In American football, a touchback is a ruling that is made, and signaled by an official, when the ball becomes dead on or behind a team's own goal line (i.e., in their end zone) and the opposing team gave the ball the momentum, or impetus, to travel over the goal line, but did not have possession of the ball when it became dead. Such impetus may be imparted by a kick, pass, fumble, or in certain instances by batting the ball. Thus, a touchback is not a play, but a result of events that may occur during a play.