If a fielder's foot touches a boundary line during a catch, what is the ruling regarding their status?

When a fielder catches a ball and their foot touches the boundary line, they are considered to be in play as long as they have not fully crossed the boundary line into out of bounds territory. The boundary line is deemed to be part of the playing area, meaning that if any part of the fielder's body is in contact with the line while making the catch, they remain legally in play.

This ruling allows the fielder to complete the catch and make a play, as long as they are not completely beyond the boundary line or have not stepped out of bounds. Understanding this is crucial since the moment the fielder's foot touches the ground outside of that line, they would then be considered out of bounds. The correct ruling highlights the importance of recognizing the boundary line's role as part of the field even though it marks the limit of the playing area.