# Law 19: Substitution (FIBA Official Basketball Rules)

Basketball · Law 19: Substitution · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/basketball/laws/law-19-substitution/)

When a substitution may be made, coming back on, the scoring team late in the game, how a substitute asks and enters, fouled-out and disqualified players, and free-throw shooters.

## 19.191 Substitution Opportunities

When the window opens and closes, and when a player may come back on.

### Test 1: Opportunities and coming back on

- A substitution is an interruption of the game requested by the substitute to become a player. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 19.1)
- A goal opens a substitution opportunity for the non-scoring team only with 2:00 or less in the 4th quarter or an overtime. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 19.2.2)
- It ends when the ball is at a player's disposal for a throw-in or a first free throw. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 19.2.3)
- A substitute who has become a player cannot leave until the ball is dead again after a game clock running period. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 19.2.4)
- The exception applies when the team is reduced to fewer than 5 players on the court (or for a correctable-error free throw). (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 19.2.4)
- The scoring team may not substitute after a goal in the last 2 minutes of the 4th quarter or an overtime unless a referee has interrupted play. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 19.2.5)
- The ball becoming dead after a successful last free throw starts an opportunity for both teams. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 19.2.2)
- A substituted player waits for the ball to be dead again after the clock has run. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 19.2.4)
- The window opens when the referee is done with the table and closes when the ball is at a player's disposal. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 19.2.2, 19.2.3)
- He may re-enter once the ball becomes dead again after a game clock running period. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 19.2.4)

## 19.192 Making a Substitution

Who asks and how, entering the court, and replacing fouled-out players and free-throw shooters.

### Test 1: Asking and entering

- Only a substitute has the right to request a substitution, not the head coach or the first assistant coach. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 19.3.1)
- He may sit on the substitution chair, ready to play immediately. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 19.3.1)
- A substitution request may be cancelled only before the timer's signal for it has sounded. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 19.3.2)
- The substitute remains outside the boundary line until the referee beckons him on. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 19.3.4)
- He enters when the referee blows the whistle, gives the substitution signal and beckons him on. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 19.3.4)
- The substituted player may go directly to the team bench without reporting to anyone. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 19.3.5)
- During a time-out, or an interval other than half-time, the substitute reports to the timer before entering. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 19.3.7)
- The substitute asks, the timer alerts the referees, the referee calls him on. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 19.3)
- The timer has to know before he goes on. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 19.3.7)
- Only the substitute may ask, at the table with the sign or by sitting on the substitution chair. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 19.3.1)

### Test 2: Fouled-out players and free throws

- If there is a delay, a time-out may be charged against the offending team. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 19.3.6)
- Without a time-out left, a technical foul for delaying the game may be charged against the head coach, entered as 'B'. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 19.3.6)
- A player with 5 fouls or a disqualified player must be substituted immediately, taking no more than 30 seconds. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 19.3.6)
- If the shooter is substituted for injury, 5 fouls or disqualification, his substitute attempts the free throws. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 19.3.8)
- He may not be substituted again until he has played in the next game clock running period. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 19.3.8)
- A request made after the shooter has the ball is granted if the missed last free throw is followed by a throw-in. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 19.3.9)
- Half-time is the one interval with no reporting needed. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 19.3.7)
- Thirty seconds, no time-out left: the coach pays with a B. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 19.3.6)
- The substitute shoots and may not be replaced before playing in the next clock-running period. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 19.3.8)
- The replacement takes no more than 30 seconds: A is earlier, but B is the latest moment still within the limit. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 19.3.6)

Sources: FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026 (v1.1), Article 19 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)

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