What does it mean to muff a loose ball?

Muffing a loose ball refers to the action of touching or attempting to catch a ball that is not in possession but failing to secure it. This definition captures the essence of the situation where a player touches the ball—often during a fumbled play or a misjudged recovery attempt—but does not gain control over it, resulting in a loose ball remaining in play.

This is an important aspect of the game as it can lead to multiple outcomes such as other players having the opportunity to recover the loose ball. Successful recovery, forfeiting possession, and passing the ball to a teammate do not accurately describe the act of muffing, as they involve either gaining control or specific actions that do not align with simply failing to secure the ball. Thus, the focus on the unsuccessful attempt to gain possession correctly encapsulates what it means to muff a loose ball.