When the player who has the ball has a knee or elbow on the ground when in contact with a player from the opposite team. When the player that has the ball touches any other body part besides his hands on the ground and is in contact with a player from the opposite team.
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The runner is considered down when either a: His forward progress stops or b: any part of his body other than his foot or hand touches the ground AND he is touched by a player of an opposing team. There is no "down by contact" in college football. That's only in the pros. When a college player goes down he cannot get up and continue running, period. He does not have to be touched by an opposing player to be considered down.
Not in the NFLNope. At least not in the NFL. If a ball carrier falls down on top of an opposing player and does not otherwise touch the ground, he is not considered down by contact and may continue to advance the ball.Some part of the ball carrier's body, other than his hands or feet, has to make contact with the ground for him to be considered down(Technically, a knee or elbow or helmet has to make contact with the turf for the carrier to be down).This is true for all levels of football play: HS, NCAA, NFL.
It depends. If your knee is touching the ground, or if the ball is, you are considered "down by contact". If both the ball and your knee are off the ground, you are still able to get up and run. (This has happened numerous times with players falling over an opposing player, landing on their feet and continuing on)
Steve Largent was elected to Congress in 1994 and to the NFL Hall of Fame in 1995. Largent remained in Congress until 2002. Jack Kemp
The NFL initials stand for: National Football League. Most people call it (The) National Football League