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College Football/fumble recovery

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Expert: - 10/23/2011


Question
May a player who is out of bounds dive onto the playing field and recover a fumble which is in the air without first touching the field in bounds?

Answer
Gene,
The answer to your question is yes, as long as the individual is a player who was been participating in the play and was on the field at the snap, not a squad member or someone coming off the bench to participate; and as long as it is not on a kicking play.  There is no illegal participation in NCAA football so this is not illegal participation, also since it is a fumble there is no illegal touching restriction (Rule 7-3-11).  If this was a 4th down play any offensive player could recover the fumble but only the fumbler could advance it.  To have a recovery the airborne player gaining control [firmly grasping] of the ball. [Rule 2-2-7-d]

Gene,
Thank you for your rating and comment.  To add a bit more background about some of the rules discussed above, this year 2011 there is no illegal participation in NCAA football the foul was subumed and modified to fit into the illegal substitution rule.  The illegal touching restriction applies on pass plays and kick plays only.  

Last season, the NFL had a few plays that spotlighted the what was and was not a "catch". A catch is the same under all football rules [NFL, NCAA, Federation]. That thought process extends to "recoveries" as well. Officials look at catches and recoveries of a loose ball as a process.  In ruling on whether it is a catch or recovery one must analyze "did th eplayer complete the process of the catch or recovery; did he have "firm" "control" of the ball gasping the ball throughout the action.

This may be a little more information than you wanted, but when you watch a game on TV, especially when a play such as this is under review, watch the different camera angles in slow motion and watch the recovery/catch as a process and look for the elemets above when viewing the play.  This is in part what the replay officials are doing and it is what the on field officials do in "real time" at full speed without benefit of slow motion or different angles.  When you think about that, the on field officials do a pretty good job over all.  The key to their skill is to remain focused and consentrate so they slow down the real time play in their mind.  Similar to a batter in baseball who sees the spin of the laces on a pitched ball.

Feel free to ask any questions as the season goes on.  There are no dumb questions in my book.  Please note From Thursday-Sunday night my response may be slower depending on my football schedule; There are some very good questions asked from time to time [yours was one of them] and I take those questions into my pre-game meeting for the officiating crew to discuss or I use them as a point of discussion when teaching officials.

Thanks again

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Will Answer all queries RE: Rules of Football - NCAA & Federation; Officiating; Instruction on Football; Mechanics & application of rules; Setting up Instructional programs and clinics for: Officials, coaches and media; Liability Issues (Legal & Insurance questions)arising from coaching, playing, refereeing, product liability. Serve as an Consultant and Expert Witness in Football Related Matters in Tort and Contract (Standard of Care for: officials, coaches, players, assignors, BOD; Player, equipment, field & stadium Safety; Fee issues, independant contractor workers compensation. History of the College football game -its evolution. MY PURPOSE IS TO INFORM & EDUCATE FANS, MEDIA, THOSE INTERESTED IN FOOTBALL ABOUT: THE RULES, THEIR APPLICATION, PHILOSOPHIES; OFFICIATING; LEGAL ISSUES INVOLVING FOOTBALL. I WILL NOT RESPOND TO BASHING OF TEAMS, COACHES OR OFFICIALS. I will not dignify rude or disparaging comments with a response, nor entertain questions that use profanity or questions that suggest Football officials are corupt, such an insinuation is ridiculous and ludicrous.

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24 years officiating High School & College football, NCAA Referee, Umpire, Back Judge & Line Judge 2 years Arena Football-substitution official Instructor of NCAA & Federation Officials, Played prep and college football; coached High School football; Athletic trainer; 23 years of instruction in Officiating Football

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NCAA Div. 1 FCS & Div. III, 9 post season Bowl Games, play-offs, CIF Div. 1,2,3,5,8,9,10,12 Final, 10 years CIF Semi-finals, 19 years of CIF play-offs, California State High School Football Div. 1 Championship, Southern California Jr. College Championship, NCAA Div. III Semi-Final

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