RULE 1 — CONDUCT OF THE GAME

SECTION 9 — OUT OF BOUNDS

The ball is Out of Bounds when it touches a Sideline, Sideline in Goal, Dead Line or the ground or any other object on or beyond these lines. The ball is Out of Bounds when a player in possession of the ball touches a Sideline, Sideline in Goal, Dead Line or the ground or any other object on or beyond these lines.

NOTE: The ball shall remain in play when it is knocked or batted back into the Field of Play by a player who is off the ground and who has not touched the ground or any object Out of Bounds, see Rule 1, Section 9, Article 3.

NOTE: If a player gains possession of the ball while off the ground in bounds and is contacted by an opponent, that player must still get one foot or other body part in bounds to retain possession.

NOTE: A player who gains possession of the ball near the Sideline and touches the ground in bounds with the first step shall retain possession even if the next step is Out of Bounds.

When the ball is kicked Out of Bounds in the Field of Play, it shall belong to the opposite team, subject to the penalty applicable on a kickoff.

When, on any play, the ball is fumbled Out of Bounds, or touches a player in the Field of Play and then goes Out of Bounds, it shall belong to the team that last touched the ball in the Field of Play.

A team shall be entitled to possession when a player of the team, while off the ground, knocks or bats the ball directly Out of Bounds, provided he lands in bounds.

The ball shall next be scrimmaged:

  1. at the point where the ball went Out of Bounds or,
  2. at the point where the ball was last touched in the Field of Play, whichever point is closer to the Goal Line of the team entitled to possession.

When a player directs the ball, other than by kicking, from the Field of Play over the opponent's Goal Line and hence Out of Bounds in the Goal Area without the ball touching an opponent, it shall be ruled as a fumble Out of Bounds in the Field of Play, with the ball declared dead at the point where it was last touched in the Field of Play.

When a player fumbles or directs the ball from the Field of Play into his own Goal Area, where the ball goes Out of Bounds without possession being gained by either team, a Safety Touch score shall be awarded.

When a player directs the ball other than by kicking, from the Field of Play over the opponent's Goal Line where it is recovered by an opponent, or is touched by an opponent before going Out of Bounds in the Goal Area, there shall be no score and the ball shall be awarded to the opponent's team at its 25-yard line. If in attempting to run the ball out of the Goal Area, the opponent's team commits an infraction the penalty shall be applied from the 25-yard line.

When a team in its own Goal Area fumbles or directs the ball, other than by kicking, across the Goal Line and Out of Bounds in the Field of Play without touching an opponent, the non-offending team may:

  1. accept a two-point score if the offending team had previously directed the ball into its own Goal Area or,
  2. accept a one-point score if the non-offending team had kicked the ball into the Goal Area or,
  3. decline the score and require the team entitled to possession to scrimmage the ball 24 yards in from the point where the ball went Out of Bounds or,
  4. if prior to the fumble or offside pass Out of Bounds, the player's team had gained possession in its Goal Area by intercepting a forward pass or recovering an opponent's fumble from the Field of Play, it shall be awarded the ball at its 25-yard line without option.

It is illegal for a player of either team to go Out of Bounds, without contact with an opponent, and return to the field and participate in that play.

PENALTY: L10

It is illegal for a receiver to go out of bounds, without contact with an opponent, and return to the field to touch or catch a forward pass.

PENALTY: L10 or Incomplete Pass

It is illegal for a player of either team to go out of bounds, without contact with an opponent, and to reach back into or re-enter the field of play to touch or recover a loose ball.

PENALTY: LB PF

A player who goes out of bounds after bodily contact with an opponent, or contact with a teammate that was initiated by an opponent, is allowed to return to the field and participate in the play. Before participating the player must re- establish them self in the field of play with at least one foot in bounds and no contact with out of bounds.

It is illegal for a player who goes out of bounds due to contact to participate in the play before re-establishing position in bounds.

PENALTY: L10

It is illegal for a player who goes out of bounds due to contact to reach back into the field before re-establishing position in bounds to touch or recover a loose ball.

PENALTY: LB PF

Note: When the ball hits a player who is out of bounds and not attempting to touch or recover it, the ball is considered out of bounds at that point regardless of how the player got out of bounds.

It is illegal for a player who loses their helmet to continue to participate in the play.

PENALTY: L10

When a team in its own Goal Area kicks the ball Out of Bounds in its own Goal Area, the ball shall be deemed to have become dead in the Goal Area and the opponent shall be awarded:

  1. a single point if the ball had been kicked into the Goal Area by the opponent or,
  2. a safety touch score if the ball had been kicked, passed or carried into the Goal Area by the team scored against.

If the team in its own Goal Area had gained possession through interception of a forward pass or recovery of an opponent's fumble, there shall be no score and the team shall take possession at its 30-yard line.

If, under similar circumstances, a team should kick the ball Out of Bounds in the opponent's Goal Area without gaining possession, the play shall be ruled as though the opponent had kicked the ball out of its own Goal Area.

THE OFFICIAL PLAYING RULES FOR THE CANADIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE 2023

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Content compiled and written by Jeff Harbin and Andre Proulx

The CFL Official Rule Book is published annually by the Canadian Football League. Any inquiries regarding the CFL Official Playing Rules may be directed to Darren Hackwood, Associate Vice-President of Officiating at dhackwood@cfl.ca. Any inquiries regarding CFL Statistical Scoring Rules may be directed to Jeff Krever, Head, CFL Player and Game Statistics at jkrever@cfl.ca.