For backward handing, must all of the ball be behind the runner?

The correct response highlights that any part of the ball being on or behind the yard line is sufficient for backward handing to be considered legal. In football, the rule is designed to ensure that the ball remains in a position where the player can legally pass it backward without concern for strict positioning. This means that as long as the ball is not strictly ahead of the runner and is either on or behind the line of scrimmage, the backward pass is valid.

In contrast, the other options may misinterpret the specific requirements for a backward pass. For instance, suggesting that the entire ball must be behind the runner is overly restrictive since only a portion of the ball needs to meet this requirement. Similarly, mentioning that it must start behind the runner doesn’t account for scenarios where the ball can still be legally handled as long as it remains on or behind the line of scrimmage. Lastly, the mention of a designated area may add unnecessary complexity without relevance to the basic rule regarding backward handing. Understanding this guideline helps clarify the legality of ball positioning during gameplay.