[grantsrc]

Something else to keep in mind as far as catch vs no catch is direction of force from defender. If the direction of the force by the defender is in the same direction the receiver is headed, then you have no catch.

For instance, a receiver is headed towards the sidelines, possesses the ball while in the air and his momentum is headed towards the sidelines. B pushes him from in the back causing him to land out of bounds. This is not a catch. The casebook has the following play which supports this.

Situation 7.5.2L: A pass from A1 is thrown near the intersection of the sideline and the goal line. A2, running toward the goal line, leaps and possesses the pass at the 3-yard line and is forcibly: (a) contacted from the front by B1 so that A2 contacts the ground out of bounds opposite B’s 4-yard line; or (b) contacted from the side by B1 and A2 first contacts the ground out of bounds opposite the 3-yard line; or (c) tackled from behind by B1 so that first contact with the ground by A2 is out of bounds 1 yard beyond the goal line; or (d) tackled from behind by B1 so that A2 first contacts the ground in the end zone.

Ruling: Completed pass in both (a) and (b). In (a) and (b), the contact by B1 changed the direction of A2 and he is given forward progress. It is an incomplete pass in (c), but touchdown in (d). In (c) and (d), the added force in the general direction the player was moving, is not considered a factor affecting his spot of landing. Therefore, when A2 landed out of bounds in (c), the pass was incomplete. Landing in B’s end zone in (d) results in a touchdown. (2-15-1, 2; 8-2-1)