dead ball

Question
If a ball carrier is in possession of the football and his knee or elbow does not touch the ground as he slips but he touches the ground with the football to regain his balance is he considered down at the spot the football touches the field or is the play allowed to continue?

Answer
Scott

This is a good question. The simple answer is the ball carrier/runner is allowed to continue running and is not deemed down.  The ball remain live and in play.

In your play only the "ball" in player possession touches the ground, not any part of the player's body.  If any part of the ball carrier抯 body, except his hand or foot, touches the ground then he would be considered down and the ball is dead.

The ball is not considered an extension of the players body.  

Just to give you some basic terminology to help you understand, I am providing you with the terms of art used by officials and in the Rule book.  

A "live ball" is a ball in play. A pass, kick or fumble that has not
yet touched the ground is a live ball in flight.

A "dead ball" is a ball not in play.  The dead-ball spot is the point at which the ball became dead.

The spot where the run ends is at that point:
a. Where the ball is declared dead in player possession.
b. Where player possession is lost on a fumble.
c. Where handing of the ball occurs.
d. Where an illegal forward pass is thrown.
e. Where a backward pass is thrown.
f. Where an illegal scrimmage kick is made beyond the line of
scrimmage or Where a return kick occurs.  

Please understand alive ball becomes dead: "When any part of the ball carrier抯 body, except his hand or foot, touches the ground or when the ball carrier is tackled or otherwise falls and loses possession of the ball as he contacts the ground with any part of his body, except his hand or foot [Exception: The ball remains alive when an offensive player has simulated a kick or is in position to kick the ball held for a place kick by a teammate. The ball may be kicked, passed or advanced by rule]"


I hope this answers your question.  Thanks for asking a good question.

Vic Winnek
NCAA Football Official