Basketball has multiple rules regarding playing time. The most important of these is a rule called the “shot clock” (24 second rule). Memorizing the shot clock will be helpful not only during actual play, but also when watching the game.
However, if you are new to basketball, you may not know what the rules are.
Here we will provide an overview of the shot clock in basketball.
【table of contents】
■What is shot clock?
■Why the shot clock was made a rule
■When the shot clock is reset
・Case where it will be reset for 24 seconds
・Case where it will be reset for 14 seconds
・There are cases where the time is not reset.
■Other rules related to seconds
・3 seconds rule
・5 seconds rule
・8 seconds rule
■It is important to play while being aware of the time.
■What is shot clock?
The shot clock (24 second rule) is one of the rules used for the offensive team. In basketball, the offensive team must take a shot within 24 seconds of gaining possession of the ball.
Basically, the shot clock starts when either team gains control of the ball after a toss-up, or when a thrown-in ball touches a player on the court.
The point is that the shot clock is a rule that states that a shot must be taken within 24 seconds. For example, if you take a shot just before 24 seconds and the ball enters the hoop after the time has elapsed, you will score.
Because of the shot clock, basketball cannot pass the ball and slowly attack like soccer.
This rule can be said to contribute to the fast-paced nature of basketball games, with rapid shifts between offense and defense.
■Why the shot clock was made a rule
Right after basketball was established as a sport, there was no shot clock rule. The reason for its introduction is said to have been caused by a star player in the American professional basketball league “NBA.”
Against a star player who is good at shooting, the opposing team adopted a strategy of passing the ball, not taking shots, and not handing over the ball. As a result, the game ends with a low score that is unimaginable from today’s basketball.
A shot clock was introduced to prevent excessive ball rotation and to make the game more exciting.
Previously, the “30 second rule” had been established, requiring a player to shoot within 30 seconds of possession of the ball, but with the rule revision in 2001, the current 24 second rule was adopted.
■When the shot clock is reset
The shot clock is divided into two cases, depending on when the clock is reset: cases in which you can attack again for 24 seconds, and cases in which it is shortened to 14 seconds.
Each situation is as follows.
・Case where it will be reset for 24 seconds
The shot clock is reset to 24 seconds when:
・Shoot was successful
・There was a switch between offense and defense due to an interception, etc., and the team’s offense started from the backcourt (the court where the team’s ring is located).
・The offense committed a foul and possession passed to the defense.
・The offense was fouled in the backcourt.
When the offense and defense switch places or the game restarts far from the goal, it’s a good idea to think of the shot clock being reset to 24 seconds.
・Case where it will be reset for 14 seconds
The shot clock is a rule whose purpose is to speed up the development of the game. Due to the rule revision in 2019, there are cases where the time is reset to 14 seconds instead of 24 seconds in order to make the game even more intense.
Cases in which the shot clock is 14 seconds are as follows:
・After the shot misses, the offense picks up the rebound and the attack continues.
・There is a switch between offense and defense, and the attack starts from the front court (the court where the opposing team’s ring is located)
・The shot clock is less than 14 seconds when the offense is fouled in the front court.
・There are cases where the time is not reset.
In some cases, the shot clock is not reset and the game continues. Examples of scenes where time is not reset are:
・The ball is cut (touched) by the defense, leaves the court, and restarts with a throw-in by the offense.
– A defenseman commits a foul in the frontcourt with more than 14 seconds left on the shot clock.
・When a held ball occurs in the front court, the ball becomes an offensive ball with more than 14 seconds remaining on the shot clock.
■Other rules related to seconds
In addition to the shot clock (24-second rule), basketball has multiple rules regarding time. Knowing the outline of each rule will be useful when playing or watching a match.
We will introduce the rules regarding the number of seconds in basketball and an overview of each.
・3 seconds rule
This rule prohibits players from remaining within the opposing team’s restricted area (the rectangular area under the goal/paint area) for more than 3 seconds.
Basketball is a sport where tall players generally have an advantage because the goal is located high up. The three-second rule is designed to prevent tall players from waiting under the goal for a pass.
If the 3-second rule is violated, the game will be restarted with a throw-in to the opposing team from the nearest line.
・5 seconds rule
This rule prohibits players from holding the ball still for more than 5 seconds. A player who receives a pass and has possession of the ball must dribble, pass, or shoot within 5 seconds.
This tends to happen when the defense is severely marking and there is no space to play, so you need to be careful.
The 5-second rule also applies to plays such as free throws and throw-ins. For free throws or throw-ins, players must pass or shoot within 5 seconds of receiving the ball from the referee.
・8 seconds rule
This rule states that if the offensive team possesses the ball in the backcourt, it must bring the ball to the frontcourt within eight seconds.
If the backcourt side holds the ball for more than 8 seconds, the game will restart with the opponent’s ball.
Even if the ball goes out of bounds due to an interception in the backcourt, the count will not be reset, so be careful.
■It is important to play while being aware of the time.
Basketball has various rules regarding time, including the shot clock. Both rules are important rules that contribute to the speedy development of basketball games.
If you are conscious of your time while playing or watching basketball, you will be able to enjoy basketball even more.
From now on, why not pay attention to the time during the match?
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