tapped pass by offense

Question
Is there a rule that during a pass the offensive player cannot tap a pass to his team mate. If a pass bounces off the intended receiver, can it be legally caught by a team mate?

Answer
Otis
Thanks for your question. The Rule section that governs touching a forward and eligibility to touch forward passes is  Rule 7-5-6 (Federation Rules) and 7-3-3 through 7-3-5 (NCAA Rules).

There is no specific rule that states an "offensive player [Team A player} cannot "tap" a pass.  But there are rules that govern who can touch ["tap", muff or bat] a forward pass.  An eligible Team A reciever may muff, touch, bat a legal forwad pass in any direction to another "eligible" Team A player (teammate).

To best understand the rule please know the follow restrictions:

Any defensive player may touch or catch a forward pass.  If the pass first touches a defensive player [Team B player] all players on the field (offensive and defensive) may touch and catch the ball.   Offensive linemen and Offensive players numbered 50-79 may not legally catch a forward pass whether tapped, tipped, batted or muffed by a teammate [Team A player]. Only Offensive players who are backs, ends or recievers legally positioned and not covered by another Team A player may catch the ball or catch aball that was tapped, tipped, batted or muffed by the original legal offensive reciever.

Your second question "If a pass bounces off the intended receiver, can it be legally caught by a team mate" is a very good question.  The answer is a Team A player who was not eligible by rule at the snap to catch a forward pass remains ineligible to touch or catch a forwad pass until the ball is touched by a defensive player [Team B player] or an official.  So if the pass bounces off the intended Team A reciever it can be caught by another offensive receiver or back, but not by a lineman or player numbered 50-79 or a player that was not eligible by position to catch the pass at the snap [a covered player].

If the ball bounces of a defensive player [Team B player] any player on the field can then touch or catch the ball.