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.
The ball is placed where the ball actually is (assuming the player still has "possession") when the player is down by contact or when the knee hits the ground.
yes if his hand touches the ground he is down but only if he is touched by contact and then touches the groundNo. A player is down only when a part of his body other than a hand or a foot touches the ground, or when the officials rule that his forward progress has been stopped.
No. A player is down when his knee or back touches the ground. If the ball carrier loses the ball before this happens then it is called a fumble, and both teams try to recover the ball and whichever team does gains possession. Yes. The only thing allowed to touch the ground without you being 'down' is your hands and feet. We even have interpretation questions on whether the wrist and ankles are part of the hand/feet to determine if a player is down. If the ball touches the ground, the player is considered down. This is why the ground cannot cause a fumble. If it was a pass and the WR was deemed not in control of the pass, it is known as a dropped or incomplete pass. The player has to have complete control, but the ball can touch the ground. This is determining the completion of the catch, though, not whether the player is down or not.
Yes, if the player is forced down, such as a push or a hit, that the ref deems to have caused the ball carrier to hit the ground, he is down. If he went down on his own in an attempt to make a catch or simply lost his footing, he is not down.
which ever one hits the ground first is where he is down. ----------------------- The spot of the ball depends entirely upon where the ball is located at the moment when the player is ruled "down." If the player extends the ball forward before his knee (or any part of his body except a foot or hand) touches down, then the ball will be spotted at the point where it was extended.
no
The rules concerning when a player is 'down' are different between college football and the NFL. In the NFL, a player must be 'down by contact' for the play to end, therefore, if he were to recover a fumble while on his knees he would be able to get up and run with it as long as a member of the opposing team did not touch him while his knee(s) were on the ground. There is no 'down by contact' rule in college football. Once a player in possession of the ball has a knee (or elbow) touch the ground the play is over. The player would not be allowed to get up and run in college ball.
it hits the ground
Before it hits the ground
He is out. The bases only apply if he hits a ball that hits the ground or a wall in fair territory.
Punt