What Happens When the Ball Goes Out of Court in Netball?
The out of court rule in netball: when the ball or a player is judged out of court, and how play restarts with a throw-in.
The ball is out of court when it touches the ground, an object, or a player who is themselves out of court, beyond the court's boundary lines — play restarts with a throw-in taken by the team that didn't cause it to go out.
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Written for
- Player, parent, umpire
- Rule group
- Court position
Out of court is one of netball's simplest rules in principle, but deflections and boundary-line judgement calls can make it less obvious in practice than it first appears.
The rule in plain English
The ball is out of court once it touches the ground, an object, or a player outside the court's boundary lines — the boundary lines themselves count as part of the court, so a ball landing exactly on the line is still in play. A player carrying or holding the ball who steps outside the boundary also takes the ball out of court with them.
A simple example
A defender deflects a pass, and the ball rolls over the sideline before any other player touches it. Because the defender's touch was the last contact before it left the court, the throw-in is awarded to the attacking team.
What the umpire is looking for
The umpire is tracking two things: exactly where the ball crosses the boundary line, and which player last touched it before it went out — since that determines which team restarts.
Restart
Out of court is restarted with a throw-in, taken by a player from the team that did not cause the ball to go out, from the point on the boundary line nearest to where the ball left the court. See throw-in rules for exactly how that restart works.
Common misunderstandings
- "The line is out of court." The boundary lines are part of the court — a ball has to be clearly beyond the line to be out, not simply touching it.
- Losing track of the last touch after a deflection. A deflected ball going out is awarded based on who touched it last, not which team's attack or defence "caused" the situation more broadly.
Player tips
- When chasing a ball heading toward the boundary, be aware that stepping out yourself while still in contact with the ball takes it out of court too, even if the ball itself hasn't crossed the line yet.
Umpire tips
- Position yourself with a clear line of sight to the boundary for the relevant side of the court, since out-of-court calls are often close and happen at speed.
Related rules
Out of court leads directly into throw-in rules, which cover exactly how and where the restart is taken.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a ball landing exactly on the boundary line is out — the line itself is part of the court.
- A player stepping out of court while still holding the ball without realising the ball is now also considered out.
- Not identifying which team's touch actually sent the ball out, especially after a deflection.
Official source: checked against the World Netball Rules 2024, published by World Netball. Last checked 19 August 2026.
Always check the official World Netball rulebook for the definitive, current wording. This site explains and illustrates the rules; it does not replace them.