Is a ball carrier down by contact...

[Kajun Ref N Texas]

...when he lands on an opponent who is lying on the ground, but his forward progress is not stopped?

[BAlaxer]

Dont blow the whistle, unless some other part of his body is touching the ground other than his hand or feet. Very hard non call to make and must be very disciplined to make this one. (or not make it)

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by Kajun Ref N Texas

...when he lands on an opponent who is lying on the ground, but his forward progress is not stopped?

"Down by contact" is not a HS or NCAA term. It's used in the NFL to distinguish a runner who falls to the ground on his own from one who is knocked to the ground after contact with a defender. In HS and NCAA, the cause of the runner going down is irrelevant, so there's no distinction.

The NFHS rule states (roughly) that a runner is down when any part of him touches the ground other than his hands or his feet.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by Kajun Ref N Texas

...when he lands on an opponent who is lying on the ground, but his forward progress is not stopped?

No, he is not down.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

No, he is not down.

Oh sure, just spell it out for him.

[Kajun Ref N Texas]

Here is the rule from NCAA.

RULE 4
Ball in Play, Dead Ball, Out of Bounds
SECTION 1. Ball in Play—Dead Ball
Ball Declared Dead
ARTICLE 3. A live ball becomes dead and an official shall sound his whistle
or declare it dead:
a. When it goes out of bounds other than a kick that scores a field goal after
touching the uprights or crossbar, when a ball carrier is out of bounds,
or when a ball carrier is so held that his forward progress is stopped.
When in question, the ball is dead (A.R. 4-2-1-II).
b. When any part of the ball carrier’s body, except his hand or foot, touches
the ground or when the ball carrier is tackled or otherwise falls and loses
possession of the ball as he contacts the ground with any part of his
body, except his hand or foot [Exception: The ball remains alive when
an offensive player has simulated a kick or is in position to kick the ball
held for a place kick by a teammate. The ball may be kicked, passed or
advanced by rule] (A.R. 4-1-3-I).

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by Kajun Ref N Texas

b. When any part of the ball carrier’s body, except his hand or foot, touches
the ground or when the ball carrier is tackled or otherwise falls and loses
possession of the ball as he contacts the ground with any part of his
body, except his hand or foot

Why was the part I bolded added, and when? Seems superfluous.

[Kajun Ref N Texas]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

Why was the part I bolded added, and when? Seems superfluous.

Isn't that just emphasizing that, "the ground can't cause a fumble?"

[Robert Goodman]

when the ball carrier is tackled or otherwise falls and loses
possession of the ball as he contacts the ground with any part of his
body, except his hand or foot

Tell me if you think this is what NCAA meant when they added that part: That if there is doubt as to when the ballcarrier lost possession of the ball or touched the ground other than with hands or feet, the touching of the ground is deemed to have occurred first.

[Kajun Ref N Texas]

Thanks all, that's what I thought.