FUNDAMENTALS

Beginning of the Game

Each game is started by a jump ball in the centre circle and begins when the ball is legally tapped by one of the jumpers.

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• The Referee shall make the toss between any two opponents. He/she faces the table. The Umpire stands near the scorer’s table with their hand straight up to “chop in the time” when the ball is touched.
• The game cannot begin if one of the teams is not on the playing court with 5 players ready to play.
• For the second half, the teams shall exchange baskets.

Jump Ball

• During a jump ball, the two jumpers shall stand inside the half of the circle nearest to their own basket.
• The non-jumpers shall remain outside the circle until the ball has been tapped.
• If the referee makes a bad toss the jump ball shall be retaken.
• There is only one jump ball per game, at the beginning of the game. All other quarters (including overtime) start with the possession arrow.

Jump Ball Cont’d���

A jump ball situation occurs when:

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• Two or more players of opposing teams have one or both hand(s) firmly on the ball (held ball).
• The ball goes out-of-bounds and the two referees are in doubt or disagree which of the opponents last touched the ball.
• A live ball lodges on the basket support.
• A double foul is called when neither team is in control of the ball.
• A double violation is called on the last or only free throw.

Alternating Possession��

• The team that does not gain control of the live ball on the playing court after the jump ball will be entitled to the first alternating possession.
• The team entitled to the alternating possession throw-in shall be indicated by the arrow in the direction of the opponent’s basket.
• The direction of the arrow is reversed immediately when the ball touches a player on the court after the throw-in.

Establishing a Pivot Foot

• With both feet on the playing court - when one foot is lifted the other foot is the pivot foot.
• With both feet off the floor and lands on one foot - that foot is the pivot foot.
• With both feet off the floor and lands on both, either can be the pivot. Lifting the first makes the other the pivot.

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Travel

• It is not possible for a player to travel during a dribble.

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• During a dribble, there is no limit to the number of steps a player may take when the ball is not in contact with his/her hand.

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• If you think the player travelled he/she didn’t. You must know!

Substitutions

• Substitutions must report to the table.
• Both teams many substitute when the ball is dead after a successful last free throw or any time the ball is dead and the clock is stopped.
• Exception: In the last two minutes of the game, or overtime the team scored upon may substitute. If they do the other team may do so as well.

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Location of a Player

• The location of a player is determined by where he/she is touching the floor or when in the air, where he/she last touched the floor.
• A player is out of bounds when any part of his/her body is in contact with the floor, or any object other than a player above, on or outside the boundary line.

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Player in the Act of Shooting

• A player is in the act of shooting when, in the judgment of a referee, he/she starts an attempt to score.

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• The act of shooting ends when the ball has left the shooter’s hand(s), and in case of an airborne shooter, both feet have returned to the floor.

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• If a player is fouled after he/she gathers the ball and is attempting to score the player is considered to be in the act of shooting even though the ball may not be released (continuous motion).

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Throw-In

• A throw-in occurs when the ball is passed into the court from out-of-bounds, at the place indicated by a referee.

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• A referee must hand or bounce the ball to the player who is to take the throw-in, except if it is after a field goal or a last successful free throw.

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• From the moment the ball is at the disposal of the player, he/she has five seconds to release the ball, ie throw the ball to another player on the court.

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• All cancelled baskets are administered on the side line, free throw line extended.

Free Throws

• The free-throw shot shall be attempted within five seconds after the ball is at the disposal of the free-throw shooter.
• When a player is attempting a free throw a maximum of five other players may line up in the marked lane spaces.

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Free Throw Cont’d

• The shooter shall not enter the restricted area until the ball strikes the ring.
• The players in the marked lane spaces can enter the restricted area once the ball is released.
• The players beyond the three-point line shall not enter the restricted area until the ball strikes the ring.

Fouls

• The mere fact that contact occurs does not constitute a foul. Incidental contact should not be considered illegal.
• Penalties for fouls are administered in the order in which they occur. Fouls that have the same penalty are charged, no shots are taken and play is resumed at the point of interruption.
• On a team’s 5^th foul of each quarter, penalty is awarded to the opponents– 2 shots.
• Player Technical Fouls DO count toward the penalty.
• Technical Fouls to coaches or bench personnel DO NOT count toward the penalty.

Time Outs

• Teams get 2 time outs in the 1^st half, 3 in the 2^nd half (but no more than 2 in the last two minutes of the 4^th quarter).
• In the case of overtime, teams receive 1 additional timeout for each overtime quarter played.
• Time outs are 60 seconds in length with a warning buzzer at 50 seconds, a second buzzer at 60 seconds.
• Timeouts DO NOT carry over and CANNOT be shortened.

Last 2 Minutes

In the final two minutes of the 4^th quarter or overtime:

• the clock is stopped after a made basket;
• there are two options following a time-out by the offence:
• throw-in at throw in line opposite the table in the front court, and the throw in must stay in the front court;
• throw-in at the point of interruption in the back court.

MISC

• Either the head coach or the head assistant coach may stand during the game.  Not both.
• If the offense controls a rebound the shot clock is reset to 14. 
• If the defense controls a rebound the shot clock is reset to 24.