RULE 6
Live Ball and Dead
Ball
Section 1. Periods—How Started
Art. 1. The game and each period start when the ball becomes live.
Art. 2. The second half shall start with the team that controlled the alternatingpossession arrow at the end of the first half given disposal of the ball at the
division line opposite the scorer’s table.
Art. 3. After a dead ball, play may be resumed in one of the following three ways:
jump ball, by placing the ball at the disposal of the thrower-in or by placing the
ball at the disposal of a free-thrower.
Art. 4. The ball shall become live when:
a. On a jump ball, the ball leaves the official’s hand.
b. On a throw-in, the ball is at the disposal of the thrower-in.
c. On a free throw, the ball is at the disposal of the free-thrower.
Section 2. Held Ball—Alternating-Possession Procedure
Art. 1. In held-ball situations, teams shall alternate taking possession of the ball
at a designated spot nearest to where the held ball occurred.
Art. 2. The team that does not obtain control of the initial jump ball shall start the
alternating-possession procedure when the next alternating-possession situation
occurs by being awarded the ball at a designated spot nearest to where the held
ball occurred.
Art. 3. After an initial jump ball or a jump ball for the start of an extra period(s)
when possession is not gained by either team, which would establish the
alternating-possession procedure, a jump ball shall take place between any two
players.
Art. 4. Before the start of the second half, the direction of the possession arrow
shall be changed (to account for the teams switching ends of the court), indicating
that the team that the arrow favored at the end of the first half shall maintain that
status to start the second half.
Section 3. Alternating-Possession Situations
Art. 1. The ball shall be put in play by the team entitled to the throw-in at a
designated spot where:
a. A held ball occurs.
b. The ball goes out of bounds as in Rule 7-3.
c. A double or simultaneous free-throw violation occurs unless another free
throw or a throw-in is to follow.
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RULE 6 / LIVE BALL AND DEAD BALL
d. After a free-throw violation is committed by each team or technical foul
occurs when there is no team control.
e. A live ball lodges between the backboard and the ring or comes to rest on
the flange. (Exception: Rule 9-5.1.c.)
f. The ball becomes dead when neither team is in control and no goal or
infraction or end of a period is involved.
g. An inadvertent whistle occurs, and there is no player or team control.
Art. 2. The direction of the alternating-possession arrow shall be reversed
immediately after an alternating-possession throw-in ends. That throw-in shall
end when a passed ball touches or is legally touched by an inbounds player or
when a player, who is located on the playing court, touches and causes the ball to
be out of bounds or when the throw-in team commits a throw-in violation
Art. 3. The opportunity to make an alternating-possession throw-in shall be lost
when the throw-in team violates the throw-in provisions. (See Rule 9-5.)
Art. 4. A foul by either team during an alternating-possession throw-in shall not
cause the throw-in team to lose the alternating-possession arrow.
Section 4. Position for Jump Ball
Art. 1. For any jump ball, each jumper shall have both feet inside the half of the
center circle that is farther from his or her team’s basket.
Art. 2. Each jumper may face in either direction.
Art. 3. The referee or designee shall toss the ball upward between the jumpers
in a plane at right angles to the sidelines, to a height greater than either of the
jumpers can jump and so that the ball will drop between them. The jump ball may
be repeated when these provisions are not met.
Art. 4. When the ball touches the playing court without being touched by at least
one of the jumpers, the official shall toss the ball again.
Art. 5. The jump ball and these restrictions end when the ball touches one of the
eight non-jumpers, the playing court, the basket, the backboard or when the ball
becomes dead.
Section 5. Dead Ball
Art. 1. The ball shall become dead or remain dead when:
a. Any goal is made.
b. It is apparent that the free throw will not be successful on a free throw for
a technical foul or a false double foul or a free throw that is to be followed
by another free throw.
c. A held ball occurs or the ball lodges between the backboard and the ring
or comes to rest on the flange.
d. An official blows the whistle except when the try is in flight.
e. Time expires for a half or extra period.
f. An official blows the whistle when a foul is committed by a shooter’s
teammate before the ball is released for a try for goal.
g. An official blows the whistle when any floor violation (Rules 9-3 through
9-14) occurs, there is basket interference or goaltending (Rule 9-16) or
there is a free-throw violation by the free-thrower’s team (Rule 9-1).
RULE 6 / LIVE BALL AND DEAD BALL77
Section 6. Ball Does Not Become Dead
Art. 1. A live ball shall not become dead until the try in flight ends when:
a. An official’s whistle is blown.
b. Time expires for a half or extra period.
c. A foul occurs.
Art. 2. A live ball shall not become dead when a foul is committed by an opponent
of a player who starts a try for goal before a foul occurs, provided that time does
not expire before the ball is in flight.
Art. 3. A live ball shall not become dead when the ball is in flight on a try for
field goal or during a free throw when an opponent swings his or her arms or
elbows excessively without making contact. When the shooter, tapper or his or
her teammates commit this infraction, the ball shall become dead immediately.
Art. 4. While a free throw is in flight, the ball shall not become dead when:
a. An official blows the whistle.
b. A foul occurs.