Article 1 – Player Possession
A player is in possession of the ball when firmly held in the hand or hands, arm or arms, leg or legs, or under body.
Article 2 – Disputed Possession
When players of opposite teams have possession of the ball, it shall belong to the player who first gained possession, and who has not lost possession.
Article 3 – Simultaneous Possession
If players of opposite teams legally gain simultaneous possession of the ball, it shall belong to the team which last previously had possession.
If a forward pass is caught simultaneously by eligible receivers of both teams, the ball shall belong to Team A (Rule ).
If a kick off is legally caught simultaneously by players of opposite teams
- before it has been touched by any other player after the kick off - kick off repeated at the previous line of kick off.
- after it has been legally touched by another player, or players - possession to the team which last touched it before the simultaneous possession.
Article 4 – Change of Possession
Change of Possession occurs as follows:
- a) Scrimmage Play Team A is in possession until it loses possession (ie: fumble, blocked kick). Team B is in possession when a B player gains possession. Until Team A or Team B gains possession, the ball is in neither team's possession and is defined as a «loose ball. »
- b) Forward Pass Team A is in possession until the pass is ruled incomplete, or the ball is intercepted by Team B. Team B is in possession when a B player intercepts the pass.
- c) Scrimmage Kick Team A is in possession until the ball is kicked. Team B is in possession when a B player gains possession. Until Team B or Team A gains possession, the ball is in neither team's possession and is a ball «in flight.»
- d) Return Kick Team B is in possession until the B player has kicked the ball, which is then «in flight» until either Team A or Team B regains possession.
- e) Kick Off Neither team is in possession prior to the kick off. Team B is in possession when a B player gains possession. Until Team B or Team A gains possession, the ball is in neither team's possession and is a ball «in flight.»
Note: If a kicked ball other than a kickoff is legally touched by a player of either team such touching shall be deemed to be possession when penalty applications are involved with before change of possession, loose ball, ball in flight or after change of possession.