Why is it that the ground can't cause a fumble, but it can cause an incomplete pass?

Question

It really isn't that much different if we think about it. Should this rule be changed?

Answer 1

possession.... incomplete pass is defined as the player never having possession of the ball.

Answer 2

The ground causes an incomplete pass because the if the ball hits the ground before the receiver catches it, it is not a catch. Once the ball touches the ground when you already have the ball, you are down at the point where the ball touches the ground so it cannot be ruled a fumble. The exception to this rule is in the NFL where you have to be touched to be down. If there is any consideration about a rule change it should only be the NFL rule that says you have to be touched by a defender before you are ruled down.

Answer 3

Because the theory is that if you hit the ground you are down so the play is over and there was no fumble. If you hit the ground and drop the ball before you have posession, the the play is once again over and it ended without you getting posession of the ball. So therefore it is an incompletion.

HOWEVER, this is not COMPLETELY true. The ground CAN cause a fumble under certain circumstances. For example, in the NFL, if you are running with the ball and fall without being touched by a defender and the ground knocks the ball out, that IS a fumble because you aren't down yet, seeing as you weren't touched. The rule states that you are down when you hit the ground and are touched by a defender or when contact by a defender causes you to hit the ground. So the cliche isn't totally completely true.

Answer 4

Fumbles are an issue pertaining to player control of the ball. Since a player touched to the ground in control of the ball is DOWN, he cannot be considered NOT in player possession of the ball, should he drop it AFTER such contact is made. If this rule were to be changed, it would RUIN the game, for there would be even MORE nitpicking than there already is about player possession in such situations and it would place ball-carriers in an even more precarious position, for defenders would have even MORE latitude to kick the living crap out of them in an effort to induce a fumble when said player hit the ground! An incomplete pass is caused when PLAYER, not GROUND action causes a legal forward pass to fall to the ground with neither team in possession or control. If no PLAYER has control of a legal forward pass, THEN the ground causes it to be incomplete.

Answer 5

No the rule is fine as it is.

The ground can't cause a fumble because, if you are on the ground, you are down anyway. Thus, the fumble wouldn't really be a fumble. I
n the NFL since the player must be at least touched once down, I can see your side of the issue.

Answer 6

It's an incomplete pass if you don't take 2 steps before hitting the ground and losing the ball. If you take 2 steps, hit the ground, and the ball comes loose, it's not a fumble, you're down where you hit the ground.

Answer 7

1. There would be way to many fumbles.

2. The play is over when the player hits the ground.

Answer 8

i agree with u somewhat the ground should be able to cause a fumble but it should also be able to cause a incomplete pass then if it was a bad pass it would be a fumble if the ball hit the ground inbounds

Answer 9

Well why can't the ball hit the ground then pop up and a person catch it for a reception or interception? the play is dead when your body hits the ground after being touched by another player on the opposing team and if the ball hits the ground during a (forward) pass the play is over... same thing basically.

Answer 10

As soon as a player with the ball is tackled and hits the ground, the play is dead. So anything that happens after that doesn't count.

The definition of a completed pass involves the ball NOT hitting the ground on its way to the receiver.

Two different situations.

This isn't rugby.