RELATED: Sanity could be coming to NFL catch rules
The rule now reads:
A player who makes a catch may advance the ball. A forward pass is complete (by the offense) or intercepted (by the defense) in the field of play, at the sideline, or in the end zone if a player, who is inbounds:
(a) secures control of the ball in his hands or arms, prior to the ball touching the ground; and
(b) touches the ground inbounds with both feet or with any part of his body other than his hands; and
(c) maintains control of the ball after (a) and (b) have been fulfilled, performs any act common to the game (e.g., tuck the ball away, extend it towards or over the goal line or the line to gain, take an additional step, turn upfield, or avoid or ward off an opponent), or he maintains control of the ball long enough to do so.
Multiple items describing other steps that were previously used to determine if a catch had occurred were removed, including exceptions for players going to the ground, catches attempted along the sideline and in the end zone.
Here is what the new NFL catch rule looks like and what was removed pic.twitter.com/aDcizoWLlC
— Marcus Hartman (@marcushartman) March 27, 2018
About the Author
