Safety/Touchback/Impetus/Momentum

Safety

• The ball must be completely in the field of play when progress is stopped for the play to have ended out of the end zone. Any part of the ball being in the end zone when it is ruled dead causes the ball to be in the end zone (safety).

Touchback

• A touchback occurs when the ball becomes dead out of bounds behind a goal line, except from an incomplete forward pass, or becomes dead in the possession of a player on, above or behind his own goal line and the attacking team is responsible for the ball being there (8-6-1a).

• A touchback occurs when a kick becomes dead by rule behind the defending team's goal line and the attacking team is responsible for the ball being there.

• A kick (free or scrimmage) untouched by Team B that touches the end zone is a touchback.

Impetus

Impetus is imparted by a player who kicks, passes, snaps or fumbles the ball in any direction. Kicking a ball not in player possession or batting a loose ball after striking the ground imparts new impetus (unless the ball is in the end zone). A ball at rest gets new impetus by any contact (Rule 8-7-1).

Momentum

Momentum applies to possession of a loose ball between the opponent's five-yard line and the goal line.

• Where the ball is possessed in relation to the goal line is always reviewable. How a ball in possession got into the end zone is never reviewable. 

  • If a touchback is ruled, but the player possessed the ball inside the 5-yard line and before the goal line, the ball will be placed where possession was gained (momentum). Replay cannot create a safety in this situation.

  • If momentum or a safety is ruled, but the player possessed the ball in the end zone, it is a touchback. If the player possessed the ball in the field of play then the ruling of momentum or safety is upheld. 

  • Replay may assist the officials via O2O where the ball was possessed in relation to the 5-yard line when the on-field ruling involves potential momentum.