# Law 23: Player and Ball Out-of-Bounds (FIBA Official Basketball Rules)

Basketball · Law 23: Player and Ball Out-of-Bounds · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/basketball/laws/law-23-player-and-ball-out-of-bounds/)

When a player or the ball is out of bounds, who caused it, and a held ball at the line.

## 23.231 Out of Bounds

Players and the ball touching the line, people and objects out of bounds.

### Test 1: When a player or the ball is out

- A player is out of bounds when any part of the body touches the floor or an object on or outside the boundary line. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 23.1.1)
- The rule speaks of the floor or any object other than a player. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 23.1.1)
- The ball is out when it touches a player or any other person who is out of bounds. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 23.1.2)
- The ball is out when it touches the backboard supports. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 23.1.2)
- The ball is out when it touches any object above the court. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 23.1.2)
- The ball is out when it touches the floor on or outside the boundary line. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 23.1.2)
- Standing on the line, he is out of bounds, so his touch sends the ball out. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 23.2.2)
- The back of the backboard is out of bounds. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 23.1.2)
- Touching the line puts him, and the ball he controls, out of bounds. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 23.1, 23.2.2)
- A heel on the sideline is contact with the line; leaning over or being in the air after taking off inside is not. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 11.1, 23.1.1)

## 23.232 Who Caused It

The last player to touch it, a player on the line, and held balls.

### Test 1: Who caused it, and held balls

- The ball is caused to go out by the last player to touch or be touched by it. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 23.2.1)
- The last player to touch it caused it, even if it goes out by touching something other than a player. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 23.2.1)
- His feet on the line put him out; the ball he catches is out with him. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 23.2.2)
- Whoever the ball touched last is the one who caused it. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 23.2.1)
- If a player moves out of bounds during a held ball, a jump ball situation occurs. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 23.2.3)
- Either direction, out of bounds or back into the backcourt, turns the held ball into a jump ball situation. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 23.2.3)
- The ball is dead and the opponents of the team that caused it get a throw-in. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 10.3, 22.2, 23)
- The last toucher's team loses the ball. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 23.2.1)
- Out of bounds during a held ball is settled by the arrow. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 12.6, 23.2.3)
- The back of the backboard is out of bounds; the front, the ring and the net are not. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 23.1.2)

Sources: FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026 (v1.1), Article 23 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)

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