Toe-Heel or Heel-Toe Sideline Catch

[T.C. Welton]

If a receiver catches the ball in the air and subsequently comes down with his toe in bounds, then rolls the foot down and the heel is out of bounds, do we have a completed catch (assuming he retains control throughout)?

I came across this in my film study, and cannot find the film/literature where I have seen this addressed.

[Welpe]

Incomplete.

AR 7-3-6-XVII

Eligible A80 is airborne near the sideline when he receives a legal forward pass. As he comes to the ground facing the field of play,
his toe (a) clearly drags the ground inbounds before he falls out of bounds; (b) touches the ground inbounds and then his heel comes
down on the sideline in a continuous motion. He maintains firm control of the ball in both cases.

RULING: (a) Complete pass. (b)Incomplete pass. The continuous toe-heel touching is part of a single
process and by interpretation he has landed out of bounds, thus not executing a catch.

[TXMike]

BS interp.  If he "dots the i" and goes out it is complete.  But incomplete for a toe-heel? ? ?   When I'm king.............

[Oglog1]

Incomplete.

AR 7-3-6-XVII

Eligible A80 is airborne near the sideline when he receives a legal forward pass. As he comes to the ground facing the field of play,
his toe (a) clearly drags the ground inbounds before he falls out of bounds; (b) touches the ground inbounds and then his heel comes
down on the sideline in a continuous motion. He maintains firm control of the ball in both cases.

RULING: (a) Complete pass. (b)Incomplete pass. The continuous toe-heel touching is part of a single
process and by interpretation he has landed out of bounds, thus not executing a catch.

Welpe, you've just made my day!

Had this exact situation (b) in a top of the table clash with the action happening right on the offensive team's sideline. Their head coach was still chewing me out about it three plays later. I wasn't 100% sure of chapter and verse, so I let a couple of things he said pass that perhaps I wouldn't under different circumstances. Now I'm looking forward to the next time I have him on my sideline. C'mon coach, tell me I got that call wrong again so I can quote chapter and verse at you!

[Andrew McCarthy]

If it's all part of the same step I don't know how you could say he's in bounds if half his foot is out of bounds.  Incomplete per the AR- as it should be.

[TXMike]

If he only needs a toe down to get a completion when he "dots the i" then he should only need a toe any other time.  The reality is most of us likely do not have the visual acuity to see a toe-heel.  We see a foot. And if part ofthe foot is on the line, I have no problem with out of bounds.  But if you want to say you can slow down the foot enough to see toe and then heel, then that should be a completion.  Is the same thing true for a hand or an arm or another body part?

 EX: Airborne receiver with the ball in one hand/arm reaches down to break his fall as he comes to ground.  His fingertips touch in bounds but as the rest of the hand comes down the bottom of the palm touches the line.  Complete/Incomplete?

EX:  Airborne receiver comes to ground in bounds on left buttock but as he rolls his right buttock touches out of bounds.   Complete/Incomplete?

[NVFOA_Ump]

EX:  Airborne receiver comes to ground in bounds on left buttock but as he rolls his right buttock touches out of bounds.   Complete/Incomplete?

IMO that's a half-BUTT example.  

[TXMike]

That is pretty cheeky way to talk to me!!!   

[chymechowder]

Need a crack staff of rules experts for that one. 

[TXMike]

Butt we only have the bottom of the barrel here.  

[foureyedzebra]

Incomplete.

AR 7-3-6-XVII

Eligible A80 is airborne near the sideline when he receives a legal forward pass. As he comes to the ground facing the field of play,
his toe (a) clearly drags the ground inbounds before he falls out of bounds; (b) touches the ground inbounds and then his heel comes
down on the sideline in a continuous motion. He maintains firm control of the ball in both cases.

RULING: (a) Complete pass. (b)Incomplete pass. The continuous toe-heel touching is part of a single
process and by interpretation he has landed out of bounds, thus not executing a catch.

It is because of the direction that the player is facing (facing the field of play).

If an airborne player taps a toe while facing the end line or side line, he has gotten the outermost part of the foot inbounds. Ruling: Complete
If he is facing the field of play and the outermost part of the foot (heel) does not touch inbounds the ruling is Incomplete.

At least that is how I Assertain the situation. 

[ABoselli]

Wait until they change us to two feet in for a completed catch.....

[DD]

If the toe-heel is all in one motion then incomplete. However, if the receiver pauses on his toes then come down with the heel (second action) then we have a complete pass.