# Law 29: Shot Clock (FIBA Official Basketball Rules)

Basketball · Law 29: Shot Clock · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/basketball/laws/law-29-shot-clock/)

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.

## 29.291 24 Seconds and the Shot

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

### Test 1: A valid shot and the signal

- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- All restrictions related to goaltending and basket interference apply. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.1.2)
- If the opponents gain immediate and clear control, the signal is disregarded and the game continues. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.1.2)
- A shot released in time that touches the ring is a valid shot. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.1.2)
- No shot released in time is a violation. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.1)
- 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)

### Test 2: Starting the shot clock

- 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)
- A team must attempt a shot within 24 seconds. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.1.1)
- In many frontcourt restarts the shot clock is reset to 14 seconds. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2)
- Control of a live ball on the court starts the period. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.1.1)
- A signal sounded in error is disregarded and the game continues. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.8)
- 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)
- Until a player on the court touches the throw-in, the 24 seconds wait. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.1.1)
- Start-of-period possessions always begin with 24. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.1)
- A disadvantage from an error is corrected. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.8)
- 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)

## 29.292 Resets to 24 and 14

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

### Test 1: After the defence stops play

- 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)
- In the frontcourt, 13 seconds or less is reset to 14. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.2)
- With 14 seconds or more displayed, the shot clock continues from where it stopped. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.2)
- 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)
- Possession is awarded to the same team that previously had control. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.2)
- 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)
- Exactly 14 counts as '14 or more', so nothing changes. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.2)
- A defensive violation with 13 or less left in the frontcourt gives 14. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.2)
- Out-of-bounds by the defence does not reset the clock. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.2)
- 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)

### Test 2: After the offence, the ring and the arrow

- 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)
- When the opponents throw in from their frontcourt, the shot clock is reset to 14. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.3)
- 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)
- 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)
- After the ball touches the ring, the opponents gaining control get 24. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.7)
- A new offensive team throwing in from its frontcourt gets 14. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.3)
- 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)
- A change of possession after the ring gives a full 24. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.7)
- Team A's frontcourt is Team B's backcourt: the throw-in there means 24. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.3)
- 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)

### Test 3: Technical fouls, heavy fouls and late time-outs

- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- After an out-of-bounds, with 13 or less it continues from where it stopped. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.5)
- New control plus a frontcourt throw-in after the late time-out: 14. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.5)
- A backcourt restart after a late defensive foul keeps the normal 24. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.5)
- Ball out, time-out, frontcourt line, 18 on the clock: down to 14. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.5)
- A technical by the team with the ball leaves the shot clock where it was. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.4)
- Fouled in the backcourt, moved to the front line after a time-out: 14. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 29.2.5)

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

Take the tests: https://insporta.app/try?utm_source=book&utm_medium=referral