When is the ball out in football?
B · Beginner · Kick-offs, free kicks, penalties and other restarts · 11 of 17Checked 13 October 2026
The ball is out only when the whole of it has crossed the touchline or goal line, on the ground or in the air. A ball on the line is still in play. It stays in play when it bounces off a post, the crossbar or the corner flag. It usually stays in play when it hits the referee.
How it works
- Out: the whole ball has crossed the touchline or goal line, on the ground or in the air.
- Out: the referee has stopped play.
- In: rebounds off the posts, crossbar or corner flagpost that stay on the field.
- Ball hits a match official and stays on the field: play goes on, unless it leads to a promising attack, goes straight into the goal or changes which team has the ball. Then play stops and restarts with a dropped ball.
Tricky cases
A cross curved out over the line in the air and swung back in. Is it out?
Yes. Once the whole ball has crossed the line in the air, it is out, even if it comes back.
The ball hit the referee and went to the other team. What happens?
Play stops and restarts with a dropped ball for the team that had the ball.
Why the rule exists
The whole-ball test is the same for goals and for the ball going out, so one standard decides both.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| All football under the Laws | As above | L9 |
From the rule book
IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Laws 8.2 and 9, in force from 1 July 2026. Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: IFAB Laws of the Game (PDF).