Force is the Result of Energy Exerted By a Player Which Provides Movement of the Ball
Force is Only Relevant For Balls Moving From the Field Of Play Into the End Zone
Initial Force Results From a Carry, Fumble, Kick, Pass, or Snap
After a Fumble, Kick, or Backwards Pass Has Been Grounded, a New Force May Result From a Bat, an Illegal Kick, or a Muff
Responsibility for Forcing the Ball From the Field of Play Across a Goal Line is Attributed to a Player Who Carries, Snaps, Passes, Fumbles, or Kicks the Ball Unless a New Force is Applied to Either a Kick, Fumble, or Backwards Pass That Has Been Grounded
Force Will Determine if The Ball Becoming Dead in a Team’s Own End Zone is a Touchback or Safety
The Muffing or Batting of a Pass, Kick, or Fumble in Flight is Not Considered a New Force
Accidental Touching of a Ball By a Player Who Was Blocked into the Ball is Ignored and Is Not a New Force By EITHER PLAYER
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Touchdowns
Possession of a Live Ball in the Opponents End Zone is ALWAYS a Touchdown
When a Runner Advances From the Field of Play With the Ball Penetrating the Vertical Plane of the Opponents Goal Line
When the Runner is In Bounds, the Goal Line Extends Beyond the Sidelines (the Ball Can Cross the Plane of the Goal Out of Bounds, it is Still a Touchdown)
When a Loose Ball is Caught or Recovered by a Player While the BALL is On or Behind the Opponent’s Goal Line
When an Airborne Player Catches a Loose Ball in Their Opponent’s End Zone and is Driven Back Into the Field of Play Before Coming Down in Bounds, Forward Progress is in the End Zone, and it is a Touchdown
When A’s Backwards Pass or Fumble is Declared Dead IN B’s End Zone With No Player in Possession
The Ball Would Have to Be at Rest With No Player Attempting to Gain Possession
Force is NOT A FACTOR in This (Extremely Rare) Situation
This Situation Does Not Cover a Loose Ball Which Goes Into B’s End Zone and Then Out of Bounds Across a Sideline or the End Line
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Touchback
In General, Touchbacks Occur When a Team Forces the Ball Into Their Opponent’s End Zone Where it Becomes Dead, But Don’t Possess the Ball in the End Zone
Kicks Into R’s End Zone – Free or Scrimmage Kicks
Any Non-Scoring Kick, or Grounded Field Goal Kick Breaks the Plane of R’s Goal Line (Unless a Spot of First Touching is Chosen By R)
Any Scoring Kick Touches a K Player in R’s End Zone, or is Otherwise Unsuccessful
Force is Not a Factor on Kicks Into R’s End Zone
Kick’s Into K’s End Zone
Scrimmage or Free Kick Becomes Dead in K’s End Zone and a New Force Was Applied By R (Muff or Bat) to the Grounded Kick
Blocking a Kick in Flight is Not a New Force
B Intercepts a Pass in B’s End Zone and the Ball Becomes Dead There in B’s Team Possession
Fumble, or Muff or Batt of a Grounded Backwards Pass or Fumble Forces the Ball Across the Opponents Goal Line
Ball is Possessed By the Opponent When it Becomes Dead in the End Zone
Ball Goes Out of Bounds Behind the Goal Line
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Safety
In General, A Safety Occurs When a Team Forces the Ball Into Their Own End Zone Where it Becomes Dead in Their Possession
A Runner Carries the Ball Across His Own End Zone Where it Becomes Dead in His Team’s Possession
The Momentum Exception – A Defensive Player Intercepts or Recovers an Opponent’s Pass, Fumble, Scrimmage or Free Kick Between His 5-Yard Line and the End Zone, and His Momentum Carries Him Into the End Zone, The Ball Remains in the End Zone, and Is Declared Dead in His Teams Possession.
Under the Momentum Exception the Ball Belongs the Defensive Team at the Spot of the Catch/Recovery
Kick, Pass, Fumble, Snap, or Muff, Batt, Illegal Kick of a Grounded Backwards Pass or Fumble Forces the Ball Across the Opponents Goal Line
Ball is Possessed By the Opponent When it Becomes Dead in the End Zone