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College Football/Pass completion

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Expert: - 9/7/2008


Question
I am watching the Miami Vs. Florida game 9/6/08 and a player caught the ball, landing out of bounds,his elbow landed inbound but he dropped the ball when he hit the ground. Is this a catch in college football? Does he not have to maintain control of the ball after hitting the ground? Thanks,

Answer
David
I did not see the game, I was working my own game.  Yes a player must maintain control of the ball to complete the catch otherwise it is incomplete.  I would need to see the play as you describe.

By rule and definition A catch is an act of firmly establishing player possession of a live ball in flight. Securing player possession of a live ball after it strikes the ground is
“recovering it.’’  That is not a catch.  To catch, intercept or recover a ball, a player who leaves his feet to make a catch, interception or recovery must have the ball firmly in his
possession when he first returns to the ground inbounds with any part of his body or is so held that the dead-ball provisions of Rule 4-1-3-p apply

If one foot first lands inbounds and the receiver has possession
and control of the ball, it is a catch or interception even though a
subsequent step or fall takes the receiver out of bounds.  Loss of ball simultaneous to returning to the ground is not a catch. A catch by any kneeling or prone inbounds player is a completion or
interception (Rules 7-3-1 and 2 and 7-3-6 and 7). When in question, the catch, recovery or interception is not completed.

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