[Suudy]

From 10-3-1:

ART. 1 . . . A loose-ball play is action during:

a. A free kick or scrimmage kick, other than those defined in 2-33-1a.

b. A legal forward pass.

c. A backward pass (including the snap), illegal kick or fumble made by A from in or behind the neutral zone and prior to a change of team possession.

NOTE: The run(s) which precedes such legal or illegal kick, legal forward pass, backward pass or fumble is (are) considered part of the action during a loose-ball play.