SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/soc-ball-on-line

The ball is rolling right on the touchline, with part of it still over the line. Is it in play?

Yes. It is out only when the whole ball has passed over the line.

Start playing free

  1. No, touching the line is out
  2. Yes, until the whole ball is over ✔
  3. Only if a player is touching it

Why: The ball is out of play only when it has wholly passed over the goal line or touchline, on the ground or in the air. The lines belong to the areas they enclose.

Huh, didn't know that: The ball is still in play if it bounces off a goalpost, crossbar or corner flagpost and stays on the field.

The dad joke
Why was the ball still in play on the line? It was just hanging in there.
Like this card?
Play the game

References

Answer: Yes, until the whole ball is over. The ball is out of play only when it has wholly passed over the goal line or touchline, on the ground or in the air. The lines belong to the areas they enclose.

  1. IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 9 The Ball in and out of Play www.theifab.com/laws/latest/the-ball-in-and-out-of-play
    it has wholly passed over the goal line or touchline on the ground or in the air
    Checked 2026-10-12.

Think this answer is wrong? Tap "Challenge this answer" on the card in the game and tell us why.

Test yourself in the game

Sports & FitnessWhich of these is required for a legal throw-in?Sports & FitnessThe ball goes over the goal line, missing the goal, and an attacker touched it last. What restart?Sports & FitnessHow wide is a full-size soccer goal, measured between the inside of the posts?

That's stuff everyone should know.