Expert: Vic Winnek - 9/23/2005

Question
Thank you very much for your prompt answer, that answer helped a lot. The rules that are being used are NCAA rules. To explain the second part of the question: The receiver catches the ball in the endzone and has full control of the ball while still in the air. he jumped forward and his momentum is carrying him out of the endzone. he is pushed in the back by a defensive player while still in the endzone. he doesnt make contact with the ground until he leaves the endzone and the ball is no longer across the goal line. Does he get forward progress and a touchdown because he made contact with that defensive player in the endzone?

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Followup To
Question -
a receiver, while airborne, caught a pass in the opposing team's endzone. he jumped forward to catch the pass and his momentum carried him out of the endzone towards the field. he caught the ball after it crossed the goal line but did not land until he was inbounds out of the endzone because his momentum carried him out of the endzone. I know this is a catch, but is it a touchdown if the ball did not cross the goal line after his feet touched the ground? Does it matter if a defensive player contacted him while he was in the air, in the endzone, after he caught the ball? would he then be awarded a touchdown because of forward progress?
Answer -
Michael, Thanks for your question.  WHich rule book do you use - NCAA or Federation?  I believe the NCAA ARs address this.  This is a common yet good question and it is easily understood by reading the defination of a "catch" & Possession.  

Based on the information above, the Receiver gains possession of the ball while in the air.  A catch is not complete until the receiver touches the ground inbounds [****or touches a grounded player or official].  This later part opens a great discussion.

Based on your question, it is NOT at TD.  You do not award a TD.  Forward progress on this pass play is not established until the Receiver returns to the ground in the field of play.  Rule of thumb- THE BALL MUST CROSS THE GOAL LINE IN PLAYER POSSESSION FOR A TOUCHDOWND.  Here the ball did not so there is no touch down.  

Answer
FOLLOW UP:  I hope my answer helped.  If you need any further information or a follow-up, please feel free to ask.
Thanks,
Vic Winnek
Football Official

PS. If you'd be so kind as to rate or comment on my response I and AllExperts would greatly appreciate it.  Thanks.
FOLLOW-UP::

SEE Rules:
2-2-5  POSSESSION
2-2-7-c To catch ... a ball, a player who leaves his feet...MUST have the ball in his possession when he FIRST RETURNS TO THE GROUND INBOUNDS...

See AR 5-1-3  on FI-18.

See AR 7-3-6(IV,)

A pass receiver who is airborne when he grasps/controls/receives the ball MUST complete the catch to score a TD eventhough he first touches in the field of play.  (SEE AR 5-1-3-I; II)  Distinguish from being carried out of EZ (AR 7-3-7- IV)

Example:  A99 is airborne and just inside B's end zone (EZ) when he receives a pass.  B51 contact A99 while A99 is airborne beyond B's goal line.  A99 first touches (comes down) at the 2 yardline where he is downed and the ball is dead by rule.  RULING TD. Rationale: A99 would have completed the catch in the EZ "but for" the contact by B51.  The ball had penetrated the plane of the Goal Line in B's EZ and the catch is deemed complete in the EZ eventhough A99 first touched at the 2. It is very important to note that A99 must be downed and the ball dead by rule at the B-2 yard line!!!!!   Now, the above example assumes that A99 when he touches the the 2 yard line was not on his feet.

If A99 is contacted in the EZ, lands on his feet at the B-2 and is still under his own power a TD will not be deemed.  At that point A99 becomes a runner and must carry the ball across the goal line because the ball is not yet declared dead by rule.

Assume the same facts above, but A99 first touches out of bounds rather than in the field of play.  That is considered an incomplete pass. SEE 7-3-7 and the ARs.

Now if there is NO CONTACT by B51, A99 is down at the B2 yard lineunless he lands on his feet and carries the ball across the Goal line...