A30 runs for a touchdown.
Ruling: Reviewable play, regarding whether the handoff is forward or backward. Reverse to no foul. Touchdown counts. (Rule 12-3-2-c)
And then in Reddings on page 76, Play #14
A 2/10 @ A20. A35 takes a handoff and runs to the A-30. As he is being tackled, he hands the ball to A22 who is running parallel with him. A22 initially touches the ball at the A-30 but doesn’t control it until he gets to the A-32 ahead of A35. A22 then scores.
Ruling: The touchdown stands. In order for an illegal forward handoff to occur, the player receiving the handoff must be clearly in advance of the player making the handoff when he touches the ball.
Is there somewhere in the rule book, or an AR, that I’m missing that talks about the spot where the ball is touched as being important? Is it a philosophy?
Well, it isn't a formal philosophy, although it does fit the concept of making sure the foul is "big." The two examples don't actually address the rule, i.e., the original BC must 'release' the ball before it is beyond the yardline where the BC is positioned. Perhaps the original BC did, in fact, release the ball before the ball got beyond his yard line. The other incomplete element of the rule is: Must the ENTIRE ball be beyond the line? Or any part of the ball? Lacking any formal direction on this, I vote for "entire ball". That comes close to fitting the examples provided. In the examples, the player receiving the handoff touches the ball at the yard line, which would highly likely mean that only part of the ball was beyond the yard line, and he likely controlled the ball by the time the entire ball got past the yard line.
Close. Not "big" enough to rule a foul.
Where we see this the most is with the ol' "Starburst" on kickoffs. When the BC stands facing his own goal line, and a teammate runs straight N-S right by him, it will be very difficult for him to release the ball before the ball gets beyond his yard line. However, if the teammate runs across in front of the BC at a 45 degree angle or so, and the exchange begins behind the yard line, then it is highly likely that the original BC would release the ball before the ball gets completely beyond the yard line.
Make it big.
Big would be a BC gets wrapped up about a half-yard from the LTG, and he reaches the ball forward to a teammate an arms' length ahead of him. Easy call.
