Possession means having the ball firmly held in hand or hands, arm or arms, leg or legs, or under the body.
When players of the opposite teams have possession of the ball, it shall belong to the player who first gained possession and who has not lost possession.
If players of both teams legally gain possession of the ball simultaneously, it shall belong to the team that last previously had possession.
A ball not in possession of a player is still in play. A ball shall be considered to have been fumbled if the player last in possession has lost control of it.
If a kicked ball other than a kickoff is legally touched by a player of either team, such touching shall be deemed to be possession.
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The CFL Official Rule Book is published annually by the Canadian Football League. Any inquiries regarding the CFL Official Playing Rules may be directed to George Black Senior Advisor, Football Operations @ gblack@cfl.ca.