If the player catching the ball has control of it and then he drops it it is a fumble, if they never caught it but they just touched it it is an incomplete pass
incomplete pass
A runner can fumble the ball prior to gaining possession of the football. A receiver must catch and secure the ball, and be deemed a runner before fumbling. If a receiver does not secure the ball, it is considered an incomplete pass instead of a fumble.
A fumble is a fumble, no matter what direction it goes in, but a player cannot advance the ball forward through the air once they have passed the line of scrimmage.
When a football player drops the ball, it is called a fumble if he had possesion of the ball, or an incomplete pass if a receiver fails to catch the ball.
In high school there are no special rules concerning a forward fumble, so yes, the fumbling team can recover it for a touchdown. However, if the officials determine that a ball was deliberately fumbled forward to try and gain yardage, they can rule it as an incomplete pass.
In American and Canadian Football, a ball can be passed forward from behind the line of scrimmage. If the ball falls on the ground it is called an incomplete pass. That means no one caught it. It can also be called an incomplete. That is a short way of saying "It is an incomplete forward pass."
No, as long as the arm was moving forward when the ball came loose.
First, there's no such thing as a "dead ball fumble." A ball must be live in order to be fumbled. Also, once a ball is possessed by the offense in the end zone, the play is over and there can be no fumble. If you're referring to a situation where a fumbled ball is blown dead by the referee, the only question is whether the ball was actually caught in the end zone. If it was, then a touchdown was scored which ends the play, and thus no fumble. If it was not a valid catch, then the pass was incomplete -- no fumble. The only situation where a fumble would nullify a touchdown would be if the ball was caught and then fumbled BEFORE crossing the goal line.
That depends on the angle the ball travelled. If the receiver is behind or exactly to the side of the quarterback and the ball travels at an angle parallel to or away from the line of scrimmage, the throw is considered a lateral and would be a fumble if the receiver did not catch it. If the receiver is in front of the quarterback and the ball travels at an angle towards the line of scrimmage, the throw is considered a forward pass and would be an incomplete pass.
Yes you can throw a football after a fumble as long as it is fumbled behind the line of scrimmage and it is the only forward pass of the play. Each offensive play is allowed only one forward pass. A ball advanced beyond the line of scrimmage may be passed or fumbled backward behind the line and then legally thrown forward as long as the feet of the passer are behind the line when he throws the ball and it is the first forward pass during that play. .
In the NFL, if you bobble once and drop the ball before retaining possession, it is an incomplete pass. However, if you bobble, gain control over the football and take two steps before dropping the ball, it is ruled a fumble, and the ball is available for either team to recover and gain possession.
The ball must be passed either in line with the ball carrier OR as is normally seen to the rear of the ball carrier. A ball thrown forward, dropped forward of the carrier or knocked forward of the ball carrier is a penalty offense