# Law 50: Timer (FIBA Official Basketball Rules)

Basketball · Law 50: Timer · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/basketball/laws/law-50-timer/)

The timer's equipment and markers, when the game clock starts and stops, and how time-outs and intervals are measured.

## 50.501 Duties and Markers

The clock, the signal, the foul and team foul markers.

### Test 1: The timer's duties

- The timer is provided with a game clock and a stopwatch. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 50.1)
- The timer uses any means possible to notify the officials immediately if the signal fails or is not heard. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 50.1)
- The timer indicates each player's fouls with the player foul marker, visible to both head coaches. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 50.1)
- The timer notifies an official immediately when 5 fouls have been charged against a player. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 50.1)
- Each team foul marker is placed on the scorer's table on the side nearest that team's bench. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 50.1)
- The timer sounds the signal only when the ball becomes dead and before it becomes live again. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 50.1)
- The timer's signal neither stops the game clock or the game nor causes the ball to become dead. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 50.1)
- After the 4th team foul, the marker turns fully red once the ball is live again. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 50.1)
- The player foul marker shows 5 and an official is notified at once. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 50.1, 41.1)
- Fully red means four are already in, and play has resumed. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 50.1)

## 50.502 Measuring Time

Starting and stopping the clock, time-outs and intervals.

### Test 1: Starting and stopping the clock

- During a jump ball, the clock starts when the ball is legally tapped by a jumper. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 50.2)
- During a throw-in, the clock starts when the ball touches or is legally touched by a player on the court. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 50.2)
- The ring touch does not count; a player's touch does. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 50.2)
- The timer stops the clock when time expires, if it does not stop automatically. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 50.2)
- The game clock stops on a goal when it shows 2:00 or less in the 4th quarter and each overtime. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 50.2)
- The game clock stops when the shot clock signal sounds while a team is in control of the ball. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 50.2)
- The timer stops the game clock when an official blows the whistle while the ball is live. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 50.2)
- Passing it in is not enough; a touch on court starts it. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 50.2)
- In the last 2 minutes the clock stops on a goal and restarts on the throw-in's touch. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 50.2)
- A goal with 2:00 or less in the 4th stops the clock; an early goal, a tap and the timer's own signal do not. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 50.1-50.2)

### Test 2: Time-outs and intervals

- The stopwatch starts immediately when the official blows the whistle and gives the time-out signal. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 50.3)
- The timer sounds the signal when 50 seconds of the time-out have elapsed, and again when it ends. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 50.3)
- The stopwatch starts immediately when the previous quarter or overtime has ended. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 50.4)
- The timer notifies the officials when 3 minutes and 1.5 minutes remain before the 1st and 3rd quarters. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 50.4)
- The timer sounds the signal 30 seconds before the 2nd and 4th quarters and each overtime. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 50.4)
- The timer sounds the signal and stops the stopwatch at the same moment the interval ends. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 50.4)
- The timer effects time-outs and notifies the officials of the time-out opportunity once requested. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 50.1)
- Stopwatch on the whistle; signals at 50 seconds and at the end. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 50.3)
- Watch on at the end of the quarter, notices at 3 and 1.5 minutes, signal at the end. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 50.4)
- Fifty seconds in, the first signal warns the teams. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 50.3)

Sources: FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026 (v1.1), Article 50 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)

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