Five-second rule (basketball)

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This article is about the basketball rule. For other uses, see five-second rule.

In basketball, the five-second rule, or five-second violation, is a rule that helps promote continuous play. There are multiple situations where a five-second violation may occur.

1 NCAA and NFHS
2 FIBA
3 NBA
- 3.1 Penalty
4 References

[edit] NCAA and NFHS

In NCAA and NFHS rules, there are two situations in which a five-second violation may occur.

[edit] Five-second closely guarded violation

A five-second closely-guarded violation occurs when a player, while closely guarded, holds the ball for five seconds or dribbles the ball for five seconds. A closely guarded situation occurs when a player with the ball in the frontcourt is continuously guarded by an opponent within 6 feet of the player in control. The official continues the five-second count until the player in control gets his/her head and shoulders past the defender.^[1]

[edit] Five-second throw-in violation

A five-second throw-in violation occurs if, during a throw-in, the thrower does not release the ball directly into the court before five seconds have elapsed.^[2]

[edit] Penalty

The penalty for a five-second violation is loss of ball. The opposing team will throw-in the ball from the out-of-bounds spot nearest the violation.

[edit] FIBA

FIBA rules and penalties for five-second violations are similar to college and high school rules, with one exception. The distance required for a closely guarded situation is no more than one meter.

[edit] NBA

In the NBA, there is not a count for closely guarded situations. However, there is a third type of five-second violation, called the five-second back-to-the-basket violation. When an offensive player is in his front court below the free-throw line extended, he may not dribble with his back or side to the basket for more than five seconds. The count ends when the player picks up the ball, dribbles above the free-throw line extended, or a defensive player deflects the ball.^[3]

[edit] Penalty

In both a throw-in and back-to-the-basket five-second violation, the penalty is loss of ball. For a five-second throw-in violation, the throw-in spot for the opposing team is at the original throw-in spot.^[4] For a five-second back-to-the-basket violation, the throw-in spot is at the free-throw line extended on the sideline nearest the violation.^[3]