Incomplete Pass or Catch and Fumble

The definition of a catch in the NFHS football rules book was clarified in 2015:

Rule 2-4-1 – “A catch is the act of establishing player possession of a live ball which is in flight, and first contacting the ground inbounds while maintaining possession of the ball or having the forward progress of the player in possession stepped while the opponent is carrying the player who is in possession and inbounds.”

Here is a Ray Lutz “Forward Progress” post from November 1, 2011 (Edited and amplified for clarity)

Our crew has become much stronger over the years in deciding whether a play was an incomplete pass or a catch-and-fumble.

The “no cheap” turnover philosophy began to emerge in the middle 1990’s and has given us a philosophy to help adjudicate one of the most challenging plays in football.

Here is a play I remember from some time ago. It was in the Palmer-Wasson game, which was the premier game of the year in those days. A receiver at midfield went airborne and possessed the ball, and just as his feet touched the turf, he was hit and lost control of the ball. The defenders recovered, and they were awarded the ball. The play affected the outcome of the game and was the subject of much commentary in the papers and on the television for some time.

In a Colorado state championship game in the 1990’s, a receiver went airborne and possessed the pass, and just as his feet hit the turf, he was contacted and coughed up the ball. The play was ruled a touchdown. This play received enormous coverage at the time.

In both plays above, the receiver was never able to demonstrate that he had control of the ball. Both receivers were never able to “tuck” the ball in. Neither receiver was able to make a move to “protect” the ball. Neither receiver was able to turn upfield. Neither receiver was able to take a stride with the ball. Neither was able to demonstrate any athletic action after possessing the ball. These are the true “bang-bang” plays.

It is probably a good and fair policy to rule both plays as incomplete passes. Before ruling it a catch, make sure the receiver has demonstrated in some way that he has possessed and controlled the ball, has made some athletic move, etc.

From the 2024 Redding Study Guide (page 41): Catching the ball is a process, not an act. The process includes:

Securing firm control of a live ball in flight with the arms or hands before the ball touches the ground,
First touching the ground inbounds with any part of his body, and
Maintaining control of the ball “long enough.”

Maintaining control of the ball long enough means an undefined time element is associated with a catch. It makes sense to say if a player can perform an act common to the game, the ball has been controlled long enough to demonstrate a catch has been made. Such an act can be: pitch or hand the ball, advance it (two steps), avoid or ward off an opponent, tuck it in, turn up-field, or extend it, etc.

Quiz

Read the quiz stem and then choose the best answer(s). (Choose all that apply.)

3/5 from the A-40. A88 jumps and catches a pass near the sideline. B45 contacts airborne A88 and drives him backward. A88 lands simultaneously on both feet at midfield, one foot inbounds and the other out of bounds.