Official Basketball Rules: Timing, Players, and Fouls

Duration of the Match

The match starts with a jump ball between two players. In the second and third quarters, the team that did not get the ball to start the game receives possession. In the fourth quarter, the team that won the opening tip takes possession. The game lasts 40 minutes of real time, divided into four periods of 10 minutes each.

Between each of the periods, there is a rest time: two minutes between the first and second, and between the third and fourth. The break between the second and third quarters lasts 15 minutes. In case of a tie at the end of regulation time, teams will play an overtime extension of five minutes, starting with an initial jump ball.

Rules Relating to Time

• 3 Seconds: No attacker can stay for more than three seconds inside the bulb while the ball is in possession of their team.
• 5 Seconds: When a player with the ball is closely guarded and does not pass, roll, or bounce it within five seconds, they are penalized with the loss of possession, and the other team will throw in from the sideline.
• 8 Seconds: This is the maximum time a team has to pass the ball to the opposite half of the court after retrieving it.
• 24 Seconds: This is the time a team has to launch a shot at the hoop; the ball must touch the rim for a new possession to be awarded. If the opponent commits a foul or intercepts the ball with their foot when there are fewer than 14 seconds remaining, the shot clock will reset to 14 seconds.

Players and Substitutions

A team is composed of a maximum of 12 players: five playing and the rest on the bench. They may be substituted if desired, but only when the ball is dead due to:

• A jump ball.
• A foul being called.
• A granted timeout.
• A stoppage to attend to an injured player.
• A violation that benefits the team requesting the substitution.

Types of Fouls and Penalties

• Personal Foul: A player stopping an opponent in a non-regulation manner, whether playing with or without the ball.
• Technical or Unsportsmanlike Foul: An offense against the spirit of the game that shows misconduct.
• Disqualifying Foul: Applied if the behavior is very serious.

Foul Consequences and Free Throws

Fouls are violations of the regulations that can be punished with free throws if one of the following circumstances occurs:

• Shooting Fouls: One free throw if the player makes the basket, two shots if the player missed from within the 6.75m line, and three shots if they miss from beyond the triple line.
• Team Fouls: If the offending team has more than four fouls in a single period, the fifth foul results in two free throws.
• Technical Fouls: A technical foul for an on-court player results in one free throw and possession.
• Foul Limit: A player committing five personal or technical fouls must leave the game immediately and can be replaced by a teammate.