NFHS - Field of Play - Pylons

[verticalStripes]

That clarifies a little bit.

However, I still don't understand at what point the player is out of bounds.

From the 2004 Federation rule book:
Rule 2-28 OUT OF BOUNDS
Art. 1 ... A player or other person is out of bounds when any part of the person is touching anything, other than another player or game official, who is on or outside the sideline or end line.
Art. 2. ... A ball in player possession is out of bounds when the runner or the ball touches anything, other than another player or game official, who is on or outside a sideline or end line.
Art. 3.. A losse ball is out of bounds when it touches anything, including a player or game official, who is out of bounds.


How could the spot be just shy of the goaline (1/2 yard line), if the player never touched anything that is out of bounds at that point?

Thanks again for your time, I really want to understand this rule.