Legal Catch

[sorrydog]

See what U guys answer is on the following:

13. Defensive back B15 and receiver A7 both simultaneously catch a legal
forward pass at the back of the end zone. B15 lands on the end line and
A7 lands in the end zone. Both maintain possession falling to the
ground. This is an incomplete pass.

A. True
B. False

[Robert Goodman]

Who lands 1st? If the 1st of them to land touches OOB in doing so, it's incomplete. If the 1st lander lands in bounds, it's a catch by that player.

If they land simultaneously, then incomplete.

[GA Umpire 07]

Originally Posted by sorrydog

See what U guys answer is on the following:

13. Defensive back B15 and receiver A7 both simultaneously catch a legal
forward pass at the back of the end zone. B15 lands on the end line and
A7 lands in the end zone. Both maintain possession falling to the
ground. This is an incomplete pass.

A. True
B. False

A. True
Per 7.5.4 Situation A (e), it is an incomplete pass. (2015 Case Book)

7.5.4 SITUATION A:

Airborne A1 and B1 simultaneously gain possession of a legal forward pass near the goal line and return to the ground where:

(a) they alight in the field of play inbounds; or
(b) they alight in the end zone with the ball; or
(c) A1 lands in the end zone and B1 in the field of play inbounds;
(d) B1 comes down in the end zone and A1 lands in the field of play; or
(e) A1 lands in the end zone and B1 lands out of bounds.

RULING: In (a), the ball is dead and belongs to A at the yard line through the foremost point of the ball when A1 and B1 contacted the ground inbounds. It is a touchdown in (b). In (c) and (d), the ball becomes dead and the pass is complete at the yard line through the foremost point of the ball when the players contacted the ground inbounds. If the ball has penetrated the plane of the goal line in either (c) or (d), it is a touchdown. In (e) incomplete pass.

COMMENT: In order for there to be a simultaneous catch, opposing players must have simultaneous joint possession, and both must be in contact with the ground inbounds. The players' contact with the ground does not have to be *exactly simultaneous. If A1 and B1 jointly possess a forward pass while airborne and both land inbounds, it is a completed pass, the ball is dead at that point and belongs to A. If there is simultaneous recovery of a fumble, the ball becomes dead and belongs to the team which last had possession. If there is simultaneous recovery of a free kick or scrimmage kick, the ball becomes dead and belongs to the receiving team. (4-2-2c; 7-5-4; 8-2-1)