If a player's hand touches the sideline while they are in possession of the ball, are they considered out of bounds?

When a player has possession of the ball and any part of their body, including a hand, touches the sideline, they are considered out of bounds. This rule acknowledges that the field is defined by the boundary lines, and any contact with those lines means that the player is no longer in the playing area.

In football, the sideline serves as a critical boundary. The rule primarily focuses on the player's entire body, but even a single touch from any part, like the hand, indicates that the player has exited the field of play. The determination of being out of bounds happens regardless of other conditions, such as the position of the feet or whether the player falls. Therefore, the action of a hand touching the sideline while holding the ball clearly designates the player as out of bounds, emphasizing the strict enforcement of boundary lines in the game.