Muffed punt

In gridiron football, a muffed punt is defined as "touching of the ball prior to possessing the ball.”

A muffed punt occurs when there is an "uncontrolled touch" of the football by a player on the returning team after it is punted. This can occur when:

• The kicking team interferes with the other team's right to catch the punt
• A player on the kicking team is struck unaware by the football running down-field to cover the punt.
• A player attempts to return the ball, makes contact with it but cannot retain the ball in his hands and it comes loose.^[1]

To be a fumble, the receiving team must possess the football, then lose control. In the case of a fumble, the ball is live and can be returned by the team that recovers the