Question Number: 26074

Law 9 - The Ball in and out of Play 3/17/2012

RE: Rec Adult

Kathy of Creedmoor, nc usa asks...

Ball was kicked over the side line in the air (slightly) and the wind was blowing and ball landed on the white line. I called it still in play and another player stated since it went over the line in the air, it was out. Who was correct? Me or other player?

Thanks and I anxiously await our call.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

The ball does not need to have contact with the ground to be considered out. The entire ball simply has to completely cross the outside edge of the line, whether in the air or on the ground.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Kathy
If all of the ball fully crossed all of the plane of the touchline in the air then it is out of play. Where the ball lands makes no difference to the decision.
In your case the ball landed on the touchline which was in play yet it is what happened to the ball while in the air that mattered.
So if all of the ball was clearly seen to fully cross the plane of the line and it is then blown back into the field of play the ball has gone out of play.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

'Over' does not necessarily mean 'completely crosses'. It could just as likely mean 'to hover'. If all of the ball crosses over all of the goal line or touch line either in the air or on the ground, the ball has gone out of play. Doesn't matter if the wind blows the ball back onto the field, the ball was out of play. Period. Landing within the boundaries of the field does not put it back into play. Only a throw-in, goal kick, corner kick, or kick-off can do that.

If the ball merely hovered over the touch line it is still in play and you would be correct. If all of the ball had crossed all of the touch line then the other player is correct.

Thank you for the question

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 28012