1. Region One Football Officials Association
Rule Topics:
Simultaneous Catch
We Are All Here to Learn

2. Simultaneous Catch
Rule 2-4-1: catch is the act of establishing player possession of a live ball which is in flight, & first contacting the ground inbounds while maintaining possession of the ball.
Rule 2-4-3: simultaneous catch or recovery is a catch or recovery in which there is joint possession of a live ball by opposing players who are inbounds.
To be a simultaneous catch, opposing players must have simultaneous joint possession, & both players must be in contact with the ground inbounds. The players’ contact with the ground does not have to be exactly simultaneous.
If A1 & B1 jointly possess a forward pass while airborne & both land inbounds, it is a completed pass, the ball is dead at that point and belongs to A.
If there is simultaneous recovery of a fumble, the ball becomes dead and belongs to the team which last had possession.
If there is simultaneous recovery of a free kick or scrimmage kick, the ball becomes dead and belongs to the receiving team.

3. Case Study - Simultaneous Catch Airborne A1 & B1 simultaneously gain possession of a legal forward pass near goal line & return to the ground where:
SITUATION
RULING
(a) they alight in field of play inbounds
Ball is dead & belongs to A at yard line through the foremost point of the ball when A1 & B1 contacted the ground inbounds
(b) they alight in end zone with the ball
Touchdown
(c) A1 lands in end zone & B1 in field of play inbounds
Ball becomes dead & pass is complete at yard line through the foremost point of the ball when the players contacted the ground inbounds*
(d) B1 comes down in end zone & A1 lands in field of play
(e) A1 lands in the end zone & B1 lands out of bounds
Incomplete pass
*If ball penetrates the plane of goal line in either (c) or (d), it is a touchdown.