Who gets the ball when it goes out in men's lacrosse?
I · Intermediate · Positions and play · 5 of 8Usually the team that did not touch it last. A shot is the exception: a shot or deflected shot that goes out is given to the team of the player nearest the ball when it crosses the line. That is why attackers chase missed shots to the end line. A player with the ball who steps on or over a line loses it.
How it works
- Out: a loose ball that touches a boundary line or anything on or outside it, or that has left the field.
- A player with the ball: steps on or over a boundary line, or touches the ground there with stick or body. The ball goes to the other team.
- Last touch: "the ball shall be awarded ... to any Player on the opposing Team to that Player who last touched it".
- A shot: awarded "to the Team of the nearest legal inbound Player where and when the ball became out-of-bounds".
- The stick does not count: distance is measured to the player, not the stick.
- Level: if two players of opposite teams are the same distance away, a face-off.
- How long a shot stays a shot: until it stops on the field, a player gains it, it goes out or a player sends it out on purpose.
- Where: play restarts with a free play where the ball went out, at least 4.6 m from the gate.
- The end line: a ball out over the end line is put in where it crossed, even if that is within 18 m of goal.
- Off a face-off: if nobody knows who touched it last, it is faced again.
The glossary has the out of bounds entry, the shot on goal, the loose ball and the restart entry.
Tricky cases
A shot misses, stops on the grass and then an attacker knocks it out. Who gets it?
The defending team. Once the ball has come to rest on the field it is no longer a shot, so the last-touch rule applies.
A shot goes over the goal and an attacker deflects it out. Who gets it?
The team of the nearest player when it went out. A deflected shot is still a shot.
A defender illegally forces the ball-carrier out of bounds. Who gets the ball?
The ball-carrier's team keeps it, and the defender serves penalty time.
The nearest players to a missed shot are one from each team, at the same distance. What happens?
A face-off.
Why the rule exists
Most out-of-bounds calls reward the team that did not lose the ball. The shot rule is different so that teams can shoot without giving the ball away every time they miss. A team that backs up its shots keeps possession.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Loose ball out | Other team from the last touch | WL Men Rule 40.3 i |
| Shot out | Nearest player's team | WL Men Rule 40.3 ii |
| Ball-carrier out | Loses the ball | WL Men Rule 40.2 |
| Sixes | A shot out goes to the other team, with an exception | From the sixes set |
From the rule book
World Lacrosse, 2025-2027 Men's Field Lacrosse Official Playing Rules (version 1.0), Rules 37, 40 and AR 40.1 to 40.5. Checked 21 October 2026. Official document: Rules of Men's Field Lacrosse 2025-2027 (PDF).