Ball-in-touch occurs when the ball or the player carrying it crosses the sideline. The white lines on the sides of the pitch are called touch lines. Once the ball touches this line or goes over it, the play stops.
The game then restarts with a lineout for the team that did not touch it. If a player steps on the line while holding the ball, it is out. This rule defines the boundaries of the playing area during the entire match. It prevents players from running outside the pitch to avoid being tackled by defenders.
For example, a kicker might send the ball flying out of bounds to gain territory. The assistant referee will signal with a flag to show where the line was crossed. This keeps the action centered within the designated field of play.
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