When is a player considered out of bounds?

A player is considered out of bounds when any part of their body touches the ground outside the boundary lines. This definition is important as it clearly establishes the criteria for determining a player’s status in relation to the court boundaries. The boundary lines themselves are considered "in bounds," meaning a player can still be in bounds if they are touching the line, as long as some part of their body remains in contact with the court area defined as in bounds.

Understanding this allows players and officials to apply the rules correctly during gameplay, ensuring that any part of the player’s body crossing fully outside the boundary lines results in the player being ruled out of bounds. This ruling is essential in maintaining fair play, as it affects the continuation of play such as passing or shooting.

The other options do not encapsulate the definition of being out of bounds based on the established rules. For instance, stepping on the boundary line does not equate to being out of bounds, since the line itself is considered part of the playing area. The statements about not being in contact with the ball and being positioned behind the three-point arc relate to different aspects of game rules and do not pertain directly to the determination of a player's out of bounds status.