The NBA has a complicated set of rules governing when the ball is “live” and when it is “dead.” These rules are as multifaceted as they are complicated. But rest assured, these rules will be broken down clearly and concisely for your reading pleasure below.
Live Ball
A live ball is a term used to describe when the ball is in the play. For example, a ball becomes live after being tossed by an official after a jump ball. A live ball can be tapped back into play by a player after it goes out of bounds, or when it hits the rim, net, or backboard on an attempted field goal. It can also be put in play with a throw-in from outside the court.
Alive Ball
There is a difference between “live ball” and “alive ball”.
The ball becomes alive when it is tapped by a jumper after a jump ball, put in the game as a throw-in, or after a free throw attempt when the ball is in the air.
In summary, the ball is live when it is being put into the game, and becomes alive when it is being played.
Dead Ball
The ball is called a dead ball when it isn’t of any use for the players. It would be any of those situations: when the playtime expires, after a successful field goal attempt, after a free throw followed by another free throw, or when the official blows their whistle. In other words, A dead ball occurs any time that’s not considered to be alive, including after successful basket attempts.
There is one exception: if the time is up and the ball is already making its way to the basket, it remains to be alive until it reaches its destination, the goal is missed, made, or touched by an offensive player.
Free Throw
A free throw is a shot along the floor, taken from the free-throw line, to score one point. Opponents of the shooter do not stand on the line but must remain behind it and out of its way. The free-throw shooter must release the ball from their dominant hand without moving either foot from its position, and cannot cross over the free-throw line with their other hand or touch any part of their body with that hand on its downward motion on a successful attempt for a point. Failure to abide by these rules will result in a violation.
After the free throw, the ball is not put into play until it has been touched by a player. If there are more than one free throws, the ball is dead, even after the attempt was unsuccessful.
Jump Ball
The game always starts with a jump ball. Two opponents stand in the center circle. After the official throws the ball in the air, their goal is to catch it. After that, game on.
The game is also resumed with a jump ball at the beginning of every overtime period, after a double free-throw violation, after a double foul during a loose ball, or after suspension of the play, anytime when the officials doubt which of the players touched the ball last.
Held Ball
A jump ball can be performed in other places than in the center circle. After the held ball occurs, the players have to jump from the closest circle. It’s also a solution for any miscellaneous situation when the officials don’t know who touched the ball last or the ball gets out of bounds, and it isn’t clear who did that.
Tossed Ball
After the toss, players who jump have to obey strict rules, to acquire the ball for their team. They have to stand with one leg inside the half of the jumping circle which is opposing their basket. When they jump, the players can’t touch the ball before it reaches its peak. Only when the ball starts to fall, they have to tap it, to start the game. They can tap the ball only once and they can’t run after it unless the ball touches the floor, the backboard, or another player.
Non-jumpers can’t stand too close to the jumpers. In fact, they can’t get inside the circle, or it will be recognized as a violation.
If any of these rules are broken, the out-of-bounds toss is awarded for the opposing team.
Conclusion
Rules in basketball are important for a number of reasons: they keep players safe, help to maintain order, and ensure that games flow smoothly. In addition, rules allow officials to determine which team is at fault if there’s any confusion about who touched the ball last after a foul occurs during play.
This article has shown you how these rules work in practice while providing some background information on what sets them apart from each other. Hopefully, this will make it easier for newcomers to understand the nuances between the live ball and the dead ball situations so they can be more informed spectators the next time they watch a game!
