Law 5: Players: Injury and Assistance

In the event of an injury, the referees may stop the game.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 5.1 · recall

The referee waits for the team in control to finish its action unless stopping at once disadvantages neither team.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 5.2 · recall

If it is necessary to protect an injured player, the referees may stop the game immediately.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 5.2 · recall

Holding the whistle is for a live ball with a team in control; with the ball dead there is nothing to wait for.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 5.2 · applied

Bench personnel may enter the court to attend an injured player only with the permission of a referee.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 5.4 · recall

Head coach, assistant coaches, substitutes, excluded players and accompanying delegation members may do so.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 5.4 · recall

Once the ball is dead, a doctor may come on without permission if, in his judgement, immediate treatment is needed.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 5.5 · recall

The referee waits for the attack to end, then stops play, and bench personnel come on with permission.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 5.2, 5.4 · applied

The doctor may enter without permission, but only once the ball has become dead.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 5.5 · applied

Number 10 needs no protecting, so the white caps' attack is allowed to finish before the whistle.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 5.2 · applied

A player who cannot continue immediately, within approximately 15 seconds, must be substituted.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 5.3 · recall

A player who receives treatment or assistance from his own bench or delegation must be substituted.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 5.3 · applied

He must be substituted unless that would leave his team with fewer than 5 players on the court.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 5.3 · recall

Any player who is bleeding or has an open wound must be substituted.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 5.6 · applied

She may return only after the bleeding has stopped and the wound has been completely and securely covered.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 5.6 · recall

An open wound counts the same as bleeding, even when it is not bleeding right now.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 5.6 · applied

A designated starter may be substituted in the event of an injury, and the opponents may substitute the same number.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 5.8 · applied

Bleeding means a substitution, and the return waits until the bleeding has stopped and the wound is covered.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 5.6 · applied

A player treated between free throws may be substituted, and the opponents are entitled to match the number.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 5.8 · applied

A player who recovers during a time-out before the timer's signal for the substitution may continue; B, C and D come after it.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 5.7 · applied