ARTICLE 10: STATUS OF THE BALL

OVERVIEW
FIBA 5x5
10.1: Ball Status
 The ball can become dead or live
Article 10 outlines the classification of the ball as either live or dead, which is essential
for determining the legality and continuity of gameplay, scoring, fouls, and other actions
during a basketball game.

10.2 Ball become LIVE when:

 Jump Ball: When the ball leaves the hands of the crew chief on the toss.
 Free Throw: When the ball is at the disposal of the free-throw shooter.
 Throw-In: When the ball is at the disposal of the thrower-in.

These instances signal the resumption of live play and allow legal game actions to begin
or continue.

FIBA 3x3

10.2: The Ball brcomes LIVE when:

 After a check-ball, once the ball is at the offensive player’s disposal and the check is
completed.
 After a check-ball, the ball becomes live once:
- A referee blows the whistle, or
- The game/shot clock signal is heard.

 After a successful field goal or last free throw.

 During a free throw, when the ball is at the disposal of the shooter.

FIBA 5x5

10.3: Ball become DEAD when:

 A goal or free throw is made.

 A referee blows the whistle while the ball is live.
 There is a violation or foul followed by:
 Additional free throw(s)
 A further penalty or change of possession
 The game clock signal sounds to end a quarter or overtime.
 The shot clock signal sounds while a team is in control of the ball.
  A shot attempt is touched by either team and:
 A referee blows the whistle.
 The game or shot clock signal sounds.

These instances halt play, during which no scoring or fouls can occur unless exceptions
apply (see next section).

FIBA 3x3
10.3: Same criteria as 5x5
- Referee whistle,
- Missed free throw with penalty to follow,
- End of regulation/OT,
- Shot clock signal during possession,
- Shot touched in flight after clock/whistle.

5x5
l 0.4 EXCEPTIONS when the does not become DEAD

Despite typical stoppages, the ball does not become dead, and the goal counts if:
1. During a Shot Attempt
 The ball is in flight on a shot for a goal and:
 A referee blows a whistle
 The game clocks end quarter/overtime
 The shot clock signal sound.

2. During a Free Throw

 The ball is in flight and the whistle is blown for a rule violation not committed
by the shooter.

3. Continuos Motion
 The shooter is in motion due to a legal shot started before a foul was
committed by:
 An opponent player.
 Any person legally on the opponents’ bench.
 Important Exception:
 If the referee deems that a new act of shooting began after the whistle, the
goal does not count.

FIBA 3x3
10.4: EXCEPTIONS when the does not become DEAD
  Same conditions apply for:
o Shots in flight,
o Continuous motion on shooting fouls.
 Does not count if:
o Entirely new shooting act follows a whistle.
o Clock ends mid-new motion.

ARTICLE 11: LOCATION OF A PLAYER AND A REFEREE

FIBA 5x5
11.1: PLAYER LOCATION
 A player’s location is determined by where they are touching the floor.
 Airborne Rule: An airborne player retains the location status of where they
last touched the floor. This include court areas like:
 Boundary lines
 Centre line
 3-point line
 Free-throw line
 Restricted area lines
 No-charge semi-circle lines

FIBA 3x3
11.1: PLAYER LOCATION

 Same principles apply:

o Location = last touched point on floor.
o Airborne player retains prior location, where they last touched the floor.
o Applies to arc, free-throw line, restricted area, etc.

FIBA 5x5
11.02: REFEREE LOCATION
 A referee’s location is determined in the same manner as a player’s.
 If the ball touches a referee, it is deemed to have touched the floor at the
referee’s location.

FIBA 3x3
11.02: REFEREE LOCATION
- Same rule as 5x5
FIBA 5x5
12: JUMP BALL AND ALTERNATING POSSESSIONS

12.1: JUMP BALL DEFINITION

12.1.1: A jump ball occurs when a referee tosses the ball between two opponents.
12.1.2: A held ball is declared when players from opposing teams both have firm
control and cannot gain possession without roughness.

FIBA 3x3
12.1: JUMP BALL DEFINITION
 A held ball occurs when two opposing players hold the ball firmly and cannot
gain control without roughness.

FIBA 5x5
12.2: JUMP BALL PROCEDURE
12.2.1: POSITIONING
 Jumpers must have both feet inside their own half of the circle, closest to their
basket.
12.2.2: TEAMMATE RESTRICTIONS
 No teammate may occupy a space adjacent to an opponent around the circle.
12.2.3: BALL TOSS
 The referee tosses the ball vertically above both players.
12.2.4: TAP RULES
 Ball must be tapped by one or both jumpers after its downward flight begins.
12.2.5: RESTRICTIONS ON JUMPERS
 Jumpers must remain in position until the ball is legally tapped.
12.2.6: NON-JUMPER RESTRICTIONS
 No part of a non-jumper’s body may touch the circle line before the ball is
tapped.

VIOLATIONS: Any infraction of 12.2.1, 12.2.4, 12.2.5, 12.2.6, or 12.2.8 is a violation.

FIBA 3x3
12.2: JUMP BALL SITUATION
A jump ball situation occurs when:
 A held ball is called.
 The ball goes out of bounds, and referees disagree on last touch.
 A double free-throw violation during an unsuccessful free throw.
 A live ball lodges between ring and backboard (except during free throws).
  The ball becomes dead with no team in control or entitled to possession.
 Equal penalties are assessed and no clear team had control.

Resolution in 3x3:
 Game resumes with a check-ball to the last defensive team.
 Shot clock is reset to 12 seconds.

12.3: PENALTY

12.3: Jump ball violations occur:

 The ball is awarded to the opposing team for a throw-in at the nearest spot to
the infraction.
EXCEPTION: No throw-in is permitted directly behind the backboard.

12.4: JUMP BALL SITUATIONS

12.4: Jump Ball situation occurs in the following situations:

 A held ball is called.
 The ball goes out-of-bounds, and referees cannot agree on which team last
touched it.
 A double free-throw violation occurs on the final free throw of a sequence.
 A live ball lodges between the ring and backboard, except:
- During free throws
- After the last free throw followed by a throw-in from the team’s
frontcourt (opposite scorer’s table)
 The ball becomes dead when neither team has control or entitlement.
 After equal penalties are cancelled and no team was entitled to possession
before the first foul or violation.
 All quarters other than the first, and all overtimes, begin with a jump ball
situation.

12.5 ALTERNATING POSSESSIONS

12.5: Alternating possession causes the ball to become live with a throw-in, not a jump
ball.

12.6: ALTERNATING POSSESSION PROCEDURE

12.6.1: Teams alternate throw-ins after each jump ball situation (not behind the
backboard).
12.6.2 – The team not gaining the first possession receives the first alternating throw-in.
12.6.3 – Next quarter or overtime begins with a throw-in at centre line, opposite
scorer’s table, unless penalties apply.
12.6.4 – Alternating possession is indicated by an arrow; the arrow reverses after each
use.
12.6.5 – Violation during throw-in causes loss of possession; arrow reverses.
12.6.6 – Fouls during or before the throw-in (except between periods) do not cause loss
of possession.