# Law 45: Correctable Errors (FIBA Official Basketball Rules)

Basketball · Law 45: Correctable Errors · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/basketball/laws/law-45-correctable-errors/)

Which errors can be corrected, by when, who takes part, how each kind is put right, and the shot clock as category 2.

## 45.451 Category 1 Errors

What can be corrected, the deadlines and who takes part.

### Test 1: What can be corrected

- A referee may stop the game immediately on identifying a correctable error, unless either team is disadvantaged. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.1.1)
- Fouls, time used and other activity between the error and its recognition remain valid. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.1.2)
- Errors must be identified by the referees, the commissioner if present, or the table officials. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.3.1)
- Awarding unmerited free throws is a category 1 error; judgement calls are not correctable errors. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.2)
- Recording a time-out against the wrong team is a scorekeeping error that can be corrected. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.2)
- The game restarts from the place nearest where it was stopped to correct the error. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.1.3)
- The game clock is corrected with time added or deducted as needed. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.4.8)
- Everything in between stays valid; the restart is where the game was stopped. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.1)
- An erroneously excluded or disqualified player re-enters once the sheet is put right. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.4.6)
- Shot clock errors are category 2; the other three are category 1. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.2, 45.5)

### Test 2: Deadlines and who takes part

- An error before 2:00 of the 4th quarter must be corrected before 2:00 or less remain. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.3.1)
- After 2:00 of the 4th or in overtime, it must be corrected before the ball is live after the first stop following it. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.3.1)
- These errors are no longer correctable after the ball becomes dead at the game clock's end signal, with one exception. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.3.2)
- Then the error is corrected immediately after the game, with the teams on the court or in their bench areas. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.3.2)
- He must re-enter the court to take part in the correction, becoming a player. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.3.3)
- If he is excluded, disqualified, injured or cannot be identified, the head coach designates a team member. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.3.3)
- He may remain unless a legal substitution is requested again. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.3.3)
- That first stop is the last chance to put it right. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.3.1)
- Earlier errors by 2:00 of the 4th; late errors at the next stop; last-gasp ones right after the game. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.3)
- The first stop after the error falls under 2:00, so fix it before the ball is live. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.3.1)

## 45.452 Putting Errors Right

Special procedures, and shot clock errors as category 2.

### Test 1: Special procedures

- The team whose free throws were cancelled throws in from the free-throw line extended. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.4.1)
- With no change of possession, the game resumes after the correction as after any last free throw. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.4.2)
- If the same team scores after being wrongly given the throw-in, the error is disregarded. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.4.2)
- The free throws are cancelled and the correct player takes replacement free throws. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.4.4)
- Points are awarded or cancelled and the scoresheet is corrected. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.4.5)
- Anyone who should have been excluded or disqualified is excluded or disqualified. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.4.6)
- The ball goes to the team entitled to it when the game was stopped for the correction. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.1.3)
- Cancel what the wrong man shot, then the ball goes to the opponents. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.4.3)
- A new attempt by the right player replaces the old one. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.4.4)
- The wrong shooter's attempts go; Team B inbounds at the free-throw line extended. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.4.3)

### Test 2: Shot clock errors

- Category 2 covers shot clock errors: starting, stopping or setting it wrongly. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.5)
- At the first stop, with the team in control keeping the ball, the shot clock is set to the correct time. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.6.1)
- Shot clock errors are no longer correctable after a change of possession of a live ball. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.6.2)
- Shot clock errors are not correctable after the team in control scores a valid goal. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.6.2)
- It can be corrected when the ball is live immediately after the error and the officials stop the game. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.6.1)
- The team in control or entitled at the error keeps the ball while the shot clock is fixed. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.6.1)
- The final signal with a dead ball closes this too. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.6.2)
- With the same team still entitled to the ball, the shot clock is put right. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.6.1)
- A valid goal by the team in control closes the chance to correct. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.6.2)
- At the first stop with the same team in control it can; after a change of possession, a goal or the end signal it cannot. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 45.6)

Sources: FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026 (v1.1), Article 45 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)

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