# Law 28: 8 Seconds (FIBA Official Basketball Rules)

Basketball · Law 28: 8 Seconds · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/basketball/laws/law-28-8-seconds/)

When the 8-second count starts, the five ways the ball reaches the frontcourt, and when the count carries on with the time left.

## 28.281 Crossing in 8 Seconds

The start of the count and what counts as reaching the frontcourt.

### Test 1: Start of the count and crossing

- The count starts when a player in the backcourt gains control of a live ball. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 28.1.1)
- On a throw-in it starts when the ball touches, or is legally touched by, a player in the backcourt and the team keeps control. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 28.1.1)
- The team must cause the ball to go into its frontcourt within 8 seconds. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 28.1.1)
- The team has reached its frontcourt when the ball, not in control of any player, touches the frontcourt. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 28.1.2)
- The ball touching a defender who has part of the body in contact with his backcourt puts it in the attackers' frontcourt. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 28.1.2)
- The ball touching a referee with part of the body in the frontcourt of the team in control counts. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 11.2, 28.1.2)
- The touch counts only for an attacker with both feet completely in contact with the frontcourt; the centre line is backcourt. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.2, 28.1.2)
- The count runs from control in the backcourt until the ball reaches the frontcourt. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 28.1)
- 3, 5, 8 and 24 seconds. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 26-29)
- A dribbler reaches the frontcourt when the ball and both his feet are completely in it; the centre line is backcourt. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 28.1.2)

## 28.282 When the Count Carries On

Stoppages that keep the time left, and the violation.

### Test 1: Time left and the violation

- After a jump ball situation that gives the same team a backcourt throw-in, the count continues with the time remaining. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 28.1.3)
- An injury to a player of the same team is one of the cases where the count continues. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 28.1.3)
- The count continues only in the listed cases; a defensive foul is not one of them. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 28.1.1, 28.1.3)
- It continues when the same team that previously had control is awarded the backcourt throw-in. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 28.1.3)
- Feet over but the ball behind is not yet the frontcourt. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 28.1.2)
- It is a violation; the opponents throw in from the place nearest the infraction. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 22, 28)
- A technical foul by that team is a listed case: the count continues with the time remaining. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 28.1.3)
- After an out-of-bounds, the same team's count continues with the time left. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 28.1.3)
- Eight seconds in the backcourt with the ball is a violation. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 28)
- An out-of-bounds is a listed case: the 8-second count continues with the 3 seconds that were left. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 28.1.3)

Sources: FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026 (v1.1), Article 28 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)

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