General
lateral
What does lateral mean?
A toss of the ball to a teammate who is even with or behind the passer; unlike a forward pass, it can happen anywhere and multiple times.
"On the final play they threw lateral after lateral trying to score."
Origin
American football; short for 'lateral pass,' meaning sideways or backward.
Frequently asked questions
What is a lateral in football?
A lateral is a toss of the ball to a teammate who is level with or behind the passer, and unlike a forward pass it can be thrown anywhere and repeatedly.
What's the difference between a lateral and a forward pass?
A forward pass goes downfield and only one is allowed per play from behind the line, while a lateral goes sideways or backward and can happen any number of times.
Why do teams throw laterals at the end of a game?
On a desperate final play with no time left, teams keep pitching laterals to teammates to keep the ball alive and try to reach the end zone.
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