Do football fans get to keep the ball?

In football, if the ball crosses the field line, it is referred to as a throw or free-kick (unless it is a penalty as judged by the referee). It is based on the regulations of all major leagues. The regulations of football apply only to the field; tossing the ball at the crowd is deemed the same as the ball crossing the field boundary. 

For the game to continue, the ball must be returned to the field. If the ball is not recovered, it is deemed lost, and a replacement is brought in. If the ball becomes destroyed, a replacement is brought in.

When an (American) football player throws the ball into the stands after a score, do the fans get to keep the ball?

It is usually determined by the home team's policies.

Unless there is a particular event, supporters usually get to keep the ball. This may be a player's 200th catch or a playoff game-winning score. A fan may willingly return the ball in exchange for other club items and the opportunity to meet a favorite player.

Polite supporters are more likely to be approached after the game for a meet-and-greet.

Why can't one keep an NFL football that goes into the stands?

The NFL forbids football from being played in the stands for safety concerns, therefore players who toss them into the stands are fine. However, players are permitted to give them out to spectators by handing them to someone.

Footballs seldom end up in the stands by mistake; there is a net for FG/XP attempts, and the sidelines are typically far enough away that even if it bounces, it is unlikely to go up in the stands (maybe once a year now?). However, the NFL now allows individuals to keep them. When a club is worth $2 billion, attempting to retrieve a $100 ball looks awful.

The more significant reason, though, is that each side is allocated a set number of footballs every game. There are 12 primary and 12 backup servers. These balls are then inflated to the required PSI of 12.5 to 13.5 before being examined by an inspector. They are taken by the ball coordinator if they pass the examination. They are then distributed as required.

Furthermore, just one or two balls are generally assigned for kicking. These balls are generally inflated closer to 13.5 psi, and if any ball ends up in the stands, it's most certainly one of these.

If they run out of balls, they must have another ball properly inflated and inspected, or the kicker must use one of the balls inflated closer to 12.5 psi, which is not ideal for kicking.

Why don't American football players pass the ball?

I'll also presume you're referring to Rugby-style passing, which means backward or laterally.

Here's an alternative way to answer this question.

Consider a seal. Land animals gave birth to seals. And, while seals can still go about on land, they aren't as good as terrestrial mammals.

American football players are similar to seals. Their football-playing forefathers from 150 years ago were equally good at rugby-style passing as current rugby players.

However, American football players have acclimated to living in the sea of the forward pass, blocking, limitless substitutions, dead balls after each tackle, and needing to go only 10 meters to obtain a new set of tackles. They are perfectly adapted to the setting.

They've lost the ability to smoothly complete a sequence of rugby passes while adapting to flourish in that new habitat. They may do it out of desperation, but the outcomes are typically negative.

To be honest, most of the time there is at least one person on the field who is really skilled at rugby-style throwing - the quarterback. But there may be only one person, and they're probably not very adept at receiving passes.

The rules of American football state that there can only be four persons in the backfield at the start of a play.

Many Americans who grew up with American football and know nothing about rugby (including myself) will argue that completing a succession of Rugby style passes carries a large chance of turnover, which is why it is not done in football.

A turnover in American football is not as severe as a penalty kick in soccer, but it may be just as damaging and should be avoided at all costs. A typical professional football game contains less than four turnovers.

However, if the typical American football player could pass (backward) as well as the average rugby player, the chance of turnover would be reduced.

FAQs

Are fans allowed to keep footballs?

Unless there is a particular event, supporters usually get to keep the ball. This may be a player's 200th catch or a playoff game-winning score. A fan may willingly return the ball in exchange for other club items and the opportunity to meet a favorite player.

Do NFL players pay for balls they keep?

In the NFL, players are not penalized for delivering the ball to a specific fan. If they flung it into the crowd at random, they would be charged $5,787 for their first violation. A second violation attracts a fine of $11,576.

Why can't you keep an NFL football that goes into the stands?

The NFL forbids football from being played in the stands for safety concerns, therefore players who toss them into the stands are fine. However, players are permitted to give them out to spectators by handing them to someone.

Conclusion

To conclude, the host club will make the decision as to the owners; at most venues, the supporters will immediately give the balls back to the security officers. If a person is not returned freely, the guards will take him. Taking balls home with you is unusual in football.