Statement: The team that does not gain the first team control of a live ball after the opening jump ball at the start of the game shall be awarded the ball for a throw-in from the place nearest to where the next jump ball situation occurs, except from directly behind the backboard.

Example: Two minutes before the start of the game, A1 is charged with a technical foul.

Interpretation: One of the 5 team B starting players shall attempt the free throw with no line- up. As the game has not yet started, the direction of the alternating possession arrow cannot be placed in favour of any team yet. The game shall start with a jump ball.

Example: The crew chief tosses the ball for the opening jump ball. Before the ball reaches its highest point, jumper A1 touches the ball.

Interpretation: This is a jump ball violation by A1. Team B shall be awarded a throw-in from its frontcourt, close to the centre line. Team B shall have 14 seconds on the shot clock. As soon as the ball is placed at the disposal of the team B thrower-in, team A shall be entitled to the first alternating possession throw-in.

Example: The crew chief tosses the ball for the opening jump ball. Before the ball reaches its highest point, non-jumper A2 enters the centre circle from the

(a) backcourt.

(b) frontcourt.

Interpretation: In both cases, this is a jump ball violation by A2. Team B shall be awarded a throw-in close to the centre line, if from its

(a) frontcourt, with 14 seconds on the shot clock.

(b) backcourt, with 24 seconds on the shot clock.

As soon as the ball is placed at the disposal of the team B thrower-in, team A shall be entitled to the first alternating possession throw-in.

Example: The crew chief tosses the ball for the opening jump ball. Immediately after the ball is legally tapped by jumper A1

(a) a held ball between A2 and B2 occurs.

(b) a double foul between A2 and B2 occurs.

Interpretation: In both cases, as the control of a live ball was not yet established, the referee cannot use the alternating possession procedure. The crew chief shall administer another jump ball in the centre circle and A2 and B2 shall jump. The time consumed on the game clock, after the ball was legally tapped and before the held ball/double foul occurred, shall remain valid.

Example: The crew chief tosses the ball for the opening jump ball. Immediately after the ball is legally tapped by jumper A1, the ball

(a) goes directly out-of-bounds.

(b) is caught by A1 before it touches one of the non-jumpers or the court.

Interpretation: In both cases, team B shall be awarded a throw-in as the result of A1’s violation. If the throw-in is administered from its backcourt, team B shall have 24 seconds on the shot clock. If from its frontcourt, team B shall have 14 seconds on the shot clock. As soon as the ball is placed at the disposal of the team B thrower-in, team A shall be entitled to the first alternating possession throw-in.

Example: The crew chief tosses the ball for the opening jump ball. Immediately after the ball is legally tapped by jumper A1, B1 is charged with a technical foul.

Interpretation: Any team A player shall attempt 1 free throw with no line-up. As soon as a team A player receives the ball for the free throw, the direction of the alternating possession arrow shall be placed in favour of team B. The game shall be resumed with a team B alternating possession throw-in from the place nearest to where the ball was located when a technical foul occurred. If the throw-in is administered from its backcourt, team B shall have 24 seconds on the shot clock. If from its frontcourt, team B shall have 14 seconds on the shot clock.

Example: The crew chief tosses the ball for the opening jump ball. Immediately after the ball is legally tapped by jumper A1, A2 is charged with an unsportsmanlike foul against B2.

Interpretation: B2 shall attempt 2 free throws with no line-up. As soon as B2 receives the ball for the first free throw, the direction of the alternating possession arrow shall be placed in favour of team A. The game shall be resumed with a team B throw-in from the throw-in line in its frontcourt (as part of the unsportsmanlike foul penalty). Team B shall have 14 seconds on the shot clock.

Example: Team B is entitled to a throw-in under the alternating possession procedure. A referee and/or a scorer makes an error and the throw-in is erroneously awarded to team A.

Interpretation: After the ball touches or is legally touched by a player on the court, the error cannot be corrected. As the result of the error, team B shall not lose its right to the next alternating possession throw-in at the next jump ball situation.

Example: Simultaneously with the game clock signal sounding for the end of the first quarter, B1 is charged with an unsportsmanlike foul against A1. The referees decide that the game clock signal sounded before B1’s foul occurred. Team A is entitled to the alternating possession throw-in to start the second quarter.

Interpretation: The unsportsmanlike foul occurred during an interval of play. Before the start of the second quarter, A1 shall attempt 2 free throws with no line-up. The game shall be resumed with a team A throw-in from the throw-in line in its frontcourt. Team A shall have 14 seconds on the shot clock. Team A shall not lose its right to the next alternating possession throw-in at the next jump ball situation.

Example: Shortly after the game clock signal sounds for the end of the third quarter, B1 is charged with a technical foul. Team A is entitled to the alternating possession throw-in to start the fourth quarter.

Interpretation: Any team A player shall attempt 1 free throw with no line-up before the start of the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter shall start with a team A throw-in from the centre line extended. Team A shall have 24 seconds on the shot clock.

Example: A1 jumps with the ball in the hands and is legally blocked by B1. Both players then return to the court with both of them having 1 hand or both hands firmly on the ball.

Interpretation: This is a jump ball situation.

Example: A1 jumps with the ball in the hands and is legally blocked by B1. A1 then returns to the court having 1 hand or both hands still firmly on the ball, while B1 is no longer touching the ball.

Interpretation: This is a travelling violation by A1.

Example: A1 and B1 in the air have their hands firmly on the ball. After returning to the court, A1 lands with 1 foot on the boundary line.

Interpretation: This is a jump ball situation.

Example: A1 jumps with the ball in the hands from the frontcourt and is legally blocked by B1. Both players then return to the court with both of them having 1 hand or both hands firmly on the ball. A1 lands with 1 foot in the backcourt.

Interpretation: This is a jump ball situation.

Statement: It is a jump ball situation resulting in an alternating possession throw-in, whenever a live ball lodges between the ring and the backboard, unless between free throws and unless after the last free throw followed by a possession of the ball as part of the foul penalty. Under the alternating possession procedure, the team shall have 14 seconds on the shot clock if the offensive team is entitled to a throw-in or 24 seconds if the defensive team is entitled to a throw-in.

Example: During A1’s shot for a goal, the ball lodges between the ring and the backboard.

(a)    Team A

(b)    Team B

is entitled to a throw-in under the alternating possession procedure.

Interpretation: After the throw-in from behind its endline

(a)    team A shall have 14 seconds

(b)    team B shall have 24 seconds

on the shot clock.

Example: A1’s shot for a goal is in the air when the shot clock signal sounds, followed by the ball lodging between the ring and the backboard. The alternating possession arrow favours team A.

Interpretation: This is a jump ball situation. After the throw-in from behind its endline, team A shall have 14 seconds on the shot clock.

Example: B2 is charged with an unsportsmanlike foul against A1 during the act of shooting for a 2-point goal. During the last free throw with no line-up

(a) the ball lodges between the ring and the backboard.

(b) A1 steps on the free-throw line while releasing the ball.

(c) the ball misses the ring.

Interpretation: In all cases, the free throw is unsuccessful. The game shall be resumed with a team A throw-in from the throw-in line in its frontcourt. Team A shall have 14 seconds on the shot clock.

Example: After A1’s throw-in from the centre line extended to start a quarter, the ball lodges between the ring and the backboard in team A’s frontcourt.

Interpretation: This is a jump ball situation. The direction of the alternating possession arrow shall be reversed immediately in favour of team B. The game shall be resumed with a team B throw-in from behind its endline, except from directly behind the backboard. Team B shall have 24 seconds on the shot clock.

Example: The alternating possession arrow favours team A. During the interval of play after the first quarter, B1 is charged with an unsportsmanlike foul against A1. A1 shall attempt 2 free throws with no line-up, followed by a team A throw-in from the throw-in line in its frontcourt to start the second quarter. The alternating possession arrow in favour of team A remains unchanged. After the throw-in, the ball lodges between the ring and the backboard in team A’s frontcourt.

Interpretation: This is a jump ball situation. The game shall be resumed with a team A throw- in from behind the endline in its frontcourt, except from directly behind the backboard. Team A shall have 14 seconds on the shot clock. The direction of the alternating possession arrow shall be reversed immediately after the team A throw-in has ended.

Statement: A held ball occurs when one or more players from opposing teams have one or both hands firmly on the ball so that neither player can gain control of the ball without undue roughness.

Example: A1 with the ball in the hands is in the continuous motion to the basket to score. At this time, B1 places the hands firmly on the ball and A1 now takes more steps than allowed by the traveling rule.

Interpretation: This is a jump ball situation.

Statement: A violation by a team during its alternating possession throw-in causes that team to lose the alternating possession throw-in.

Example: With 4:17 on the game clock in a quarter, during an alternating possession throw-in

(a)    thrower-in A1 steps on the court while having the ball in the hands.

(b)    A2 moves the hands over the boundary line before the ball is thrown-in over the boundary line.

(c)    thrower-in A1 takes more than 5 seconds to release the ball.

Interpretation: In all cases, this is a throw-in violation by A1 or A2. The game shall be resumed with a team B throw-in from the place of the original throw-in. The direction of the alternating possession arrow shall be reversed immediately in favour of team B.

Statement: Whenever a jump ball situation occurs with no time remaining on the shot clock and the alternating possession arrow favours team A, the alternating possession procedure shall not be applied. This is a shot clock violation. Therefore, the ball shall be awarded to the team B for a throw-in.

Example: A1’s shot for an unsuccessful goal is in the air when the shot clock signal sounds.
Then
(a)    a held ball is called.

(b)    a technical foul is charged.

The alternating possession arrow favours team A.

Interpretation: In both cases, as there is no time remaining on the shot clock for team A, the alternating possession procedure cannot be applied. This is a team A shot clock violation. The ball shall be awarded to team B for a throw-in.

Example: A1’s shot for a goal is in the air when the shot clock signal sounds. The ball misses the ring. Then

(a)    a technical foul is charged against A1 or B1.

(b)    a held ball is called.

Interpretation:

In (a) any player of team A (for B1 technical foul) or team B (for A1 technical foul) shall attempt 1 free throw with no line-up.

In both cases, the game shall be resumed as follows:

If the arrow favours team A, this is a team A shot clock violation.

If the arrow favours team B, the ball shall be awarded to team B for a throw-in from its backcourt with 24 seconds on the shot clock.