Ayrton Oneill
The jump ball is a basketball tradition and a method used to begin or resume play. It involves a referee tossing a ball vertically between two opposing players who jump and attempt to tap it to a teammate. The jump ball is used to determine which team will gain possession of the ball, usually at the start of a game or overtime, but also in situations where two teams have equal claim to the ball. While the rules for jump balls are relatively relaxed, players must not tap the ball more than twice or catch it before it touches a teammate.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To begin or resume play, or determine possession |
| Occurrence | Start of the game, overtime, or to settle held balls or penalties |
| Participants | Two opposing players |
| Execution | An official tosses the ball vertically between the players, who jump and attempt to tap it to a teammate |
| Rules | Players cannot tap the ball more than twice, catch it before it touches a teammate, or leave their circle early |
| Throw Styles | One-handed, two-handed, underhanded, overhanded, off-center |
| Violations | Loss of possession or awarded to the other team |
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What You'll Learn
When is a jump ball executed?
A jump ball is a method used to begin or resume play in basketball. It is used to determine which team gains possession of the ball. The rules for jump balls are relatively relaxed, with penalties rarely called on players touching the ball before it has reached the peak of its throw.
A jump ball is executed at the start of a basketball game, also known as the opening tip or opening tip-off. It is also used to start any extra periods of play, or overtime. During the game, a jump ball may be called in special situations where penalties cancel out and neither team is previously entitled to the ball.
In the NBA, WNBA, and Euroleague Basketball, a jump ball occurs in the following situations:
- At the start of the game
- At the start of any extra period
- To settle situations where penalties cancel out and neither team has possession of the ball
- To settle any held balls, where two opposing players both lay equal claim to the ball and end up in a stalemate
- When there are different calls by two or more referees
- When the ball becomes wedged between the goal and backboard
College basketball uses the jump ball only at the beginning of the game. After that, it switches to the alternating possession arrow, where possession at the start of overtime is determined by the arrow, not a jump ball.
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How to execute a jump ball
A jump ball is a basketball tradition and a method to begin or resume play. It is used to determine which team will gain possession of the ball. The jump ball is executed by a referee who tosses the ball vertically into the air between two opposing players. The players then jump and attempt to tap the ball to a teammate.
There are a few rules that must be followed during a jump ball. Each player must have at least one foot on the half of the jumping circle that is farthest from their basket. Neither player is allowed to tap the ball more than twice, and they cannot catch the ball before it touches another player. If the ball is caught before it touches another player, possession is awarded to the other team. Additionally, players cannot leave their circle early.
Jump balls can occur at the start of the game, at the start of any extra periods, or to settle special situations where penalties cancel out and neither team is entitled to the ball. They can also be used to settle "held balls", which occur when two opposing players both have an equal claim to the ball and end up in a stalemate.
The style of the jump ball toss can vary and may include misdirection to catch players off guard. Some referees use a one-handed, two-handed, underhanded, or overhanded throwing style, while others, like Ken Mauer, have a unique style that involves taking multiple steps back and tossing the ball at an angle.
While the jump ball is a relatively unregulated part of basketball, with penalties rarely being called, it is an important tradition and plays a role in how basketball games begin and sometimes end.
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Jump ball rules
Jump Ball is one of basketball's oldest and most recognizable traditions. It is used to begin or resume play in basketball. The rules for jump balls are relatively relaxed, with penalties rarely called on players touching the ball before it has reached the peak of its throw. Here are the jump ball rules:
A jump ball is called when neither player can get control of the ball without excessive roughness, resulting in a stalemate. This is called a "held ball" situation. A jump ball may also be called if there are conflicting calls by two or more referees. Additionally, a jump ball occurs at the start of the game (called the opening tip or opening tip-off) and the start of any extra period (tip-off).
Execution of a Jump Ball
A jump ball is executed by the referee, who tosses the ball vertically into the air between two opposing players. These players jump and attempt to tap the ball to a teammate. Each jumper must have at least one foot within the jumping circle and neither player may leave their half of the circle until the ball has been tapped. The ball must be tapped by one of the players after it reaches its highest point. If it is not tapped, an official will whistle and signal another toss.
Violations
Violations during a jump ball include tapping the ball more than twice, catching the ball before it touches a teammate, or leaving the circle early. Any of these violations result in a loss of possession.
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History of the jump ball
The jump ball is one of basketball's oldest traditions, with James Naismith throwing the first-ever jump ball in 1891. Naismith's original rules for basketball included a jump ball at the start of each quarter and after every basket scored. Over time, the jump ball has been scaled back, with the NCAA changing the rules in 1937 to award possession after baskets to the scored-upon team. The NBA followed suit in 1949, and further reduced the use of jump balls in 1975, removing them for the second, third, and fourth quarters. The WNBA and Euroleague Basketball have since adopted the NBA's jump ball rules, while other leagues have implemented alternating possession rules.
In the NBA, WNBA, and Euroleague Basketball, a jump ball typically occurs at the start of the game (called the opening tip or opening tip-off), the start of any extra period, to settle special situations where penalties cancel out, and to settle held balls. A held ball occurs when two opposing players lay equal claim to the ball and end up in a stalemate. A jump ball may also be called in rare situations where the ball becomes wedged between the goal and backboard.
The rules for jump balls are relatively relaxed, with penalties rarely called on players touching the ball before it has reached its peak. This act of stealing the toss is a common tactic used by players to gain an advantage, with Shaquille O'Neal known for his ability to successfully steal tosses. Referees are often reluctant to call violations during jump balls, as they are an exciting part of the sport and occur at the start of play.
While the trajectory of a jump ball is typically delivered at a near-vertical angle, there is no requirement for this, and referees have their own unique throwing styles. Ken Mauer, for example, is known for taking multiple steps back and tossing the ball at an angle, similar to a volleyball set.
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Jump ball in different leagues
A jump ball is a method used to begin or resume play in basketball. It involves an official tossing the ball vertically into the air between two opposing players, who jump and try to tap it to a teammate on their side. While the concept is simple, the usage and rules of jump balls vary across different leagues.
NBA
The NBA uses jump balls more frequently than most other leagues. Apart from the opening tip-off, jump balls are used at the start of any extra period, to settle held balls, and in situations where penalties cancel out. The NBA rules state that players should touch the ball only after it has reached the peak of its throw, but ""stealing the toss"" is a common practice that is often tolerated. The NBA also has specific rules for violations, such as tapping the ball more than twice or leaving the circle early, which result in possession being awarded to the other team.
WNBA and Euroleague Basketball
The WNBA and Euroleague Basketball have adopted the NBA's jump ball rules. Similar to the NBA, a jump ball occurs at the start of the game and any extra periods, and it is used to settle held balls and conflicting referee calls.
NCAA and Amateur Leagues
The NCAA implemented alternating possession rules in 1981, which award possession sequentially after the opening tip-off at the beginning of the game. Most amateur leagues also use alternating possession systems, which create a balance between fairness and game flow while preserving the tradition of a tip-off.
3x3 Basketball
3x3 basketball, a formalized version of half-court three-on-three basketball, does not use jump balls at all. The first possession is determined by a pre-game coin toss, and held balls are automatically awarded to the defensive team.
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Frequently asked questions
A jump ball is a method used to begin or resume play in basketball. It involves an official tossing the ball vertically into the air between two opposing players who then jump and attempt to tap it to a teammate.
A jump ball is executed at the start of a basketball game, at the start of any extra period, and to settle held balls or special situations where penalties cancel out and neither team is entitled to the ball.
The rules for jump balls are relatively relaxed, with penalties rarely called. Some rules include: jumpers cannot tap the ball more than twice, catch it before it touches a teammate, or leave their circle early. The ball must also be tossed vertically, although the exact throwing style may vary.
A jump ball is used to fairly determine possession when two teams simultaneously have a claim to the ball. The team that gains first possession of the game will put the ball into play at their opponent's endline to begin the fourth period.
A held ball occurs when two opposing players both lay equal claim to the ball and, after trying to wrestle it from each other, end up in a stalemate. A jump ball is often used to resolve this situation.
