Catch?

[CalhounLJ]

This happened at our game last night:
A1 is backpedaling, attempting to catch a pass. He tips the ball, falls down, the ball lands on his legs, and pops up in the air. A1 rolls over onto his stomach, and the ball lands in the bends of his knees. He folds his legs, trapping the ball. The ball never touched the ground. Is that a catch?

[GA Umpire]

This happened at our game last night:
A1 is backpedaling, attempting to catch a pass. He tips the ball, falls down, the ball lands on his legs, and pops up in the air. A1 rolls over onto his stomach, and the ball lands in the bends of his knees. He folds his legs, trapping the ball. The ball never touched the ground. Is that a catch?

In my opinion: Yes.

2-4-1

As long as the covering official determines that the receiver has possession of the ball.

[HLinNC]

 

[NVFOA_Ump]

Yes it is a catch.

[bama_stripes]

Did you judge that the ball was “held or controlled” by A1?
Could he have transferred possession to another player?
If the same sequence happened following a fumble rather than a pass, would you award his team possession?

My gut feeling from my initial reading of the play is “no catch”.

[HLinNC]

trapping the ball. The ball never touched the ground.

Looking through the definitions of catch and possession, there is no requirement for it to be with the hands.  Possession indicates that the ball is "held or controlled".  This would fall under the definition of controlled.

[AlUpstateNY]

trapping the ball. The ball never touched the ground.

Looking through the definitions of catch and possession, there is no requirement for it to be with the hands.  Possession indicates that the ball is "held or controlled".  This would fall under the definition of controlled.

"Seeing" is an important part of believing, but as described it satisfies all the elements of a Catch.