Out of Bounds is a basketball term that can mean two things in basketball, and one is the area on the basketball court, located outside the boundary lines.
It also means the call made out by a referee when a ball crosses a boundary, that is determined to be outside the field of play.
Some basketball leagues make this call when the ball hits the top of the backboard or when it is held by any kind of hardware.
The rules of Out of Bounds can sometimes be confusing but some key points include:
- A player is out-of-bounds when a player steps outside the boundary lines of the court.
- A player is out-of-bounds when they touch an object that is out-of-bounds.
- It is okay to jump out-of-bounds as long as the player lands within the bounds.
- The ball will be out-of-bounds if it comes in contact with an object or a player who is also out-of-bounds.
- The ball will be out-of-bounds if it goes behind the backboard.
- The player holding the ball will be the one causing the ball to go out-of-bounds even if they were pushed by an opposing player.
- If a player goes out of bounds, the ball will be turned over to the opposing team.
- The team that touched the ball last before it goes out of bounds will surrender the ball to the opposing team.