NFL Catch Rule vs. NCAA & NFHS

[FormerUmp]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

If a play was on the sideline, if you do not get two feet down, it is not a catch. Not sure why this is hard to understand if you are diving to the ground or get hit and the ball comes out. This is a similar process that a catch must be completed in almost every single way.

Because on a play like this, people see him catch the ball and control it enough to reach it across the goal line. They view that level of control as possession regardless of how the rule is written.

They see a player with a knee down in-bounds, control of the ball and the ball breaking the plane. It makes sense that people would see that as a touchdown, even if it isn't by rule. The rule is a little counter-intuitive that way.