Quarterback King Passing Rules

Quarterback King was originally designed without passing rules, so that the game was not overly complicated and equally designed as football and chess.  For the football enthusiast, these passing rules are a supplement to the game and are fun to play.

  1. The Quarterback may not have moved past the line of scrimmage prior to the head coach announcing a pass attempt.

  2. A lineman is ineligible to catch a pass and may not be more than one square beyond the line of scrimmage, when a pass is announced or completed.

  3. The offensive head coach must announce he is making a pass attempt. Announcing a pass attempt is considered a move. Once a pass attempt is announced, play is governed by these rules unless the Quarterback moves beyond the line of scrimmage.   If the Quarterback moves beyond the line of scrimmage, the pass attempt is over and the original rules of Quarterback King are to be used.

  4. Any piece on the board may continue to be moved during a pass attempt.

  5. An eligible receiver may not capture a defensive piece beyond the line of scrimmage once a pass attempt is announced (offensive pass interference). If offensive pass interference occurs, a penalty results, and the offensive head coach must punt.  (See page 3 of the Coach’s Playbook for punt rules).  Eligible receivers may capture defensive pieces behind the line of scrimmage.

  6. Defensive pass interference occurs when a defensive piece captures an eligible receiver beyond the line of scrimmage after a pass attempt has been announced. The penalty is the offensive piece returns to the space on the board it occupied, while the defensive piece is removed from the board.  Play continues with the offense’s turn to move.

  7. A pass is complete when the Quarterback has a direct path to an eligible offensive player (a diagonal path to a Wide Receiver, Tight End, or Fullback, a forward or sideways path to a Running back, Tight End, or Fullback), without any defensive player being between the Quarterback and eligible receiver. Offensive players may be in the path of the pass attempt.  The offensive head coach announces completed pass.  This announcement is also considered a move.

  8. If the pass is determined to be complete, the new ball carrier may only move one or two spaces forward (Running back or Fullback), diagonal (Wide Receiver or Fullback), or an “L” shape (Tight End), in any one move. The tight end is still allowed to jump over other pieces.  The ball carrier may now only capture pieces inside the opponent’s ten-yard line.   The new ball carrier may also move backwards according to its piece design.

  9. An incomplete pass occurs after the offensive head coach has announced a completed pass and a defensive piece can immediately move into the path of the pass. Upon an incomplete pass, the offensive coach is forced to punt.  (See page 3 of the Coach’s Playbook for punt rules). 

  10. An interception occurs after the offensive head coach has announced a completed pass and a defensive piece may immediately capture the piece receiving the completed pass. The coaches change pieces and play resumes with the offensive linemen set up at the point of capture.