Fumble advance

[barny75070]

Is it legal to advance a fumble forward- if the same player who fumbles the ball is the individual who recovers it?

Clean exchange from the Center to QB- QB pitches outside- RB is hit- ball bounces forward out of his hands- is hit 3-4 yards forward (leading to a first down) and RB (same one who fumbled) picks up ball and runs another 10 yards...

 

[Coach Greenfield]

Yes, it would be the same this if you had a bad pitch on a sweep and then picked it up and continued the play. The only exception to this rule is if it is fourth down. In which case the fourth down fumble rule would come into effect.

 

[fencewire]

If the "pitch" was backward that would be a muff and not a fumble, as it would be a backward pass.

I do have one question, you said that it was 'hit 3-4 yards forward', by whom?

 

[barny75070]

The ball was pitched cleanly to the RB from the QB- he came around the end and was about 10 yards up field- the RB was hit from behind and upon the fumble, the ball bounced forward about 5 yards- the same RB picked the ball up (had not been touched by anyone else) and advanced the ball about 10 more yards...

Hope that provides some clarity...

 

[Legacy Zebra]

Sounds like a legal and heads up play.

 

[JasonTX]

The ball was pitched cleanly to the RB from the QB- he came around the end and was about 10 yards up field- the RB was hit from behind and upon the fumble, the ball bounced forward about 5 yards- the same RB picked the ball up (had not been touched by anyone else) and advanced the ball about 10 more yards...

Hope that provides some clarity...

If it's not 4th down, any player on offense may recover and advance it. If 4th down, only the fumbling player may recover and advance it.