NCAA Flag Rule 4
Ball in Play, Dead-ball, Out-of-Bounds
SECTION 1. BALL IN PLAY – DEAD-BALL
ARTICLE 1. After a dead-ball is ready for play, it becomes a live-ball when it is legally snapped. A ball snapped before it is ready for play remains dead.
ARTICLE 2.
a. A live-ball becomes a dead-ball as provided in the rules or when an official sounds their whistle (even though inadvertently) or otherwise signals the ball dead. If an official sounds their whistle inadvertently or otherwise signals the ball dead during a down:
1. When the ball is in player possession, the team in possession may elect to put the ball in play where declared dead or repeat the down.
2. When the ball is loose from a fumble, backward pass, illegal pass or illegal kick, the team in possession may elect to put the ball in play where possession was lost or repeat the down.
3. During a legal forward pass or legal kick, then the ball is returned to the previous spot and the down repeated.
4. After Team B gains possession on the try or during an extra period, then the try is over or the extra-period possession series is ended.
b. If a foul or violation occurs during any of the above downs, the penalty or violation privilege
shall be administered as in any other play situation if not in conflict with other rules.
ARTICLE 3. A live-ball becomes dead and an official shall sound their whistle or declare it dead:
a. When any part of the ball carrier’s body, except their hand or foot, touches the ground.
b. When the ball or a ball carrier goes out-of-bounds.
c. When a ball carrier has a flag removed legally by an opponent. A flag is removed once it
becomes detached from the belt.
d. When a player gains possession of the ball with their flag(s) detached.
e. When a touchdown, touchback, safety, or successful try is made.
f. When the ball strikes the ground following illegal touching by A.
g. When A catches a punt, or an untouched punt comes to rest and no player attempts to secure it.
h. When A’s punt breaks the plane of B’s goal line.
i. When a forward pass is ruled incomplete.
j. When there is a simultaneous catch or recovery of a live-ball.
k. When a backwards pass or fumble strikes the ground. A snapped ball that hits the ground before or after getting to the intended receiver is dead at the spot where it hits the ground.
l. When a live-ball not in player possession touches anything inbounds other than a player, a player’s equipment, an official, an official’s equipment or the ground (inadvertent-whistle provisions apply).
m. When a ball carrier simulates placing their knee on the ground.
ARTICLE 4. No player shall put the ball in play before it is ready for play.
PENALTY—Dead-ball foul. Five yards from the succeeding spot. [S21]
ARTICLE 5. The ball shall be put in play within 30 seconds after it is made ready for play, unless, during that interval, play is suspended. If play is suspended, the play-clock count will start again.
PENALTY—Dead-ball foul for delay of game. Five yards from the succeeding spot. [S21]
ARTICLE 1.
a. A player is out-of-bounds when any part of his person touches anything, other than another player or game official, on or inside a boundary line.
b. An out-of-bounds player who becomes airborne remains out-of-bounds until he touches the ground inbounds without simultaneously being out-of-bounds.
c. A player who touches a pylon is out-of-bounds.
ARTICLE 2. A ball in player possession is out-of-bounds when either the ball or any part of the ball carrier touches the ground or anything else that is out-of-bounds, or that is on or outside a boundary line, except another player or game official.
ARTICLE 3.
a. A ball not in player control is out-of-bounds when it touches the ground, a player, a game official, or anything else that is out-of-bounds, or that is outside a boundary line.
b. A ball that touches a pylon is out-of-bounds behind the goal line.
c. If a live-ball not in player possession crosses a boundary line and then is declared out-of-bounds, it is out-of-bounds at the crossing point.
Out-of-Bounds at Forward Point
ARTICLE 4.
a. If a live-ball is declared out-of-bounds and the ball does not cross a boundary line, it is out-of-bounds at the ball’s most forward point when it was declared dead.
b. A touchdown is scored if the ball is inbounds and has broken the plane of the goal line before or simultaneous to the ball carrier going out-of-bounds.
c. A receiver who is in the opponent’s end zone and contacting the ground is credited with a completion if they reach over the sideline or end line and catch a legal pass.
d. The forward most point of the ball when declared out-of-bounds between the goal lines is the point of forward progress (Exception: When a ball carrier is airborne as they cross the sideline (including a striding runner), forward progress is determined by the position of the ball as it crosses the sideline).
