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Basketball · Official Basketball Rules

Law 29: Shot Clock

2 parts · 5 tests · 50 facts · updated 22 October 2026 · markdown

The 24 seconds and what a valid shot is, the signal while the ball is in the air, and every reset to 24 or 14: after the defence, the offence, the ring, the arrow and late time-outs.

29.29124 Seconds and the Shot

When the shot clock starts, a valid shot, the signal in the air, and errors.

Test 1A valid shot and the signalTake a test

  1. The team must attempt a shot within 24 seconds once a player gains control of a live ball on the court.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.1.1 · recall

  2. On a throw-in it starts when the ball touches, or is legally touched by, a player on the court.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.1.1 · recall

  3. The ball must leave the hand before the signal and must then touch the ring or enter the basket.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.1.1 · recall

  4. If the ball touches the ring but does not go in, the signal is disregarded and the game continues.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.1.2 · applied

  5. With yellow perimeter lighting at the top of the backboard, the lighting takes precedence over the sound.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.1.2 · recall

  6. All restrictions related to goaltending and basket interference apply.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.1.2 · recall

  7. If the opponents gain immediate and clear control, the signal is disregarded and the game continues.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.1.2 · applied

  8. A shot released in time that touches the ring is a valid shot.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.1.2 · applied

  9. No shot released in time is a violation.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.1 · applied

  10. A shot that misses the ring is a violation unless the opponents gain immediate and clear control.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.1.2 · applied

Test 2Starting the shot clockTake a test

  1. After the opening jump ball or a start-of-period throw-in, it starts at 24 wherever control is gained.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.1 · recall

  2. A team must attempt a shot within 24 seconds.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.1.1 · recall

  3. In many frontcourt restarts the shot clock is reset to 14 seconds.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2 · recall

  4. Control of a live ball on the court starts the period.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.1.1 · recall

  5. A signal sounded in error is disregarded and the game continues.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.8 · applied

  6. The game is stopped, the shot clock corrected and possession given back to the team in control.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.8 · applied

  7. Until a player on the court touches the throw-in, the 24 seconds wait.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.1.1 · applied

  8. Start-of-period possessions always begin with 24.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.1 · applied

  9. A disadvantage from an error is corrected.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.8 · applied

  10. After a start-of-period throw-in from the centre line, control anywhere starts the shot clock at 24.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.1 · applied

29.292Resets to 24 and 14

Resets after the defence, the offence, the ring and the arrow, and in special cases.

Test 1After the defence stops playTake a test

  1. After a foul or violation by the team not in control, a backcourt throw-in means a reset to 24.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.2 · applied

  2. In the frontcourt, 13 seconds or less is reset to 14.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.2 · applied

  3. With 14 seconds or more displayed, the shot clock continues from where it stopped.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.2 · recall

  4. An out-of-bounds by the team not in control is the exception: the reset rules do not apply.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.2 · applied

  5. Possession is awarded to the same team that previously had control.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.2 · recall

  6. A valid stoppage caused by the team not in control follows the same rule: frontcourt, 13 or less, reset to 14.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.2 · applied

  7. Exactly 14 counts as '14 or more', so nothing changes.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.2 · applied

  8. A defensive violation with 13 or less left in the frontcourt gives 14.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.2 · applied

  9. Out-of-bounds by the defence does not reset the clock.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.2 · applied

  10. A defensive violation, a frontcourt throw-in and 14 or more on the clock: it continues from 17.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.2 · applied

Test 2After the offence, the ring and the arrowTake a test

  1. Possession changes after Team A's foul, and Team B starts in its backcourt with a full 24.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.3 · applied

  2. When the opponents throw in from their frontcourt, the shot clock is reset to 14.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.3 · applied

  3. For the team in control, the out-of-bounds violation is included: 24 in the backcourt, 14 in the frontcourt.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.3 · recall

  4. A new offensive team's alternating possession throw-in resets the shot clock: 24 in the backcourt.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.3 · applied

  5. After the ball touches the ring, the opponents gaining control get 24.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.7 · applied

  6. A new offensive team throwing in from its frontcourt gets 14.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.3 · applied

  7. The reset to 24 or 14 depends on which team gains control after the ball touches the ring.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.7 · applied

  8. A change of possession after the ring gives a full 24.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.7 · applied

  9. Team A's frontcourt is Team B's backcourt: the throw-in there means 24.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.3 · applied

  10. After the ring, the same team regaining control gets 14; the defence gets 24, an air ball changes nothing, and a new team's backcourt arrow gets 24.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.3, 29.2.7 · applied

Test 3Technical fouls, heavy fouls and late time-outsTake a test

  1. After a technical foul by the team in control, play resumes with its throw-in and the shot clock continues.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.4 · applied

  2. As part of that penalty, the throw-in from the frontcourt line comes with a shot clock of 14.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.6 · applied

  3. After an out-of-bounds, a backcourt throw-in after the late time-out continues the shot clock.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.5 · applied

  4. After an out-of-bounds, a frontcourt throw-in with 14 or more on the clock is reset to 14.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.5 · applied

  5. After an out-of-bounds, with 13 or less it continues from where it stopped.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.5 · applied

  6. New control plus a frontcourt throw-in after the late time-out: 14.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.5 · applied

  7. A backcourt restart after a late defensive foul keeps the normal 24.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.5 · applied

  8. Ball out, time-out, frontcourt line, 18 on the clock: down to 14.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.5 · applied

  9. A technical by the team with the ball leaves the shot clock where it was.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.4 · applied

  10. Fouled in the backcourt, moved to the front line after a time-out: 14.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.5 · applied

Sources

FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026 (v1.1), Article 29 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)

  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.210
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.57
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.1.16
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.1.26
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.36
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.13
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.83
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.73
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.42
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.11
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.21
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.3, 29.2.71
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.61