RULES AND REGULATIONS OF BASKETBALL UNIFORMS

according from FIBA (Fédération Internationale de Basketball)

The uniform of the team members shall consist of:
Throughout the Official Basketball Rules, all
references made to a player, coach, official, etc. in the  Shirts of the same dominant colour front and back as
male gender also apply to the female gender. It must be the shorts. If shirts have sleeves they must end above
understood that this is done for practical reasons only. the elbow. Long sleeved shirts are not permitted. All
players must tuck their shirts into their playing shorts.
RULE ONE – THE GAME 'All-in-ones' are permitted.
 Shorts of the same dominant colour front and back as
BASKETBALL GAME
the shirt. The shorts must end above the knee.
Basketball is played by 2 teams of 5 players each.  Socks of the same dominant colour for all players of
The aim of each team is to score in the opponents' basket the team. Socks need to be visible.
and to prevent the other team from scoring. (The game is
Each team member shall wear a shirt numbered on the
controlled by the officials, table officials and a
front and back with plain numbers, of a colour contrasting
commissioner, if present.)
with the colour of the shirt. The numbers shall be clearly
BASKET: OPPONENTS'/OWN visible and:

The basket that is attacked by a team is the  Those on the back shall be at least 20 cm high.
opponents' basket and the basket which is defended by a  Those on the front shall be at least 10 cm high.
team is its own basket.  The numbers shall be at least 2 cm wide.
 Teams shall use numbers 0 and 00 and from 1 to 99.
WINNER OF A GAME
 Players on the same team shall not wear the same
The team that has scored the greater number of number.
points at the end of playing time shall be the winner.  Any advertising or logo shall be at least 5 cm away
from the numbers.
RULE TWO – TEAMS
Teams must have a minimum of 2 sets of shirts and:
Each team shall consist of:
 The first team named in the schedule (home team)
 No more than 12 team members entitled to play, shall wear light-coloured shirts (preferably white).
including a captain.  The second team named in the schedule (visiting team)
 A coach and, if a team wishes, an assistant coach. shall wear dark-coloured shirts.
 A maximum of 7 accompanying delegation members  However, if the 2 teams agree, they may interchange
who may sit on the team bench and have special the colours of the shirts.
responsibilities, e.g. manager, doctor, physiotherapist,
statistician, interpreter, etc. OTHER EQUIPMENT

During playing time 5 players from each team shall be on All equipment used by players must be appropriate
the playing court and may be substituted. for the game. Any equipment that is designed to increase a
player's height or reach or in any other way give an unfair
A substitute becomes a player and a player becomes a advantage is not permitted.
substitute when:
Players shall not wear equipment (objects) that may cause
 The official beckons the substitute to enter the playing injury to other players.
court.
 During a time-out or an interval of play, a substitute The following are not permitted:
requests the substitution to the scorer.
Finger, hand, wrist, elbow or forearm guards, casts or
braces made of leather, plastic, pliable (soft) plastic, metal
or any other hard substance, even if covered with soft flashing lights, reflective material or other adornments are
padding. permitted.

▬ Objects that could cut or cause abrasions (fingernails During the game a player may not display any commercial,
must be closely cut). promotional or charitable name, mark, logo or other
identification including, but not limited to, on his body, in
▬ Hair accessories and jewellery. his hair or otherwise.
The following are permitted: Any other equipment not specifically mentioned in this
▬ Shoulder, upper arm, thigh or lower leg protective article must be approved by the FIBA Technical
equipment if the material is sufficiently padded. Commission.

▬ Arm compression sleeves of the same dominant colour

as the shirts, or black, or white, but all players on the team RULE THREE –PLAYER INJURY
must wear the same colour
In the event of injury to a player(s), the officials may stop
▬ Leg compression sleeves of the same dominant colour the game.
as the shorts, or black, or white, but all players on the
team must wear the same colour. If the ball is live when an injury occurs, the official shall not
blow his whistle until the team in control of the ball has
▬ Headgear of the same dominant colour as the shirts, or shot for a field goal, lost control of the ball, withheld the
black, or white, but all players on the team must wear the ball from play or the ball has become dead. If it is
same colour. The headgear shall not cover any part of the necessary to protect an injured player, the officials may
face entirely or partially (eyes, nose, lips etc.) and shall not stop the game immediately.
be dangerous to the player wearing it and/or to other
players. The headgear shall not have opening/closing If the injured player cannot continue to play immediately
elements around the face and/or neck and shall not have (within approximately 15 seconds) or, if he receives
any parts extruding from its surface. treatment, he must be substituted unless the team is
reduced to fewer than 5 players on the playing court.
▬ Knee braces if they are properly covered.
Team bench personnel may enter the playing court, only
▬ Protector for an injured nose, even if made of a hard with the permission of an official, to attend to an injured
material. ▬ Non-coloured transparent mouth guard. player before he is substituted.
▬ Spectacles, if they do not pose a danger to other A doctor may enter the playing court, without the
players. permission of an official if, in the doctor's judgement, the
▬ Wristbands, maximum of 10 cm wide textile material of injured player requires immediate medical treatment.
the same dominant colour as the shirts, or black, or white, During the game, any player who is bleeding or has an
but all players on the team must wear the same colour. open wound must be substituted. He may return to the
▬ Taping of arms, shoulders, legs etc. of the same playing court only after the bleeding has stopped and the
dominant colour as the shirts, or black, or white, but all affected area or open wound has been completely and
players on the team must wear the same colour. securely covered.

▬ Ankle braces of transparent colour, or black, or white, If the injured player or any player who is bleeding or has an
but all players on the team must wear the same colour. open wound recovers during a time-out taken by either
team, before the scorer’s signal for the substitution, that
During the game a player may wear shoes of any colour player may continue to play.
combination, but left and right shoes must match. No
Players who have been designated by the coach to begin interval of play and the free throws shall be administered
the game or who receive treatment between free throws before the beginning of the extra period.
may be substituted in the event of an injury. In this case,
BEGINNING AND END OF A PERIOD OR THE GAME
the opponents are also entitled to substitute the same
number of players, if they so wish. The first period begins when the ball leaves the hand(s) of
the crew chief on the toss for the jump ball.
RULE FOUR - PLAYING REGULATIONS

Playing time, tied score and extra periods All other periods begin when the ball is at the disposal of
the player taking the throw in
The game shall consist of 4 periods of 10 minutes each.
The game cannot begin if one of the teams is not on the
There shall be an interval of play of 20 minutes before the playing court with 5 players ready to play.
game is scheduled to begin
For all games, the first team named in the schedule (home
There shall be the intervals of play of 2 minutes between team) shall have the team bench and its own basket on
the first and second period (first half), between the third the left side of the scorer’s table, facing the playing court.
and fourth period (second half) and before each extra However, if the 2 teams agree, they may interchange the
period. team benches and/or baskets.

There shall be a half-time interval of play of 15 minutes. Before the first and third period, teams are entitled to
warm-up in the half of the playing court in which their
An interval of play begins: opponents' basket is situated.
 20 minutes before the game is scheduled to begin. Teams shall exchange baskets for the second half.
 When the game clock signal sounds for the end of
the period. In all extra periods the teams shall continue to play
towards the same baskets as in the fourth period
An interval of play ends:
A period, extra period or game shall end when the game
 At the beginning of the first period when the ball clock signal sounds for the end of the period. When the
leaves the hand(s) of the crew chief on the toss for the backboard is equipped with lighting around its perimeter,
jump ball. the lighting takes precedence over the game clock signal
 At the beginning of all other periods when the ball is at sound.
the disposal of the player taking the throw-in.
LOCATION OF A PLAYER AND AN OFFICIAL
If the score is tied at the end of the fourth period, the
game shall continue with as many extra periods of 5 The location of a player is determined by where he is
minutes as necessary to break the tie. If the aggregated touching the floor.
score of both games for a 2-games home and away total
While he is airborne, he retains the same status he had
points series competition system is tied at the end of the
when he last touched the floor. This includes the
2nd game, this game shall continue with as many extra
boundary line, the centre line, the 3-point line, the free-
periods of 5 minutes as necessary to break the tie.
throw line, the lines delimiting the restricted area and the
If a foul is committed when or just before the game clock lines delimiting the no-charge semi-circle area.
signal sounds for the end of the period, any eventual free
The location of an official is determined in the same
throw(s) shall be administered after the end of the period.
manner as that of a player. When the ball touches an
If an extra period is required as a result of this free
official, it is the same as touching the floor at the official's
throw(s) then all fouls that are committed after the end of
location.
the period shall be considered to have occurred during an
HOW THE BALL IS PLAYED  Cause the ball to touch out-of-bounds, after it has
been released on the throwin.
A player shall not run with the ball, deliberately kick or
 Touch the ball on the playing court before it has
block it with any part of the leg or strike it with the fist.
touched another player.
However, to accidentally come into contact with or touch
 Cause the ball to enter the basket directly.
the ball with any part of the leg is not a violation.
 Move from the designated throw-in place behind the
GOAL: WHEN MADE AND ITS VALUE boundary line laterally in one or both directions,
exceeding a total distance of 1 m before releasing the
A goal is credited to the team attacking the opponents’ ball. He is, however, permitted to move directly
basket into which the ball has entered as follows: backwards from the boundary line as far as
circumstances allow.
A goal released from a free throw counts 1 point.
During the throw-in other player(s) shall not:
A goal released from the 2-point field goal area counts 2
points.  Have any part of their bodies over the boundary line
before the ball has been thrown-in across the
A goal released from the 3-point field goal area counts 3
boundary line.
points.
 Be closer than 1 m to the player taking the throw-in
After the ball has touched the ring on a last or only free when the throw-in place has less than 2 m distance
throw and is legally touched by an offensive or defensive between the boundary line and any out-of-bounds
player before it enters the basket, the goal counts 2 obstructions.
points.
An infraction to this is a violation
If a player accidentally scores a field goal in his team’s PENALTY: The ball is awarded to the opponents for a
basket, the goal counts 2 points and shall be recorded as throw-in at the place of the original throw-in.
having been scored by the captain of the opposing team
TIME-OUT
on the playing court
Each time-out shall last 1 minute.
If a player deliberately scores a field goal in his team’s
basket, it is a violation and the goal does not count. A time-out may be granted during a time-out opportunity.

If a player causes the entire ball to pass through the A time-out opportunity begins when:
basket from below, it is a violation.
 For both teams, the ball becomes dead, the game clock
The game clock must indicate 0:00.3 (3 tenths of a is stopped and the official has ended his
second) or more for a player to gain control of the ball on communication with the scorer's table.
a throw-in or on a rebound after the last or only free  For both teams, the ball becomes dead following a
throw in order to attempt a shot for a field goal. If the successful last or only free throw.
game clock indicates 0:00.2 or 0:00.1 the only type of a  For the non-scoring team, a field goal is scored.
valid field goal made is by tapping or directly dunking the
ball. A time-out opportunity ends when the ball is at the
disposal of a player for a throw-in or for a first or only free
THROW-IN throw.
The player taking the throw-in shall not: Each team may be granted:
 Take more than 5 seconds to release the ball.  2 time-outs during the first half,
 Step into the playing court while having the ball in his  3 time-outs during the second half with a maximum of
hand(s) 2 of these time-outs in the last 2 minutes of the second
half,
  1 time-out during each extra period the fourth period and in each extra period unless an official
has interrupted the game.
Unused time-outs may not be carried over to the next half
or extra period. GAME LOST BY FORFEIT

A time-out is charged against the team whose coach first A team shall lose the game by forfeit if:
made a request unless the time-out is granted following a
 The team is not present or is unable to field 5 players
field goal scored by the opponents and without an
ready to play 15 minutes after the game is scheduled to
infraction having been called.
begin.
A time-out shall not be permitted to the scoring team  Its actions prevent the game from being played.
when the game clock shows 2:00 minutes or less in the  It refuses to play after being instructed to do so by the
fourth period and in each extra period and, following a crew chief.
successful field goal unless an official has interrupted the
game. PENALTY:

SUBSTITUTION The game is awarded to the opponents and the score shall
be 20 to 0. Furthermore, the forfeiting team shall receive 0
A team may substitute a player(s) during a substitution points in the classification
opportunity.
For a 2-games (home and away) total points series
A substitution opportunity begins when: (aggregate score) and for PlayOffs (best of 3), the team
that forfeits in the first, second or third game shall lose the
 For both teams, the ball becomes dead, the game clock
series or Play-Offs by 'forfeit'. This does not apply for Play-
is stopped and the official has ended his
Offs (best of 5).
communication with the scorer's table.
 For both teams, the ball becomes dead following a If in a tournament the team forfeits for the second time,
successful last or only free throw. the team shall be disqualified from the tournament and
 For the non-scoring team, a field goal is scored when the results of all games played by this team shall be
the game clock shows 2:00 minutes or less in the nullified.
fourth period and in each extra period.
GAME LOST BY DEFAULT
A substitution opportunity ends when the ball is at the
A team shall lose a game by default if, during the game, the
disposal of a player for a throwin or a first or only free
team has fewer than 2 players on the playing court ready
throw.
to play.
A player who has become a substitute and a substitute
PENALTY
who has become a player cannot respectively re-enter the
game or leave the game until the ball becomes dead again, If the team to which the game is awarded is ahead, the
after a clock-running phase of the game, unless: score shall stand as at the time when the game was
stopped. If the team to which the game is awarded is not
 The team is reduced to fewer than 5 players on the
ahead, the score shall be recorded as 2 to 0 in its favour.
playing court.
The defaulting team shall receive 1 point in the
 The player entitled to the free-throws as the result of
classification
the correction of an error is on the team bench after
having been legally substituted. For a 2-games (home and away) total point series
(aggregate score), the team that defaults in the first or in
A substitution shall not be permitted to the scoring team
the second game shall lose the series by 'default'.
when the game clock is stopped following a successful field
goal when the game clock shows 2:00 minutes or less in
RULE FIVE - VIOLATIONS A player who catches the ball while he is progressing, or
upon completion of a dribble, may take two steps in
Violations - A violation is an infraction of the rules. coming to a stop, passing or shooting the ball:
Penalty :The ball shall be awarded to the opponents for a
 If receiving the ball the player shall release the
throw-in at the place nearest to the infraction, except
ball to start his dribble before his second step.
directly behind the backboard, unless otherwise stated in
 The first step occurs when one foot or both feet
the rules.
touch the floor after gaining control of the ball.
PLAYER OUT-OF-BOUNDS AND BALL OUT-OF-BOUNDS  The second step occurs after the first step when
the other foot touches the floor or both feet
The ball is caused to go out-of-bounds by the last player touch the floor simultaneously.
to touch or be touched by the ball before it goes out-of-  If the player who comes to a stop on his first step
bounds, even if the ball then goes out-of-bounds by has both feet on the floor or they touch the floor
touching something other than a player. simultaneously he may pivot using either foot as
his pivot foot.
If the ball is out-of-bounds because of touching or being
 If he then jumps with both feet no foot may
touched by a player who is on or outside the boundary
return to the floor before the ball is released from
line, this player causes the ball to go out-of-bounds.
the hand(s).
If a player(s) move(s) to out-of-bounds or to his backcourt  If a player lands with one foot he may only pivot
during a held ball, a jump ball situation occurs. using that foot.
 If a player jumps off one foot on the first step he
DRIBBLING may land with both feet simultaneously for the
second step. In this situation, the player may not
A player shall not dribble for a second time after his first
pivot with either foot. If one foot or both feet
dribble has ended unless between the 2 dribbles he has
then leave the floor no foot may return to the
lost control of a live ball on the playing court because of:
floor before the ball is released from the hand(s).
 A shot for a field goal.  If both feet are off the floor and the player lands
 A touch of the ball by an opponent. on both feet simultaneously, the moment one
 A pass or fumble that has touched or been foot is lifted the other foot becomes the pivot
touched by another player foot.
 A player may not touch the floor consecutively
TRAVELLING with the same foot or both feet after ending his
Establishing a pivot foot by a player who catches a live ball dribble or gaining control of the ball.
on the playing court: A player falling, lying or sitting on the floor:
A player who catches the ball while standing with both  It is legal when a player falls and slides on the floor
feet on the floor: while holding the ball or, while lying or sitting on the
 The moment one foot is lifted, the other foot floor, gains control of the ball.
becomes the pivot foot.  It is a violation if the player then rolls or attempts to
 To start a dribble, the pivot foot may not be lifted stand up while holding the ball.
before the ball is released from the hand(s). 3 SECONDS
 To pass or shoot for a field goal, the player may
jump off a pivot foot, but neither foot may be .A player shall not remain in the opponents' restricted area
returned to the floor before the ball is released for more than 3 consecutive seconds while his team is in
from the hand(s). control of a live ball in the frontcourt and the game clock is
running.
Allowances must be made for a player who: control of the ball is awarded a throw-in in the
backcourt, as a result of:
 Makes an attempt to leave the restricted area.
 Is in the restricted area when he or his team-mate is  A ball having gone out-of-bounds.
in the act of shooting and the ball is leaving or has just  A player of the same team having been injured.
left the player's hand(s) on the shot for a field goal.  A jump ball situation.
 Dribbles in the restricted area to shoot for a field goal  A double foul.
after having been there for less than 3 consecutive  A cancellation of equal penalties against both teams.
seconds.
24 HOURS
To establish himself outside the restricted area, the player
must place both feet on the floor outside the restricted Whenever:
area.
 A player gains control of a live ball on the playing
CLOSELY GUARDED PLAYER court,
 On a throw-in, the ball touches or is legally touched by
A closely guarded player must pass, shoot or dribble the any player on the playing court and the team of that
ball within 5 seconds. player taking the throw-in remains in control of the
ball, that team must attempt a shot for a field goal
8 SECONDS
within 24 seconds.
Whenever:
To constitute a shot for a field goal within 24 seconds:
 A player in the backcourt gains control of a live ball,
 The ball must leave the player's hand(s) before the
 On a throw-in, the ball touches or is legally touched by
shot clock signal sounds, and
any player in the backcourt and the team of that player
 After the ball has left the player's hand(s), the ball
taking the throw-in remains in control of the ball in its
must touch the ring or enter the basket.
backcourt, that team must cause the ball to go into its
frontcourt within 8 seconds. When a shot for a field goal is attempted near the end of
the 24-second period and the shot clock signal sounds
The team has caused the ball to go into its frontcourt
while the ball is in the air:
whenever:
 If the ball enters the basket, no violation has occurred,
 The ball, not in control of any player, touches the
the signal shall be disregarded and the goal shall count.
frontcourt,
 If the ball touches the ring but does not enter the
 The ball touches or is legally touched by an offensive
basket, no violation has occurred, the signal shall be
player who has both feet completely in contact with
disregarded and the game shall continue.
his frontcourt,
 If the ball misses the ring, a violation has occurred.
 The ball touches or is legally touched by a defensive
However, if the opponents have gained immediate and
player who has part of his body in contact with his
clear control of the ball, the signal shall be disregarded
backcourt,
and the game shall continue.
 The ball touches an official who has part of his body in
contact with the frontcourt of the team in control of All restrictions related to goaltending and interference
the ball. shall apply.
 During a dribble from the backcourt to the frontcourt,
the ball and both feet of the dribbler are completely BALL RETURNED TO THE BACKCOURT
in contact with the frontcourt. A team which is in control of a live ball in their frontcourt
The 8 second period will continue with any time may not cause the ball to be illegally returned to their
remaining when the same team that previously had backcourt.
 PENALTY : The ball shall be awarded to the opponents  the game clock signal sounds for the end of the period
for a throw-in in their frontcourt at the place nearest to while the ball is in flight on a shot for a field goal. All
the infraction except directly behind the backboard. restrictions related to goaltending and interference
shall apply.
GOALTENDING AND INTERFERENCE
PENALTY
Goaltending occurs during a shot for a field goal when a
player touches the ball while it is completely above the If the violation is committed by an offensive player, no
level of the ring and: points can be awarded. The ball shall be awarded to the
opponents for a throw-in at the free-throw line
 It is on its downward flight to the basket, or extended, unless otherwise stated in the rules.
 After it has touched the backboard.
If the violation is committed by a defensive player, the
Goaltending occurs during a shot for a free throw when a offensive team is awarded:
player touches the ball while it is in flight to the basket and
before it touches the ring.  1 point, if the ball was released for a free throw.
 2 points, if the ball was released from the 2-
The goaltending restrictions apply until:
point field goal area
 The ball no longer has the possibility to enter the  3 points, if the ball was released from the 3-
basket. point field goal area.
 The ball has touched the ring The awarding of the points is considered as if the ball had
Interference occurs when: entered the basket.

 After a shot for a field goal or the last or only free If the goaltending is committed by a defensive player
throw a player touches the basket or the backboard during a last or only free throw, 1 point shall be awarded
while the ball is in contact with the ring. to the offensive team, followed by a technical foul penalty
 After a free throw followed by an additional free charged against the defensive player.
throw(s), a player touches the ball, the basket or the RULE SIX - GENERAL PROVISIONS
backboard while there is still a possibility that the ball
will enter the basket. 5 FOULS BY A PLAYER
 A player reaches through the basket from below and
A player who has committed 5 fouls shall be informed by
touches the ball.
an official and must leave the game immediately. He must
 A defensive player touches the ball or the basket
be substituted within 30 seconds.
while the ball is within the basket, thus preventing the
ball from passing through the basket. A foul by a player who has previously committed 5 fouls is
 A player causes the basket to vibrate or grasps the considered as an excluded player’s foul and it is charged
basket in such a way that, in the judgement of an and entered on the scoresheet against the coach ('B').
official, the ball has been prevented to enter the
basket or has been caused to enter the basket. TEAM FOULS: PENALTY
 A player grasps the basket to play the ball
When a team is in the team foul penalty situation, all
No player shall touch the ball after it has touched the ring subsequent player personal fouls committed on a player
while it still has the possibility to enter the basket, when not in the act of shooting shall be penalised by 2 free
throws, instead of a throw-in. The player against whom the
 an official blows the whistle while the ball is in the foul was committed shall attempt the free throws.
hands of a player in the act of shooting, or the ball is in
flight on a shot for a field goal or on a last or only free If a personal foul is committed by a player of the team in
throw. T control of the live ball, or of the team entitled to the ball,
such a foul shall be penalised by a throw-in for the
opponents.

FREE THROWS

When a personal, an unsportsmanlike or a disqualifying

contact foul is called the free throw(s) shall be awarded as
follows:

 The player against whom the foul was committed

shall attempt the free throw(s).
 If there is a request for him to be substituted, he must
attempt the free throw(s) before leaving the game.
 If he must leave the game due to injury, having
c.)Players not in the free-throw rebound places shall
committed 5 fouls or having been disqualified, his
remain behind the free-throw line extended and behind
substitute shall attempt the free throw(s). If no
the 3-point field goal line until the free throw ends.
substitute is available, any team-mate as designated by
his coach shall attempt the free throw(s). d.)During a free throw(s) to be followed by another set(s)
of free throws or by a throwin, all players shall remain
When a technical or a disqualifying non-contact foul is
behind the free-throw line extended and behind the 3-
called, any member of the opponent’s team as designated
point field goal line.
by his coach shall attempt the free throw(s).
An infraction of a, b, c, d is a violation
a.)The free-throw shooter shall:
PENALTY :
 Take a position behind the free-throw line and inside
the semi-circle. If a free throw is successful and the violation(s) is
 Use any method to shoot a free throw in such a way committed by the free-throw shooter, the point, if made,
that the ball enters the basket from above or the ball shall not count.
touches the ring. Release the ball within 5 seconds
after it is placed at his disposal by the official. Any other player’s violation which occurs during a shot
 Not touch the free-throw line or enter the restricted for a successful free throw or after the violation
area until the ball has entered the basket or has committed by the free-throw shooter shall be
touched the ring. Not fake a free throw disregarded.

b.)The players in the free-throw rebound places shall be The ball shall be awarded to the opponents for a throw-
entitled to occupy alternating positions in these spaces, in at the free-throw line extended unless there is a
which are considered to be 1 m in depth (Diagram 6). further free throw(s) or possession penalty to be
administered.
During the free throws these players shall not:
If a free throw is successful and the violation(s) is
 Occupy free-throw rebound places to which they are committed by any player(s) other than the free-throw
not entitled shooter:
 Enter the restricted area, the neutral zone or leave the
free-throw rebound place until the ball has left the  The point, if made, shall count.
hand(s) of the free-throw shooter.  The violation(s) shall be disregarded.
 Distract the free-throw shooter by their actions. In case of the last or only free throw, the ball shall be
awarded to the opponents for a throw-in at any place at
the endline.
If a free throw is not successful and the violation is
committed by:

 A free-throw shooter or his team-mate on the last

or only free throw, the ballshall be awarded to the
opponents for a throw-in at the free-throw line
extended unless that team is entitled to further
possession.
 An opponent of the free-throw shooter, a
substitute free throw shall be awarded to the free-
throw shooter.
 Both teams, on the last or only free throw, a jump
ball situation occurs.