In American football

American football

American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...

, a muffed punt is defined as "touching of the ball prior to possessing the ball."

A muffed punt

Punt (football)

In some codes of football, a punt is a play in which a player drops the ball and kicks it before it touches the ground. A punt is in contrast to a drop kick, in which the ball touches the ground before being kicked....

 occurs when there is an "uncontrolled touch" of the football by a player on the returning team after it is punted. This can occur when:

• The kicking team interferes with the other team's right to catch the punt
• A player on the kicking team is struck unaware by the football running downfield to cover the punt.
• A player attempts to return the ball, makes contact with it but cannot retain the ball in his hands and it comes loose.

Rules vary by league about how to handle a muffed punt.

A muffed punt is not a fumble

Fumble

A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...

. To be a fumble, the receiving team must possess the football, then lose control. In the case of a fumble, the ball is live and can be returned by the team that recovers the ball. In the case of a muffed punt, it is possible for the punting team to recover the ball and continue the drive, but at least in NCAA and NFL rules, they cannot advance the ball on that same play.