Rule 16. Ball Goes Out of Play Over the Boards or Sideline

In plain English

Over the boards or sideline: hit against whoever touched it last.

• Ball over the boards or the side line: no whistle, the clock keeps running, and the hit goes against whichever team touched it last. Stick, pony or player, it counts the same.
• If the umpires cannot tell who touched it, or it came off an umpire's pony, it is a throw-in taken with the umpire's back to the boards at that point.
• If the defending side put it out inside their own 60, the ball goes on the 60 yard line, 10 yards in from the boards, and the striker gets one hit: either a pass to a team-mate at least 30 yards away, or a shot at goal.
• Everywhere else the ball is placed at least 5 yards in from where it went out.
• Timing: the umpires place the ball within 8 seconds and call play; the striker then has 5 seconds and may not replace the ball, on pain of a Penalty 5a. The side facing the hit must be 30 yards away and not behind the ball - one who is closer has no play until the ball has been passed or the striker challenged, and playing anyway concedes a penalty nearer their own goal.

If the ball goes out of play over the boards or side- line, the umpire without blowing their whistle (the clock is not stopped) will restart play with a hit against the team that last touched the ball whether it was off their stick, pony or player.

Quoted extract · Blue Book 2026, Part 1, Rule 16

Read rule 16 in the Blue Book 2026

During a ‘Fair Play Dropped Ball’, if a player from the team facing the hit is within 30 yards of the ball when the hit is taken, when can he make a play?

• Immediately
• When the hitter has passed the ball to or been challenged by another player ✓
• After 5 seconds
• After the umpire signals them to play

If the team fails to play the ball within the 5 seconds a Penalty 5a should be awarded. • The players of the team facing the hit shall not be within 30 yards of the ball nor behind the ball.

What penalty should be awarded if a player from the team facing the hit makes a play within 30 yards of the ball during a ‘Fair Play Dropped Ball’?

• A free hit is awarded to the opposing team
• The player is sent off the field
• A penalty hit should be awarded closer to their goal ✓
• The game continues with no penalty

If the team fails to play the ball within the 5 seconds a Penalty 5a should be awarded. • The players of the team facing the hit shall not be within 30 yards of the ball nor behind the ball.

If a player is within 30 yards of the ball when a hit is taken, under what condition is the player allowed to make a play?

• The player can make a play at any time
• The player can make a play only if the hitter has been challenged by another player
• The player can make a play only after the hitter has passed the ball to another player or been challenged by another player ✓
• The player must wait for a signal from the umpire before making a play

If the team fails to play the ball within the 5 seconds a Penalty 5a should be awarded. • The players of the team facing the hit shall not be within 30 yards of the ball nor behind the ball.

In the context of a 'Fair Play Dropped Ball', where should the players of the team facing the hit be positioned?

• They must be behind the ball
• They cannot be within 30 yards of the ball nor behind the ball ✓
• They must be within 30 yards of the ball
• They can choose any position on the field

If the team fails to play the ball within the 5 seconds a Penalty 5a should be awarded. • The players of the team facing the hit shall not be within 30 yards of the ball nor behind the ball.

When the ball goes out of play over the boards or sideline, how does the umpire restart the play?

• The umpire blows the whistle and stops the clock, then restarts play with a hit against the team that last touched the ball
• The umpire restarts play with a hit against the team that last touched the ball without blowing his whistle, and the clock continues running ✓
• The umpire throws the ball into play and the clock is stopped until the ball is back in play
• The umpire allows the team that did not touch the ball last to take a free hit and stops the clock

If the team fails to play the ball within the 5 seconds a Penalty 5a should be awarded. • The players of the team facing the hit shall not be within 30 yards of the ball nor behind the ball.

What happens if the umpires are not sure which team last touched the ball or if the ball went out of play off an umpire’s pony?

• The game continues without any interruption
• There will be a hit-in from the point where the ball went out, awarded to the team that was in possession
• The umpire will throw the ball in, standing with his back to the boards at the spot where the ball went out of play ✓
• The play is restarted with a centre hit awarded to the team that was in possession before the ball went out

If the team fails to play the ball within the 5 seconds a Penalty 5a should be awarded. • The players of the team facing the hit shall not be within 30 yards of the ball nor behind the ball.

Follow an out of play ball over the sides, what must the striker do when the umpire places the ball on the 60-yard line and 10 yards in from the boards or sideline after it was last touched by a defending team member within their 60-yard line?

• The striker can hit the ball multiple times and aim anywhere on the field
• The striker must take a direct shot at goal without passing
• The striker must either pass the ball to a teammate who is at least 30 yards away or shoot for goal with a single hit ✓
• The striker must hand the ball to a teammate without hitting it

If the team fails to play the ball within the 5 seconds a Penalty 5a should be awarded. • The players of the team facing the hit shall not be within 30 yards of the ball nor behind the ball.

Where does the umpire place the ball if it goes out of play and was not last touched by a defending team member within their 60-yard line?

• The ball is placed directly where it went out of play
• The ball is placed at least 5 yards inside the playing area opposite the point where it went out of play ✓
• The ball is placed on the 60-yard line and 10 yards in from the boards or side line
• The ball is given to the team that did not touch it last for a free hit

If the team fails to play the ball within the 5 seconds a Penalty 5a should be awarded. • The players of the team facing the hit shall not be within 30 yards of the ball nor behind the ball.

How much time do the umpires have to place the ball before calling ‘play’?

• 10 seconds
• 5 seconds
• 8 seconds ✓
• 12 seconds

If the team fails to play the ball within the 5 seconds a Penalty 5a should be awarded. • The players of the team facing the hit shall not be within 30 yards of the ball nor behind the ball.

How much time does the player taking the hit have to hit the ball without replacing it after the umpires call ‘play’?

• 3 seconds
• 5 seconds ✓
• 7 seconds
• 10 seconds

If the team fails to play the ball within the 5 seconds a Penalty 5a should be awarded. • The players of the team facing the hit shall not be within 30 yards of the ball nor behind the ball.

What happens if the team fails to play the ball within 5 seconds after the umpires call ‘play’, following a ball out of play over the sides?

• A free hit is awarded to the opposing team
• A Penalty 5a is awarded ✓
• The play continues without any penalty
• The team gets an additional 5 seconds

If the team fails to play the ball within the 5 seconds a Penalty 5a should be awarded. • The players of the team facing the hit shall not be within 30 yards of the ball nor behind the ball.

Where should the players of the team facing the hit be positioned when the hit is taken following an out of play over the sides?

• Behind the ball
• Within 30 yards of the ball
• Anywhere on the field
• Not within 30 yards of the ball and not behind the ball ✓

If the team fails to play the ball within the 5 seconds a Penalty 5a should be awarded. • The players of the team facing the hit shall not be within 30 yards of the ball nor behind the ball.

What happens if a player from the team facing the hit is within 30 yards of the ball when the hit is taken and makes a play before the hitter has passed the ball or been challenged by another player?

• The play continues without any penalty
• A penalty hit is awarded closer to their goal ✓
• The player is sent off the field
• A Penalty 5a is awarded

If the team fails to play the ball within the 5 seconds a Penalty 5a should be awarded. • The players of the team facing the hit shall not be within 30 yards of the ball nor behind the ball.

If the umpires are unclear as to which team touched the ball last before it went out of play over the boards or sideline, how is play restarted?

• With a hit against the team that last touched the ball
• With a hit-in by the team that did not touch the ball last
• With a throw-in by the umpire ✓
• With a free kick from the centre of the field

If the team fails to play the ball within the 5 seconds a Penalty 5a should be awarded. • The players of the team facing the hit shall not be within 30 yards of the ball nor behind the ball.

Test yourself

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