PASSING PLAYS
Whether a pass is complete or incomplete is reviewable at all times. This includes in the field of play, at a sideline,
and in an end zone.
In order to complete a catch there are three primary requirements that must be met. First, the player must gain
firm grip and control of the ball. Second, he must get two feet or another part of the body, other than his hands, on
the ground inbounds. And, after these first two requirements have been met, he must maintain control of the ball
long enough to perform an act common to the game. Such act is defined as being able to pitch, pass, or advance
the ball. It is not necessary for the player to commit the act, provided he maintains control of the ball long enough
to do so. If the player does not complete all three of the requirements, then the pass is incomplete. These
guidelines apply to both the on-field officials and replay.
In all pass situations, if a player goes to the ground before completing the requirements for a catch, he must
maintain control of the ball throughout the process of contacting the ground. In the field of play or in the end zone
if the player loses control of the ball during the process and it hits the ground then the pass is incomplete. If the
receiver is contacting the sideline any loss of control during the process of the catch will make the pass
incomplete, regardless of whether the ball touches the ground.
A.R. 15.93 Going to the ground, does not complete process
Third-and-5 on A30. Pass over middle is ruled complete at the B45. Replays show that the receiver controlled the
ball while going to the ground, but when his upper body hit, the nose of the ball touched the ground and then he
lost control of it.
Ruling: Reviewable. Incomplete pass. A’s ball fourth-and-5 on A30. Reset game clock to when the ball hit the
ground. Receiver is going to the ground and must maintain control of the ball throughout the process of contacting
the ground.
A.R. 15.95 Act common to game
Third-and-10 on A20. Pass over the middle is ruled incomplete at the A30. The receiver controlled the pass with
one foot down and was then contacted by a defender. As he went to the ground, he got his second foot down and
then still in control of the ball he lunged for the line to gain, losing the ball when he landed.
Ruling: Reviewable. Completed pass. A’s ball first-and-10 on A30. In this situation, the act of lunging is not part
of the process of the catch. He has completed the time element required for the pass to be complete and does not
have to hold onto the ball when he hits the ground. When he hit the ground, he was down by contact.
I see where you could make a case based on this. But this is clearly either not written correctly or simply not correct based on the actual rules themselves. Why is it buried at the bottom and if so important, not called out and defined on the rule itself?
This AR says that the catch is completed, not as the rule itself says, but rather due to time as he's falling satisfies the rule. This goes directly against the actual rule itself.
The example even specifically says that the player only had 1 foot down and was going to the ground.
The rule says that the player has not completed the process unless all the following requirements are met:
1. Possession of the ball
2. Two feet down
3. Make act common to the game
If those acts aren't completed before the player goes to the ground they have to maintain possession through contacting the ground.
In the AR it clearly says the player only had one foot down and was going to the ground. That means the process wasn't completed and since he was going to the ground - we know the rest.
The AR for some reason deviates from the actual rule and says that there was some time element that satisfied the catch process. The time element or becoming a runner can only occur if the player is not going to the ground. Again, per the rule. And I have no idea the relevance of even adding in the lunge part. They are trying to say the catch was already made even before the lunge.
So I have no idea why it's in there, but it clearly is not the rule, but rather "someone" adding something that is in direct conflict with the actual rule. Maybe Blandino added it. Sounds like something a complete idiot would add.