When you watch a game of American football, terminology matters. Coaches, commentators, and players throw around words like pass, pitch, lateral, and handoff with split-second precision. But a persistent grey area often leaves fans confused: is a pitch considered a pass? The short answer is yes and no, depending entirely on the direction of the ball and the rulebook context you are examining.
In American football, a pitch is a specific type of lateral underhand toss from the quarterback to a running back. Because the ball travels parallel to the line of scrimmage or backward, the official rules classify it as a lateral pass. Unlike a forward pass, which is strictly regulated and limited to one per play from behind the line of scrimmage, a lateral or pitch can happen infinitely anywhere on the field, at any time, by any player.
To truly understand how a pitch fits into football mechanics, we need to break down the mechanics, the rulebook definitions, and why this distinction changes strategy entirely.
The Official Rulebook Definition of a Pitch
The National Football League (NFL) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rulebooks do not actually feature a standalone definition for the word "pitch." Instead, the rulebooks categorize tosses, shovel passes, and basketball-style basketball flips under the umbrella of a lateral pass or backward pass.
A backward pass is defined as any pass thrown parallel to the line of scrimmage or directly backward toward the throwing player's own end line. Because of this, a pitch is legally a pass. However, when everyday fans ask if a pitch is a pass, they are usually wondering if it follows the same restrictive laws as the standard forward pass.
The differences between a forward pass and a pitch are stark:
- Direction: A forward pass must travel toward the opponent's goal line. A pitch must travel parallel or backward.
- Frequency: An offense can only throw one legal forward pass during a scrimmage down, and it must occur from behind the line of scrimmage. An offense can pitch the ball as many times as they want during a single play.
- Incomplete Pass Consequence: If a forward pass hits the ground untouched, the play is dead and results in an incomplete pass. If a pitch hits the ground untouched, it is treated as a fumble, meaning the ball is live and can be recovered by either team.
- Eligible Receivers: Only specific eligible receivers downfield can catch a forward pass. Anyone on the field can catch or recover a pitch or lateral.
Why Teams Use the Pitch in Modern Offenses
Coaches utilize the pitch to stretch the defense horizontally before linebackers and safeties can react. Running an option offense, such as the triple-option or wishbone schemes heavily used in college football and occasionally in the NFL, relies entirely on the pitch.
When the quarterback reads a crashing defensive end, he decides whether to keep the ball, hand it off, or pitch it to the trailing running back. By turning the pitch into an extension of the run game, offenses force defenders to cover more ground laterally. If the quarterback misjudges the timing and tosses the ball forward instead of backward, disaster strikes. A forward toss past the line of scrimmage is penalized as an illegal forward pass, carrying a heavy yardage penalty and a loss of down.
Common Misconceptions About Pitches and Passes
Fans and casual viewers frequently mix up terminology because television announcers use conversational shorthand. Here are the most common points of confusion cleared up:
- The Shovel Pass vs. The Pitch: A shovel pass is typically pushed forward from beneath, making it a forward pass if it moves toward the opponent's goal line. A pitch is almost always executed underhand and backward or parallel.
- Fumbles vs. Interceptions: Because a pitch is a legal backward pass, dropping it results in a fumble. If a defender catches a pitch out of the air, it is officially recorded as a fumble recovery, not an interception, because the ball was never a forward pass.
- The Myth of the 22nd Rule: Internet rumors and low-quality online articles occasionally reference mythical regulations like a "22nd rule" governing pitches. No such rule exists in standard football rulebooks. Play governance relies on standard scrimmage, backward pass, and fumble protocols.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a pitch happen anywhere on the field?
Yes. Unlike a forward pass, which must be thrown from behind the line of scrimmage, a pitch (backward pass) can happen anywhere on the field at any time, even after a player has crossed the line of scrimmage or during a fumble scramble.
What happens if a pitch goes forward by accident?
If the quarterback or ball carrier tosses the ball forward relative to the field, referees rule it an illegal forward pass. This results in a five-yard penalty from the spot of the pass and a loss of down.
Is a backward pass considered a turnover if dropped?
Not automatically. If a pitch hits the ground, it is a live-ball fumble. Either team can recover it. If the defensive team picks it up, it results in a fumble recovery, which can be returned for a touchdown.
Can a wide receiver throw a pitch?
Yes. Any offensive player can pitch or lateral the ball to a teammate at any time, provided the motion is parallel or backward. This is commonly seen on hook-and-ladder trick plays or during chaotic last-second lateral sequences at the end of a half or game.
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