Amanda Knapp
Basketball games can be intense, and sometimes the scores are tied at the end of the final quarter, resulting in overtime (OT). Overtime periods in basketball vary in duration depending on the league and level of competition. In the NBA, overtime periods are typically five minutes long, with no limit to the number of overtime sessions played until a winner is decided. Collegiate and Olympic basketball games may have overtime periods that are half the length of a standard quarter, such as four minutes for high school varsity. In exhibition games and some tournaments, overtime may be eliminated or used only if necessary to break an aggregate score tie. The rules and duration of overtime in basketball can vary, but the excitement of a close game extending beyond regulation time always adds to the thrill of the sport.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Overtime period duration | 5 minutes |
| Number of overtime periods | Unlimited; until a winner is determined |
| Time between regulation and overtime | 130 seconds |
| Timeouts per overtime period | 2 |
| Timeouts duration | 75 seconds |
| Halftime duration | 15 minutes |
| Regular quarter duration | 12 minutes |
| Regular game duration | 2-3 hours |
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What You'll Learn
Overtime length
The length of overtime in basketball varies depending on the league and level of competition.
In the NBA, overtime periods are five minutes long. There are 130 seconds between the end of regulation and overtime. If the score remains tied at the end of an overtime period, the teams will play another overtime period. There is no limit to the number of overtime periods that can be played until a winner is decided.
In NCAA college basketball, overtime periods are also typically five minutes long, with a one-minute intermission before each extra period. However, some sources indicate that overtime periods can be three minutes long, with two minutes of running time and one minute of stop time.
In high school varsity basketball, an overtime period is half the length of a standard quarter, typically four minutes.
In exhibition games and non-competitive play, the decision to play overtime is often left to the discretion of coaches and organizers, especially if it is a non-tournament game.
It's worth noting that overtime rules can vary slightly between different leagues and competitions, and there have been variations and experiments with overtime rules over time. For example, the NBA G League adopted a variation of the Elam Ending in regular-season games, using it as its overtime format.
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Jump ball start
A jump ball is a method used to begin or resume play in basketball. It involves two opposing players attempting to gain control of the ball after an official tosses it into the air between them. The jump ball is used to start the game, with the arrow pointing towards the team that lost the opening tip. The arrow then swaps to point to the other team.
James Naismith's original rules for basketball included a jump ball to begin every quarter and after every basket scored. However, the NBA and NCAA dropped jump balls after baskets in the mid-20th century. In 1975, the NBA stopped using jump balls for 2nd-4th quarter possession, instead granting automatic possession in the second and third quarters to the team losing the opening tip, and possession in the fourth to the team that won the first tip. The NCAA implemented alternating possession rules in 1981, which award possession sequentially for all jump ball situations after the opening tip at the beginning of the game.
The WNBA and Euroleague Basketball have adopted the NBA's jump ball rules, while other leagues have implemented alternating possession. It is important to note that 3x3, a formalized version of half-court three-on-three basketball overseen by FIBA, does not use a jump ball at any time in a game. Instead, the first possession is based on the result of a pre-game coin toss, with the winner choosing to have the first possession at the start of the game or during a potential overtime.
During overtime periods in basketball, a jump ball is used under high school and NCAA rules, with the arrow reset based on the results of the jump ball to start each overtime. The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), which uses a quarter-possession rule to start periods after the opening jump, also uses a jump ball.
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Fouls and timeouts
The duration of overtime in basketball depends on the league. In the NBA, overtime periods are five minutes long. If the score remains tied after the first overtime, the game will continue to a second and so on until a winner is determined. Each team is awarded two timeouts at the beginning of the overtime period, and all personal fouls are carried over to overtime.
In NCAA college basketball, the rules are similar, with overtime periods also lasting five minutes. However, each team is granted only one 75-second timeout. Any unused timeouts from regulation are rolled over to overtime.
In recreational basketball, overtime periods are three minutes long, with one minute of stop time and a one-minute intermission before the extra period.
Fouls play a significant role in basketball, and the rules regarding fouls can vary slightly between different leagues and organizations. In the NBA, for example, a technical foul may be called for unsportsmanlike conduct, such as a deliberately thrown elbow or unnatural physical act towards an opponent without contact. A player who commits their fifth foul will be disqualified, and a player or coach who receives two technical fouls, one flagrant foul, or one flagrant technical foul will be ejected from the game. Personal fouls carry over into overtime, and free throws may be awarded for fouls committed during the game.
In recreational basketball, team foul totals and individual foul totals are recorded. Similar to the NBA, a player committing their fifth foul will be disqualified, and a player or coach will be ejected after committing two technical fouls, one flagrant foul, or one flagrant technical foul. Free throws are awarded for all fouls committed on a player in the act of shooting and for all fouls committed after the fourth team foul. The fifth team foul and subsequent fouls result in two bonus free throws. It's important to note that foul totals are reset to zero after each quarter, except during overtime.
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Instant replay review
- Determining whether a shot was a two- or three-pointer.
- Reviewing out-of-bounds plays.
- Assessing goaltending or basket interference violations.
- Determining if a player was fouled while shooting.
- Verifying if an unsportsmanlike act or unnecessary contact occurred.
- Checking for flopping violations during the last two minutes of the fourth period or overtime.
- Confirming the correct number of players on the court during play.
In overtime periods, instant replay reviews are particularly crucial in the final two minutes. During this time, the ball can be passed anywhere on the court during inbound plays, and the timing devices are stopped following a successful field goal attempt. Reviews during this period focus on ensuring the accuracy of calls related to the shot clock, field goals, and fouls.
The NBA's Replay Center in Secaucus, New Jersey, plays a vital role in the process, providing referees with multiple camera angles and technical support in real time. The introduction and expansion of instant replay reviews have significantly improved the accuracy and fairness of officiating in the NBA, reducing human error and ensuring the integrity of the sport.
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High school rules
Overtime (OT) in basketball is an additional period of play to determine a winner and avoid a draw when the game is tied at the end of regulation time. The duration of overtime varies across different levels of basketball, from high school to professional leagues.
For high school basketball, the rules and duration of overtime can differ depending on the state and conference. Most high school leagues set the duration of an overtime period at 4 minutes. This is in contrast to the 5-minute overtime periods typically seen in professional, college, and international basketball.
In high school basketball, the format of overtime is generally similar to that of college and professional basketball. Successive 4-minute overtime periods are played until the tie is broken and a winner is determined. Teams usually receive an additional timeout in each overtime period, and personal and team fouls carry over from regulation play.
It is worth noting that some sources suggest that the duration of overtime in high school basketball could be influenced by state guidelines and may vary. For example, one source mentions that the playing time for high school-aged players is 8 minutes, while 9th grade is specified as 7 minutes in a particular area. Therefore, while 4 minutes is the standard duration for high school overtime, there may be regional variations to consider.
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Frequently asked questions
An NBA overtime lasts for five minutes.
Each team is allowed two timeouts in an overtime period.
During the last two minutes of an overtime period, the ball may be passed anywhere on the court during inbound plays.
No, the NBA does not have unique overtime rules in the postseason.
High school rules vary depending on the state, but most will have a sudden-death overtime where the game ends upon scoring a golden goal.
