What makes a catch?

[JMN]

Originally posted by Ed Hickland
The operative word is "control". In order to obtain possession a player must first control the ball. Control implies a voluntary act by the player with the ball. The player arms were outstreched. If he had been able to "control" the ball by bringing his arms in, that would have been a controlling act.

Ed, can't a player control and possess the ball with his arms outstretched?

Think of a square out by a wide receiver where he times the play to reach for the ball thrown over the sideline while keeping his feet inbounds.

My call is a catch based on controlling the ball with his hands for a split (maybe less) second. At that point, dead ball, touchdown. The rest is immaterial.