# Law 51: Shot Clock Operator (FIBA Official Basketball Rules)

Basketball · Law 51: Shot Clock Operator · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/basketball/laws/law-51-shot-clock-operator/)

When the operator starts, stops, resets or switches off the shot clock, and what the display shows each time.

## 51.511 Start, Stop and Display

Starting the shot clock, stopping it without a reset, and what is shown.

### Test 1: Starting and stopping the shot clock

- Once started, a mere touch by an opponent does not start a new period if the same team stays in control. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 51.1)
- Stopped but not reset, with the remaining time visible, when the same team gets the throw-in after the ball went out. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 51.2)
- An injury to a player of the team in control: stopped but not reset, remaining time visible. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 51.2)
- On a reset to 24 the shot clock is stopped and reset with no display visible. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 51.3)
- On a reset to 14 the display shows 14 seconds. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 51.4)
- With 14 or more showing, a frontcourt throw-in for the same team after a foul leaves it stopped, not reset. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 51.2)
- Two fouls that cancel do not hand over a new period. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 51.2)
- A new period starts on control; a mere touch by the opponent does not restart it. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 51.1)
- Stopped, not reset, time visible, restarted on the touch. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 51.1-51.2)
- A goal resets it to 24 with no display; ball out or a double foul keep the time; a frontcourt foul with 9 left shows 14. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 51.2-51.4)

## 51.512 Resets and Switching Off

24, 14, lodged balls, neutral stops and the late switch-off.

### Test 1: Resets and the switch-off

- A ball lodged between ring and board counts as touching the ring: the same team regaining it gets 14. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 51.4)
- Any award of free throws means a fresh 24. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 51.3)
- A throw-in from the frontcourt line after a disruptive, flagrant or disqualifying foul gives 14 seconds. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 51.4)
- It is switched off after the ball is dead and the clock stopped, when there is new control and under 14 seconds of game time. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 51.5)
- The shot clock signal stops neither the game clock nor the game, unless a team is in control of the ball. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 51.5)
- A stop unconnected with either team gives a backcourt throw-in 24, unless the opponents would be disadvantaged. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 51.3)
- A frontcourt throw-in from a jump ball situation for the team that did not have control gives 14. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 51.4)
- Not enough game time is left for a full 14, so it goes dark. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 51.5)
- The same team regains it, so it gets the shorter count. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 51.4)
- Under 14 seconds of game time remain, so the shot clock has no job left. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 51.5)

Sources: FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026 (v1.1), Article 51 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)

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