When is the ball dead?

The ball is live at the snap and stays live until an official whistles it dead. Any official can whistle the play dead. The play is dead when:

• The ball hits the ground.
• The ball carrier's flag is pulled, or falls out.
• The ball carrier steps out of bounds (the boundary line is out).
• A touchdown, try or safety is scored.
• The ball carrier's knee, shin, leg, forearm or arm touches the ground.
• A receiver catches the ball with one or no flags on.
• The 7-second pass clock expires (ball back to the line of scrimmage; the down counts).
• There's an inadvertent whistle.
• The ball carrier dives, jumps or hurdles a player (players may dive to catch a pass or pull a flag).

A receiver is in bounds if the first foot, or a body part other than the hand, touches inbounds while holding possession.