SECTION 2. Touchdown

Article 1 - How Scored

A touchdown shall be scored when:

a. A ball carrier advancing from the field of play has possession of a live ball when it penetrates the plane of the opponent’s goal line. This plane extends beyond the pylons only for a player who touches the ground in the end zone or a pylon. (A.R. 2-23-1:I) (A.R. 8-2-1:I-IX)
b. A player catches a forward pass in the opponent’s end zone. (A.R. 5-1-3:I-II)
c. A fumble or backward pass is recovered, caught, intercepted, or awarded in the opponent’s end zone (Exceptions: Rules 7-2-2-a Exception 2 and 8-3-2-d-5). (A.R. 8-2-1:X)
d. A free kick or scrimmage kick is legally caught or recovered in the opponent’s end zone. (A.R. 6-3-9:III)
e. The referee awards a touchdown under the provisions of Rule 9-2-3 Penalty.