When is a ball considered out of bounds?

A ball is considered out of bounds when it touches an official who has at least one foot on the boundary line because the boundary lines define the court's boundaries, and if any part of the official touches the boundary line, it is treated similarly to a player being out of bounds. This rule is in place to ensure clarity on the playing area and to maintain the flow of the game.

For context, when considering why the other choices do not define a ball as out of bounds: a player standing out of bounds does not make the ball out unless the ball physically contacts that player; the ball needs to be beyond the boundary lines to be regarded as out of bounds in that scenario. Similarly, if the ball bounces off the court beyond the lines, it is dead, but it may not yet be categorized as "out of bounds" until it has clearly crossed the boundary. Finally, a ball failing to touch the court surface can indicate a violation such as a failed shot; however, this does not specifically declare the ball as out of bounds in a traditional sense.