<P> In American football and Canadian football, a lateral pass or lateral (officially backward pass in American football and onside pass in Canadian football) occurs when the ball carrier throws the football to a teammate in a direction parallel to or away from the opponents' goal line . A lateral pass is distinguished from a forward pass, in which the ball is thrown forward, towards the opposition's end zone . In a lateral pass the ball is not advanced, but unlike a forward pass a lateral may be attempted from anywhere on the field by any player to any player at any time . </P> <P> While the forward pass is an invention of the North American games, the lateral and backward pass is also a part of rugby union and rugby league, where such passes are the norm . Compared to its use in rugby, laterals and backward passes are less common in North American football, due to a much greater focus on ball control in American football strategy; they are most commonly used by the quarterback, after taking the snap, to quickly transfer ("pitch") the ball a short distance to a nearby running back (or, rarely, wide receiver) on a rushing play . Laterals are also often seen as part of a last - minute desperation strategy or as part of a trick play . Examples of plays utilizing the lateral pass are the toss, flea flicker, hook and lateral, and buck - lateral . </P>

Can you pass the ball forward in american football