In football, a fumble occurs when the ball is lost before the player is tackled, scores, or travels out of bounds. The football can only be fumbled by a player who has clear possession of the ball.
It is possible for either team to recover a fumbled ball in football. As a result, fumbles in football are significant plays that can result in a change of possession from one team to another.
This is why offensive players work hard to keep possession of the ball when they have it. In contrast, defensive players try many different tactics to take the ball away from their opponents.
Recovering the Football
As we stated earlier, fumbles in football are live balls that can be recovered by either team. In some cases, however, the rules will differ based on which team is attempting to recover the ball.
Offense
As an offensive player, recovering a fumble is the main goal if a teammate loses possession of the ball.
The player who recovered the ball will start their next play wherever he or she is downed on the field. First downs result from fumbles recovered by the offense twenty yards downfield.
It’s imperative to note that if the ball is recovered and the carrier is tackled behind the line of scrimmage, the offense loses both yards and the down. In this example, suppose a team fumbles on 2nd down with ten yards to play and recovers it five yards back.
This will mean their next play will be third down with fifteen yards to go. This is an example of how a recovered fumble on offense can still be a negative play.
It is possible for offensive players to recover the ball and advance it downfield on occasion. It is possible for any offensive player to recover an attacking fumble and advance the ball down the field, but they rarely advance the ball very far.
Defense
As the defense causes a fumble, they create an opportunity to turn the ball over and score a touchdown as well.
If a ball has been fumbled, any defensive player on the field may pick it up and return it.
It is common for defensive players to yell “loose ball” after fumbling the ball. The loose ball is signaled to all defenders in the area to go after it.
When a defensive player recovers a fumble, he gives his team the ball back. As soon as a defense player recovers a fumble, it is marked as a lost fumble by the opposing team.
It is the duty of defensive players to return the ball as close as they can to the end zone of their opponents. When a player is downed, his team’s offense will start at the spot where the player was downed.
In Football, How do Fumbles Occur?
You may be wondering how these plays are made now that you know what a fumble is in football.
A Big Hit
A big hit in football can cause a fumble. A big hit from a defender can jar the football loose even when a player is protecting it.
Especially when hitting quarterbacks. It is fairly common for quarterbacks to lose the ball when they are hit from their blindside.
It is for this reason that pass rushers often rank among the highest in forced fumbles.
Muffs
On special teams, players are responsible for catching long kicks on punt returns and kickoff returns.
Fumbles occur when the returner touches the ball but does not catch it. Muffs occur when the returner fails to properly catch one of these kicks.
Peanut Punch
In the NFL, a cornerback named Charles “Peanut” Tillman was renowned for punching the ball out of his opponents’ hands and causing them to lose possession.
When you watch the NFL nowadays, you will notice that defenders usually punch the ball several times before bringing the player down.
A single fumble caused by these punches can change the game in your team’s favor.