Ball in and out of play

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Balls A, B and C are still in play as they have not wholly crossed the touchline. Ball D has completely passed over the touchline, and is out of play.

The ball in and out of play is the ninth law of the Laws of the Game of association football, and describes to the two basic states of play in the game.

In play[edit]

The ball remains in play from the beginning of each period to the end of that period, except when:

  • The ball leaves the field by entirely crossing a goal line or touch line (this includes when a goal is scored); or
  • Play is stopped by the referee (for example when a foul has been committed, a player is seriously injured, or the ball becomes defective).

The Law specifically notes that the ball remains in play if it rebounds off a goal frame, corner flag, referee or assistant referee, assuming that they are on the field of play at the time.

When the ball is in play players may play the ball, contest the ball, and goals may be scored. Players are liable to punishment for committing either fouls or misconduct. Substitutions may not occur whilst the ball is in play.


When the ball becomes out of play, the ball is put back into play be the appropriate restart. The restarts in football are:

  • Throw-in: when the ball has entirely crossed the touch line; awarded to opposing team to that which last touched the ball. (Law 15).
  • Indirect free kick: awarded to the opposing team following "non-penal" fouls (like obstruction, offside, etc.), certain technical infringements, or when play is stopped to caution/send-off an opponent without a specific foul having occurred. (Law 13).
  • Direct free kick: awarded to fouled team following certain listed "penal" fouls, (Law 13) and certain "dead-ball" methods of restarts that include
    • Kick-off: following a goal by the opposing team, or to begin each period of play. (Law 8).
    • Goal kick: when the ball has entirely crossed the goal line without a goal having been scored and having last been touched by an attacker; awarded to defending team. (Law 16).
    • Penalty kick: awarded to fouled team following "penal" foul having occurred in their opponent's penalty area. (Law 14).
    • Corner kick: when the ball has entirely crossed the goal line without a goal having been scored and having last been touched by a defender; awarded to attacking team. (Law 17).
  • Dropped-ball: occurs when the referee has stopped play for any other reason (e.g. a serious injury to a player, interference by an external party, or a ball becoming defective). This restart is uncommon in adult games. (Law 8).

Once the ball is out of play, the only restart is the restart appropriate for the reason the ball went out of play in the first place; subsequent actions do not change the restart. For example, if the ball goes out of play because of a foul by Team A against Team B, the restart must be a free kick to Team B even if a Team B player strikes an opponent; offending Team B player would, however, be liable for misconduct (i.e. yellow card or red card).

Note, however, that the referee may change the original restart if he realises he has made an error or on the advice of his assistant referees, provided play has not yet restarted. For example, if the ball has gone out of play because the ball was kicked into goal by Team A and the referee has signalled that a goal has been scored, but then notices that an assistant referee has indicated a foul by a Team A player immediately before the goal was scored, the referee would change to the correct restart of a free kick to Team B where the foul occurred.

External links[edit]