# Law 27: Closely Guarded Player (FIBA Official Basketball Rules)

Basketball · Law 27: Closely Guarded Player · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/basketball/laws/law-27-closely-guarded-player/)

When a player holding the ball is closely guarded, and the 5 seconds to pass, shoot or dribble.

## 27.271 Closely Guarded

Holding the ball, 1 metre, an active legal guarding position.

### Test 1: When a player is closely guarded

- A player holding a live ball is closely guarded when an opponent is in an active legal guarding position no more than 1 m away. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 27.1)
- A closely guarded player must pass, shoot or dribble within 5 seconds. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 27.2)
- The defender must be no more than 1 m away. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 27.1)
- The definition is about a player who is holding a live ball. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 27.1)
- Any of the three ends the count. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 27.2)
- The defender must be in an active legal guarding position, not just close. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 27.1)
- Exceeding the 5 seconds is a violation. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 22, 27)
- Five seconds closely guarded without a pass, shot or dribble is a violation. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 27.2)
- 1 m, 1.30 m and 4.90 m. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5, 27.1)
- Only A has a defender in an active legal position within 1 m of a player holding the ball. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 27.1)

## 27.272 The 5 Seconds

Acting in time, and the penalty when he does not.

### Test 1: The 5-second count

- Dribbling within 5 seconds satisfies the rule. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 27.2)
- A shot within 5 seconds is one of the allowed ways out. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 27.2)
- The rule concerns a player holding a live ball on the court. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 27.1)
- The closely guarded rule is for a player on the court; the thrower-in has his own 5-second limit (Art. 17). (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 17.3.1, 27.1)
- Being closely guarded needs the defender within 1 m. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 27.1)
- As for most violations, the opponents throw in from the place nearest the infraction. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 22.2)
- Holding the ball under close guard can last 5 seconds at most. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 27.2)
- Passing within 5 seconds ends the count. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 27)
- Holding, a defender within 1 m, then the 5-second count. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 27)
- The limit is 5 seconds: C (5.5 s) is the first moment beyond it. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 27.2)

Sources: FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026 (v1.1), Article 27 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)

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