Out Of Bounds Basketball

The boundaries of a basketball court are used to determine if the ball or a player goes out of bounds. There are rules associated with being out of bounds as a player. When the ball goes out of bounds, a throw-in, or sometimes a jump ball, is used to put the ball back into play.

Basketball Boundary Lines

The sidelines and baselines make up the boundary lines on a basketball court. A player is out-of-bounds if they step on or cross the boundary lines with either foot or touch any object that is out of play.

Basketball Out of Bounds Rules

The rules of out of bounds and the boundary lines in basketball can be confusing, so here are the key things you need to know:

• You are out-of-bounds if you step on or cross the boundary lines.
• You are out-of-bounds if you touch an object out of bounds.
• You can jump in the air out-of-bounds to keep the ball in play as long as your feet don't touch the floor.
• The ball is out of bounds if it is in contact with a player, object, or part of the floor that is out of bounds.
• The ball is out of bounds if it goes behind the backboard.
• You caused the ball to go out of bounds if you touched it last.
• You caused the ball to go out of bounds even if a player on the other team pushed any part of your body into it.
• It is only a violation if a player steps out of bounds and then is the first player to touch it after coming back inbounds.
• If a player has the ball and steps out of bounds, it's a turnover, and the other team gets the ball.
• If a player steps out of bounds without the ball, they can step back inbounds at any point. However, he cannot touch the ball or impact the game until he has legally returned inbounds by having both feet within the boundary lines.
• If the ball happens to go out of bounds by any means, then the team that touched the ball last surrenders possession to the other team.
• You are only back in bounds if both feet are back within the boundary lines.

Basketball Throw-ins

Throw-ins, also known as inbound passes, are used to put the ball into play after the ball goes out of bounds. The referee will award the ball to the team that gets possession at the nearest sideline spot. On a throw-in, the thrower stands out of bounds and passes the ball to a teammate who is inbounds. They must keep both feet planted until the ball is released from their hands, and a defender usually tries to block inbound passes. Teams will generally assign someone very tall to guard inbounds passes as it makes it difficult to pass the player with the ball. A player has five seconds to inbound the ball, otherwise, the other team will gain possession.

Basketball Jump Balls

Whenever the referees cannot figure out which team caused the ball to go out of bounds, a jump ball will be used to put the ball into play. This is only when video review proves inconclusive, which is why jump balls are usually a last resort. Teams will usually let their tallest player take the jump ball. For a jump ball, a referee throws the ball in the air, and two players jump and try to deflect it towards their teammates. Jump balls are considered a fair way to decide which team gets possession. Jump balls also occur at the beginning of games in order to determine who gets possession to start the game.

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