Situational Mechanics

Once proper procedures are in place to administer the replay process correctly and efficiently, there are still a number of interpretive details for the replay crew to understand while reviewing various plays/situations. The following guidelines (listed alphabetically) will help the crew determine what to look for in these cases.

Passing Plays

There are several situations where a pass play can be reviewed.

  • Whether a pass is complete or incomplete is reviewable anywhere on the field.

  • Also reviewable is whether a pass is forward or backward.

  • Whether a forward pass occurs behind or beyond the neutral zone is reviewable. The passer's entire body and the ball must be beyond the line of scrimmage when the ball is released in order for it to be an illegal forward pass.

Catch/No Catch

The following order of events must occur for a completed catch:

  1. Firm grip and control,

  2. Body part down inbounds, and

  3. The player must maintain control long enough to enable him to perform an act common to the game (i.e., long enough to pitch or hand the ball, advance it, or ward off an opponent, ) (Rule 2-4-3).

Note: These three elements apply in all catch/no catch situation, regardless of where they occur (e.g., in the field of play, end zone, etc.).

Firm grip and control

  • By rule, a ball can be controlled only with the hands and arms. A player pinning a ball with his legs does not constitute control.

  • Slight movement does not constitute loss of control. Some loss of control indicators are hand(s) coming off the ball, a bobble, the ball bouncing off the ground or the ball sliding up/down a receiver's body.

  • A pass hitting the ground before or simultaneous with control is incomplete.

Body part down inbounds

  • A receiver must be inbounds to make a catch. Any body part touching the ground in bounds (hand, foot, knee, etc.) puts the player inbounds.

  • If any part of the foot touches out of bounds during a natural stepping motion with no drag or delay the foot is out of bounds.

  • It is an incomplete pass if a body part touches out of bounds at the same time another part touches inbounds.

  • It is an incomplete pass if a receiver's foot contacts the pylon before controlling the ball. An airborne receiver is out of bounds if he first touches the pylon before getting a body part down inbounds.

Time element

  • Look for the receiver to transition to a runner to complete the catch. Indicators include tucking the ball away, turning to gain additional yardage, and taking additional steps.

  • A player who does not complete the catch while uj›right and is going to the ground must either maintain control of the ball throughout the process of contacting the ground or perform an act common to the game prior to losing control.

  • If a receiver is contacted by a defender causing him to go to the ground prior to completing all three elements of a catch, then he has not completed the catch while upright.

  • In the field of play or end zone it is a catch if an inbounds receiver loses and regains control prior to the ball touching the ground. At the sideline or endline the pass is incomplete if the player loses control of the ball during the process of contacting the ground while touching out of bounds.