forward progress when caught in the air

[PackersFTW]

if the receiver catches the ball in the air at the other team's 9 yard line, but lands both feet down on the 10 yard line. is forward progress given at the 9, or is it at the 10? i would think at the 10, because when you catch a ball in the air, it's not a complete catch yet, you have to establish yourself on the ground, right? i saw a call in the eagles game where this happpened. it wasn't important at all, but he caught it about a yard and a half past the 1st down line, but landed right on the 1st down line, and they spotted it where he caught it in the air, not where he landed after the catch.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by PackersFTW

if the receiver catches the ball in the air at the other team's 9 yard line, but lands both feet down on the 10 yard line. is forward progress given at the 9, or is it at the 10? i would think at the 10, because when you catch a ball in the air, it's not a complete catch yet, you have to establish yourself on the ground, right? i saw a call in the eagles game where this happpened. it wasn't important at all, but he caught it about a yard and a half past the 1st down line, but landed right on the 1st down line, and they spotted it where he caught it in the air, not where he landed after the catch.

Was the receiver's backward motion due to his own action or provided by an opponent?

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by PackersFTW

if the receiver catches the ball in the air at the other team's 9 yard line, but lands both feet down on the 10 yard line. is forward progress given at the 9, or is it at the 10? i would think at the 10, because when you catch a ball in the air, it's not a complete catch yet, you have to establish yourself on the ground, right? i saw a call in the eagles game where this happpened. it wasn't important at all, but he caught it about a yard and a half past the 1st down line, but landed right on the 1st down line, and they spotted it where he caught it in the air, not where he landed after the catch.

CANADIAN RULING:

Forward progress is always where the ball is, no where the feet are. The fundmental concept if forward progress is that you earn (either direction) where you get to on your own accord. If the ball was at the B9 and A1 caught the ball while airborne, and he lands without being touched, with the ball at the B10, then forward progress is the B10. If you're contacted while airborne, you get the spot where the ball was when you were contacted.

I can't imagine that the NFL is different.

[kdf5]

In NF fwd progress is the farthest point of advancement after he possesses the ball if contacted by a defender. The definition of possession is a live ball held or controlled by a player after he....catches it. Therefore he has to catch it, meaning come down to the ground inbounds.

[ajmc]

Originally Posted by PackersFTW

if the receiver catches the ball in the air at the other team's 9 yard line, but lands both feet down on the 10 yard line. is forward progress given at the 9, or is it at the 10? i would think at the 10, because when you catch a ball in the air, it's not a complete catch yet, you have to establish yourself on the ground, right? i saw a call in the eagles game where this happpened. it wasn't important at all, but he caught it about a yard and a half past the 1st down line, but landed right on the 1st down line, and they spotted it where he caught it in the air, not where he landed after the catch.

There are two separate principles involved in your question. Forward Progress and completing a catch, that don't always happen at the same time, or at the same spot. A receiver can secure possession of a ball while in the air, and forward progress will be considered the farthest point the ball has progressed, towards the opponent's goal line while possessed, however the "catch" will not be completed until one, or both feet (depending on rules code) touch down inbounds while possession of the ball is maintained.

Consider the goal line. If an airborne player possesses a ball that breaks the plane of the goal line, but is subsequently knocked back so that his first contact with the ground is back within the field of play, although the "catch" is not complete until he touches down, once he does and maintains possession, the forward progress would result in a TD.

[umpirebob71]

Originally Posted by ajmc

There are two separate principles involved in your question. Forward Progress and completing a catch, that don't always happen at the same time, or at the same spot. A receiver can secure possession of a ball while in the air, and forward progress will be considered the farthest point the ball has progressed, towards the opponent's goal line while possessed, however the "catch" will not be completed until one, or both feet (depending on rules code) touch down inbounds while possession of the ball is maintained.

Consider the goal line. If an airborne player possesses a ball that breaks the plane of the goal line, but is subsequently knocked back so that his first contact with the ground is back within the field of play, although the "catch" is not complete until he touches down, once he does and maintains possession, the forward progress would result in a TD.

And only if you're the Pittsburgh Steelers.

[kdf5]

Originally Posted by ajmc

...A receiver can secure possession of a ball while in the air, and forward progress will be considered the farthest point the ball has progressed, towards the opponent's goal line while possessed...

I'm guessing you are talking about being contacted by a defender. If he is in the EZ and jumps towards the field of play securing the ball in the EZ but landing at the one, he won't score unless he was driven out to the one by the defender. If he lands at the one on his own, he is not given FP (touchdown) but rather will have the ball at his one.

[ajmc]

Yes I was.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by kdf5

I'm guessing you are talking about being contacted by a defender. If he is in the EZ and jumps towards the field of play securing the ball in the EZ but landing at the one, he won't score unless he was driven out to the one by the defender.

No, it's a touchdown. Once he touches the ground in bounds, his having possessed the ball in the end zone is recognized in all codes AFAIK.

[kdf5]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

No, it's a touchdown. Once he touches the ground in bounds, his having possessed the ball in the end zone is recognized in all codes AFAIK.

His forward progress is only given if he's contacted by a defender. Forward progress is the "end of advancement of the ball in a runner’s possession". He doesn't have possession until he makes a catch and he doesn't make a catch until he returns to the ground inbounds.

How would you rule this one: A1 is just inside the EZ and while running back towards the goal line leaps into the air. He grasps the ball while over the EZ but lands outside the EZ at the one. He then tries to make a backward pass to A2 but instead B2 catches the backward pass and runs the ball back for a TD.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by kdf5

His forward progress is only given if he's contacted by a defender. Forward progress is the "end of advancement of the ball in a runner’s possession". He doesn't have possession until he makes a catch and he doesn't make a catch until he returns to the ground inbounds.

This is not a case of forward progress, but of possession of a live ball beyond the opposing goal line. The catch is ruled once the foot hits the ground, but possession is retroactive to when the ball was actually grasped by the airborne player.

How would you rule this one: A1 is just inside the EZ and while running back towards the goal line leaps into the air. He grasps the ball while over the EZ but lands outside the EZ at the one. He then tries to make a backward pass to A2 but instead B2 catches the backward pass and runs the ball back for a TD.

The ball was dead once he landed, and the touchdown given.

However, if he hadn't touched the ground before getting rid of the ball, it would be a touchdown for the other team because the original pass was completed by B2.

Robert

[PackersFTW]

Originally Posted by ajmc

There are two separate principles involved in your question. Forward Progress and completing a catch, that don't always happen at the same time, or at the same spot. A receiver can secure possession of a ball while in the air, and forward progress will be considered the farthest point the ball has progressed, towards the opponent's goal line while possessed, however the "catch" will not be completed until one, or both feet (depending on rules code) touch down inbounds while possession of the ball is maintained.

Consider the goal line. If an airborne player possesses a ball that breaks the plane of the goal line, but is subsequently knocked back so that his first contact with the ground is back within the field of play, although the "catch" is not complete until he touches down, once he does and maintains possession, the forward progress would result in a TD.

perfectly said. this makes sense.