Basketball · Official Basketball Rules

Law 10: Status of the Ball

2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts · updated 22 October 2026 · markdown

When the ball becomes live and dead, and when a shot or free throw in flight still counts.

10.101Live Ball and Dead Ball

The moments the ball becomes live, and the events that make it dead.

During a jump ball the ball becomes live when it leaves the crew chief's hands on the toss.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 10.2 · recall
During a throw-in the ball becomes live when it is at the disposal of the thrower-in.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 10.2 · recall
The ball becomes dead when any goal or free throw is made.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 10.3 · recall
The ball becomes dead when a referee blows the whistle while it is live.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 10.3 · recall
If a free throw is to be followed by another free throw or a further penalty, the ball is dead once it is apparent it will miss.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 10.3 · applied
The early-dead rule covers only a free throw followed by another free throw or a further penalty.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 10.3 · applied
The ball becomes dead when the shot clock signal sounds while a team is in control of it.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 10.3 · recall
Between two free throws the ball dies once the first is clearly missing, and lives again at the shooter's disposal.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 10.2, 10.3 · applied
A made goal kills the ball; it comes alive again at the thrower-in's disposal.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 10.2, 10.3 · applied
The ball is live once it is at the free-throw shooter's disposal; before a toss or a throw-in, and after a whistle, it is not.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 10.2 · applied

Whistles and signals during a shot or free throw, and the continuous shooting motion.

A ball in flight on a shot does not become dead at a whistle, and the goal counts if made.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 10.4 · applied
A shot in flight stays live through the shot clock signal, and a made goal counts.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 10.4 · applied
A shot in flight touched by any player after the signal becomes dead.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 10.3 · applied
On a free throw in flight, a whistle for an infraction by anyone other than the shooter does not kill the ball.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 10.4 · applied
The shooter's own infraction is the one case the in-flight protection does not cover.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 10.4 · applied
A goal counts when the shooter finishes, in a continuous motion begun before the foul, a shot already under control.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 10.4 · applied
The continuous-motion rule does not apply if, after the whistle, an entirely new act of shooting is made.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 10.4 · applied
A ball already in flight stays live through the signal.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 10.4 · applied
The motion began before the foul, so the goal counts.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 10.4 · applied
The signal kills a ball held, dribbled or passed; a shot already released survives it.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 10.3, 10.4 · applied

FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026 (v1.1), Article 10 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)