When is it determined that the ball has crossed the neutral zone?

The determination that the ball has crossed the neutral zone occurs when the entire ball has moved beyond the neutral zone. The neutral zone is defined as the space between the offensive and defensive lines, and for the ball to be officially considered as having crossed it, it must fully break the plane of this area. This is critical for determining plays, calculating first downs, or identifying offside penalties.

The other options do not accurately reflect the rule. For instance, simply moving one yard forward is insufficient because the ball could still be partially in the neutral zone. Likewise, catching the ball is a separate action and does not pertain to its position relative to the neutral zone. Finally, stating that a play is live does not properly address the criteria used to evaluate the position of the ball in relation to the neutral zone.