Out of Bounds Violation, ‘hand as part of the ball’ on an Out of Bounds play

This is an example of a ball being knocked out of bounds off a player’s hand as a result of contact by an opposing player. When any part of a player’s hand is in contact with the ball, that part of his hand is considered to be part of the ball. On this play, the player in the green uniform has his hand on the ball, and the player in the white uniform then hits the back part of his opponent’s hand. By hitting that part of his opponent’s hand that was in contact with the ball, he is thus by rule, deemed to be hitting the ball. And since the player in the white uniform hits the “ball” from behind and causes the ball to go out of bounds, the team in the green uniform will be given possession of the ball at the spot that the ball went out of bounds.