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football rules question
Posted on 8/10/23 at 10:25 pm
Posted on 8/10/23 at 10:25 pm
If a ball carrier lands on a defender who is on the ground, but doesn't himself go down, then he is not down.
But what if a WR secures a ball before he goes out, but part of his body is resting on a player who is out of bounds?
For example, suppose we're trying to decide if the following is a catch: offensive player A bobbles a catch, and goes to the ground trying to secure the catch. Suppose he gains control prior to any part of his body touching out of bounds, but his leg is resting on the arm of a defender B, and the arm of the defender B is on the ground out of bounds. Is it a catch, or not?
But what if a WR secures a ball before he goes out, but part of his body is resting on a player who is out of bounds?
For example, suppose we're trying to decide if the following is a catch: offensive player A bobbles a catch, and goes to the ground trying to secure the catch. Suppose he gains control prior to any part of his body touching out of bounds, but his leg is resting on the arm of a defender B, and the arm of the defender B is on the ground out of bounds. Is it a catch, or not?
This post was edited on 8/10/23 at 10:27 pm
6
Posted on 8/10/23 at 10:48 pm to Hugh McElroy
Posted on 8/10/23 at 10:49 pm to dhuck20
Apparently, nobody knows...
The scenario is definitely possible. It almost happened in a preseason game tonight.
The scenario is definitely possible. It almost happened in a preseason game tonight.
Posted on 8/10/23 at 10:53 pm to Hugh McElroy
I don't know. Here's a two legged dog though to improve the thread
Posted on 8/10/23 at 10:57 pm to Hugh McElroy
Depends on if Player A plays for Bama 
Posted on 8/10/23 at 11:10 pm to Hugh McElroy
What part of his body touches ground first and is it in bounds or out? Seems obvious.
Posted on 8/10/23 at 11:24 pm to junkfunky
quote:
What part of his body touches ground first and is it in bounds or out? Seems obvious.
Doesn't seem obvious to me!
In the play tonight, the defender was out of bounds, on the ground, with his arm on the ground out of bounds. The WR pulled in the bobble with most all of his body in bounds, but a leg sticking out of bounds, but not on the ground. It does touch the defender's arm, which is out and on the ground.
Posted on 8/10/23 at 11:26 pm to Hugh McElroy
You're not out of bounds until you touch the ground out of bounds.
Posted on 8/10/23 at 11:27 pm to Hugh McElroy
Really stupid question 
Posted on 8/10/23 at 11:54 pm to Hugh McElroy
quote:
Doesn't seem obvious to me!
My initial response was based on drunkenly assuming defenders are similar to refs as being part of the field. Which brings up another interesting question of an offensive player landing on a ref and whether they are automatically down or not.
As far as your op....I don't know.
Posted on 8/11/23 at 12:06 am to junkfunky
quote:
As far as your op....I don't know.
Me neither, but I think Krampus is correct.
Posted on 8/11/23 at 6:59 am to Hugh McElroy
The rule is:
A player is out of bounds when any part of his body is touching anything, other than another player or game official, that is out of bounds.
I did not see the play, but it sounds like the defender is out of bounds but the receiver would not be out of bounds until part of his body touches the ground out of bounds.
A player is out of bounds when any part of his body is touching anything, other than another player or game official, that is out of bounds.
I did not see the play, but it sounds like the defender is out of bounds but the receiver would not be out of bounds until part of his body touches the ground out of bounds.
Posted on 8/11/23 at 7:18 am to junkfunky
quote:
My initial response was based on drunkenly assuming defenders are similar to refs as being part of the field. Which brings up another interesting question of an offensive player landing on a ref and whether they are automatically down or not.
THis rule has changed over the years like so many. Once upon a time a defender was considered the ground if you were tackled. In other words, if you get tackled and you were on top of the defender you were still down. Now, if your still moving and on top of a defender you are not down.
To answer the original question, if the player has any part of the body touching the ground at any time during control of the ball it is considered out of bounds. I saw a 49er game one year when Walsh was coaching that the opposing team kicked off and the ball was about a yard form the sideline. The 49er player went over by it, laid down out of bounds and then reached over and recovered the ball that was still inbounds making it a kickoff that went out of bounds and a penalty against the kicking team.
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