Just to clarify your question: "How many passes can a quarterback
attempt?"
Your question might be deceptively simple. I researched the NFL rules
primarily.
In a game or play there is no maximum number of passes as long as the
quarterback has not passed the line of scrimmage. Someone must touch
the ball before the quarterback touches it again. You cannot pass to
yourself.
The player can lateral the ball (backwards not forward). If the legal
receiver down field catches the ball, it can then be passed to the
quarterback again. The trick is that the quarterback that receives
this pass cannot again pass the ball once he is passed the line of
scrimmage.
These examples are per play. Each play can add up to several passes
for a game.
____________________________________
Here are the official rules regarding passes from the NFL's Official
Web Site
http://ww2.nfl.com/fans/rules/forwardpass.html.
“Digest of Rules
Forward Pass
1. A forward pass may be touched or caught by any eligible receiver.
All members of the defensive team are eligible. Eligible receivers on
the offensive team are players on either end of line (other than
center, guard, or tackle) or players at least one yard behind the line
at the snap. A T-formation quarterback is not eligible to receive a
forward pass during a play from scrimmage.
Exception: T-formation quarterback becomes eligible if pass is
previously touched by an eligible receiver.
2. An offensive team may make only one forward pass during each play
from scrimmage (Loss of 5 yards).
3. The passer must be behind his line of scrimmage (Loss of down and
five yards, enforced from the spot of pass).
4. Any eligible offensive player may catch a forward pass. If a pass
is touched by one eligible offensive player and touched or caught by a
second offensive player, pass completion is legal. Further, all
offensive players become eligible once a pass is touched by an
eligible receiver or any defensive player.
5. The rules concerning a forward pass and ineligible receivers:
(a) If ball is touched accidentally by an ineligible receiver on or
behind his line: loss of five yards.
(b) If ineligible receiver is illegally downfield: loss of five yards.
(c) If touched or caught (intentionally or accidentally) by ineligible
receiver beyond the line: loss of 5 yards.
6. The player who first controls and continues to maintain control of
a pass will be awarded the ball even though his opponent later
establishes joint control of the ball.
7. Any forward pass becomes incomplete and ball is dead if:
(a) Pass hits the ground or goes out of bounds.
(b) Pass hits the goal post or the crossbar of either team.
8. A forward pass is complete when a receiver clearly possesses the
pass and touches the ground with both feet inbounds while in
possession of the ball. If a receiver would have landed inbounds with
both feet but is carried or pushed out of bounds while maintaining
possession of the ball, pass is complete at the out-of- bounds spot.
9. On a fourth down pass an incomplete pass results in a loss of down
at the line of scrimmage.
10. If a personal foul is committed by the defense prior to the
completion of a pass, the penalty is 15 yards from the spot where ball
becomes dead.
11. If a personal foul is committed by the offense prior to the
completion of a pass, the penalty is 15 yards from the previous line
of scrimmage.”
____________________________________________
About the backwards pass, here are the official rules, again from the
NFL: http://ww2.nfl.com/fans/rules/backwardpass.html
Digest of Rules
Backward Pass
1. Any pass not forward is regarded as a backward pass. A pass
parallel to the line is a backward pass. A runner may pass backward at
any time.
2. A backward pass that strikes the ground can be recovered and
advanced by either team.
3. A backward pass caught in the air can be advanced by either team.
4. A backward pass in flight may not be batted forward by an offensive
player.
___________________________________________
Pass related penalties from the NFL:
http://ww2.nfl.com/fans/rules/penaltysummaries.html
Second forward pass behind the line. 5 yards
Forward pass touches or is caught by an ineligible receiver on or
behind line. 5 yards
Forward pass thrown from behind line of scrimmage after ball once
crossed the line. 5 yards
Forward pass thrown from beyond line of scrimmage. 5 yards and loss of
down
____________________________________________
No rule in the rule digest describes a problem with the number of
passes or pass attempts, only how they are executed.
Hope this answers your question. If you need further clarification,
don’t hesitate to write back here to specify.
Thanks!
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