Tip of the Week | When am I out of bounds?

The boundary lines are marked by cones, and in some cases there will be a painted line on the field for one or more of the boundary lines. Inside the line is IN, on and outside the line are OUT.

Whether you are in or out depends only on the first point of contact.

If you catch the disc in the air, it’s your first foot touching the ground that counts—if that foot is in-bounds, you’re in-bounds, even if you then keep running out (just back up to where you first touched down and keep playing).

If that foot is on the line or out, you’re out—the other team gets the disc.

If you’re standing still and straddling the line, you’re out.

If you can keep a body part in and on the ground and catch the disc before touching the ground with a body part on or over the line, you’re in.

If you can jump from IN bounds, catch the disc out of bounds and throw it back in before you land (if you’re going to be landing out), the disc is still good. And, you’re awesome!

When checking to see if you are in (either in bounds or in the end zone for a point), use the two closest pylons. Whether you’re in or out is up to the person with the best perspective.

If you were reading the disc overhead as you caught it, you probably didn’t have the best perspective. But, then again, neither did the guy at the other end of the field shouting “Check feet! You’re out!”. This is where Spirit of the Game comes in—if you’re out, say so. If you’re in (and think you had the best perspective), you can call back some polite version of “nope, I’m in, play on”.