I was watching NFL the other day and I noticed something – do you need both feet inbounds in NFL? It seems like such a silly question to ask, but there it was – the commentators discussing and debating if it was necessary to have both feet inbounds in order to make a catch. Let me tell you, I was perplexed. So, I decided to do some digging and get to the bottom of this age-old question.
When it comes to catching a pass in the NFL, players often only need one foot inbounds to be considered ‘inbounds’. This is true for both offensive and defensive players, and it is not uncommon to see a receiver jump up in the air and stretch for a pass before cradling it with one foot touching the ground out of bounds.
The NFL rulebook defines a legal catch as something that must include ‘control of the ball inbounds with both feet or with any part of the body other than the hands.’ It’s important to note that this does not require the player to have both feet inbounds – as long as they have control over the ball in some way and at least one foot is touching inbounds, they can be considered to have made a legal catch.
This rule has been heavily debated over the years, with fans, players, and even officials not always agreeing on the specifics of the rules. Some argue that since both feet left the field, the catch should not be allowed. Others say that since the player has control of the ball with at least one foot inbounds, they should be considered to have made a legal catch.
My opinion is that since the NFL rulebook clearly defines what constitutes a legal catch, that if a player has control of the ball with one foot inbounds, then they should be considered to have made a legal catch. What do you think?
In most cases, it isn’t just one foot that is required to be inbounds for a pass to be considered a legal catch. It is the player’s job to make sure both feet land inbounds. This is especially important when it comes to contested passes, as it is more difficult to control the ball when two or more players are fighting for it. By making sure both feet are inbounds, the player ensures that he or she will still have control of the ball if a defender tries to rip it away.
There is also the issue of possession. If a player has one foot inbounds, but has yet to secure full possession of the ball, then it would not be considered a legal catch. It is only when the player has fully gained control of the ball, with both feet inbounds, that the catch will be considered legal.
Pass interference is a whole other topic when it comes to this, as a flagged catch can still be reviewed for pass interference even if the player’s feet are definitively inbounds.
I guess it all really comes down to a question of what do you think is necessary to consider a pass a legal catch – one foot or two? It really depends on the circumstances, but I think it’s important for the player to make sure both feet are inbounds if they want to avoid getting flagged for a catch.
The real question, then, is what happens if the player has only one foot inbounds while attempting to catch a pass? That is actually pretty simple – the catch is still considered legal, as long as they have control of the ball with at least one foot touching the ground.
In the NFL, having both feet inbounds is an important part of the game. It’s the player’s responsibility to make sure that both feet are inbounds when attempting a catch, as it not only ensures the catch is legal, but also gives the player better control of the ball. This can help them avoid a costly penalty for a flagged catch or pass interference.
What do you think – do you think it’s important for the player to have both feet inbounds for a catch to be considered legal? I personally think it’s important, as it ensures that the player is in control and won’t be penalized for a flagged catch.