Out of bounds
The rule that a ball or player leaving the marked playing area is out of play and possession is decided at the boundary.
Overview
Most court and field sports mark a boundary, and the ball is out of play once it fully crosses that line. In basketball the ball is out when it or the player holding it touches the floor outside the sidelines or baseline, and possession passes to the team that did not cause it to go out.
The exact test for the boundary varies by sport — whether the whole ball must cross the line, and whether the line itself counts as out — but the shared idea is that play only continues inside the marked area.
Key points
- The boundary lines are usually treated as out of play.
- A player standing out of bounds while holding the ball is out.
- Possession normally goes to the team that did not send the ball out.
- The precise test differs from sport to sport.
Where it’s used
Sports that use out of bounds:
Basketball
A fast, dynamic team sport of running, jumping and quick decisions on court.
Volleyball
A non-contact team sport of rallies, jumps and teamwork — indoors or on the beach.
American Football
A strategic, position-based team sport of set plays, sprinting and coordinated teamwork on a marked field.
Related rules
Traveling
A basketball violation for moving illegally with the ball without dribbling it.
Double dribble
A basketball violation for dribbling with two hands at once, or for dribbling again after picking up the ball.
Shot clock
A timing rule that requires the attacking basketball team to attempt a shot within a set number of seconds.
How it connects
The meaning-bearing relationships that place Out of bounds in the wider knowledge graph — each one with the reason it exists.
Frequently learned together
Taught side by side in the same stage of a learning path.
- Volleyball rotationBoth are taught in the “Get to know the game” stage of the Volleyball learning path.
- Three-hit ruleBoth are taught in the “Get to know the game” stage of the Volleyball learning path.
- Touching the netBoth are taught in the “Get to know the game” stage of the Volleyball learning path.
- Ball-handling faultsBoth are taught in the “Get to know the game” stage of the Volleyball learning path.
- Volleyball scoringBoth are taught in the “Get to know the game” stage of the Volleyball learning path.
Explore across the knowledge base
Follow the threads that connect Out of bounds to the rest of SocialSportHub.
Scoring systems
- Volleyball scoringVolleyball uses rally scoring, in which a point is won on every rally, and matches are decided over a best-of-five sets.
- Padel scoringPadel borrows tennis scoring, counting points as 15–30–40 within games and playing sets to six games decided by a tiebreak.
- How swimming races are timed and placedSwimming races are decided by elapsed time and finishing order, with electronic touchpads recording when each swimmer completes the distance.
- Basketball scoringBasketball is scored by shooting the ball through the hoop, with baskets worth one, two or three points depending on where the shot is taken.
Officiating
- RefereeThe primary on-field official who enforces the rules, controls play, penalises fouls, awards restarts, and blows the whistle to start and stop a match.
- UmpireA match official who rules on lines, serves and dismissals in racket, bat-and-ball and net sports such as tennis, cricket and baseball — and, in racket sports, also keeps the running score.
- Line JudgeA boundary-line official who calls whether the ball or player is in or out and flags foot faults, working under the head referee across many sports.
- Video ReviewVideo review lets officials re-examine footage of a contested moment to confirm or overturn a close call — a goal, a line, a foul — an aid used across many sports.
- Out-of-Bounds CallAn official's ruling that the ball or a player in possession has left the legal playing area, stopping play and handing a restart or possession to the opponent.
Learning paths
- Learn BasketballA structured, educational learning path for basketball — from the rules to skills, techniques, tactics and training.
- Learn VolleyballA structured, educational learning path for volleyball — from the rules to skills, techniques, tactics and training.
- Learn American FootballA structured, educational learning path for american football — from the rules to skills, techniques, tactics and training.
Beginner guides
- Your First Volleyball Session: What to ExpectA warm, honest guide to what actually happens at your first volleyball session, so you can turn up relaxed, join in, and enjoy the rallies rather than worry about getting everything right.
- Your first basketball sessionA first basketball session is a friendly, fast-moving introduction to handling the ball, moving your feet and sharing simple play with others — no experience or prior skill needed.
Skills
- ReboundingThe basketball skill of gaining the ball after a missed shot.
- DribblingThe skill of moving with the ball under close control to beat opponents or keep possession.
- FootworkThe skill of moving efficiently around the playing area to be in position for each shot or action.
- PassingThe skill of moving the ball to a teammate accurately to keep possession and create chances.
- ShootingThe skill of striking or releasing the ball toward the goal or basket to score.
Tactics
- Pick and rollA two-player basketball action where one player screens for the ball-handler, then rolls to the basket.
- Zone defenceA defensive system where each player guards an area of the court rather than a specific opponent.
- Full-court pressAn aggressive basketball defence that pressures the ball across the whole court to force turnovers.
- Possession playA patient football style that keeps the ball through short passing to control the game and tire opponents.
- Fast breakPushing the ball up court at speed after a turnover or rebound to score before the defence sets up.
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Everywhere else on the platform that covers Out of bounds — assembled from what actually references it, so nothing here is a dead end.
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How this page is maintained
- Content type
- Rule
- Provenance
- Tier A — evergreen educational
- Verified external sources
- 0
- Content updated
- 2026-07-09
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