Helena Frye
The possession arrow in basketball is used to determine which team gets the ball after a jump ball situation. The arrow points in the direction of the basket that the team with possession of the ball is attacking. This arrow is flipped at halftime when teams switch baskets. The possession arrow is used in most competitions other than the NBA, WNBA, and Euroleague Basketball, which use jump balls more frequently. The use of the possession arrow has been a topic of controversy, with advocates of the system arguing that it is fairer, while opponents argue that jump balls are a vital part of the sport.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| When does the possession arrow come into play? | The possession arrow is used when two players from opposing teams simultaneously gain possession of the ball. |
| How does it work? | The arrow points in the direction of the basket the team is attacking. If Team A has the arrow, the arrow points towards the basket they are shooting at. |
| When is the arrow reversed? | The arrow is reversed when the team with possession inbounds the ball. It is also reversed if any player touches and causes the ball to go out of bounds, or if the team with possession commits a throw-in violation. |
| What happens at halftime? | Since teams switch baskets at halftime, the arrow is flipped to point towards the other basket. The team with the possession arrow at halftime is awarded the throw-in to begin the second half. |
| What happens in overtime? | If the game goes into overtime, the possession arrow is reset, and overtime begins with a jump ball. If additional overtime periods are needed, the arrow is reset after the initial jump ball. |
| Which leagues use the possession arrow? | Most competitions other than the NBA, WNBA, and Euroleague Basketball use the possession arrow to settle jump ball situations. College basketball uses the possession arrow only at the beginning of the game. |
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What You'll Learn
- How the possession arrow works at the start of a basketball game?
- How the possession arrow works when the ball goes out of bounds?
- How the possession arrow works in overtime?
- How the possession arrow works when there is a jump ball?
- How the possession arrow works in relation to the direction of the team's basket?
How the possession arrow works at the start of a basketball game
The possession arrow is used in basketball to determine which team gets possession of the ball after the opening tip-off. Every basketball game starts with a jump ball at the centre of the court. The possession arrow remains off until one team gains possession of the ball after the tip-off. Once that happens, the arrow is turned on and points in the direction of the team that lost the opening tip.
Let's say Team A wins the opening tip-off. The possession arrow then points towards Team B, who lost the opening tip. Team B will be given the ball when the next alternating-possession situation happens. If Team B successfully inbounds the ball, the arrow will be reversed to point to Team A. The arrow will also be reversed if any player touches and causes the ball to go out of bounds, or if the team that threw in the ball commits a throw-in violation. However, any foul committed by either team during a throw-in attempt will not result in the reversal of the possession arrow.
The possession arrow is also used when the game goes into overtime. If the game goes into overtime, the possession arrow is reset, and since overtime begins with a jump ball, the arrow adheres to the same format it did at the start of the game. If additional overtime periods are needed, the arrow will be reset again after the initial jump ball.
The use of the possession arrow is not universal across all basketball leagues. The NBA, WNBA, and Euroleague Basketball use a jump ball to determine possession after the opening tip, rather than a possession arrow. The possession arrow is also not used in 3x3, a formalized version of half-court three-on-three basketball overseen by FIBA.
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How the possession arrow works when the ball goes out of bounds
The possession arrow is used in college basketball to speed up the game, prevent injuries, and avoid size mismatches during a jump ball. It is a way to determine which team gets the ball without having the players jump for it.
The possession arrow remains off until one team gains possession of the ball after the tip-off. Once that happens, it is turned on and points in the direction of the team that lost the opening tip. This team will be given the ball when the next alternating-possession situation occurs.
If the ball goes out of bounds, the arrow will be reversed if a player touches the ball and causes it to go out. However, if no player touches the ball before it goes out of bounds, the same team will retain possession.
For example, let's say Team 1 lost the opening tip and gained possession after the next alternating-possession situation. If a player from Team 1 touches the ball and causes it to go out of bounds, the arrow will be reversed, and Team 2 will get possession. On the other hand, if no player touches the ball before it goes out, Team 1 will keep possession.
The possession arrow is reset during overtime, which begins with a jump ball, and adheres to the same format as the start of the game.
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How the possession arrow works in overtime
The possession arrow in basketball is used to indicate which team should be awarded possession in a jump-ball situation. This is done to speed up the game and prevent players from getting hurt during a jump ball.
In the case of overtime, the possession arrow is reset, and since overtime begins with a jump ball, the arrow adheres to the same format it did to start the game. That is, the arrow points towards the team that lost the opening tip-off, and that team is awarded possession. If additional overtime periods are needed, the arrow will also be reset after the initial jump ball.
The possession arrow is flipped after possession has been established, and it points in the direction of the basket the team with possession is attacking. For example, if Team A has the arrow, the arrow points towards the basket Team A is shooting at. The arrow is also reversed if any player touches and causes the ball to go out of bounds, or if the team in possession commits a throw-in violation.
It's worth noting that not all basketball competitions use the possession arrow. The NBA, WNBA, and Euroleague Basketball use a jump ball to begin overtime, rather than the possession arrow.
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How the possession arrow works when there is a jump ball
The possession arrow, also known as the alternating-possession procedure, is a rule in basketball that differentiates college basketball from professional basketball. The rule was adopted in 1981 because referees were not able to consistently ensure fair tosses.
The possession arrow comes into play during an alternating-possession situation, which can include a held ball, a free-throw violation, a technical foul, or when no team is in control and a live ball becomes wedged between the backboard and the rim.
Every basketball game starts with a jump ball at center court. The possession arrow remains off until one team gains possession of the ball after the initial tip-off. Once that happens, the arrow turns on and points in the direction of the team that lost the opening tip. This team will be given the ball when the next alternating-possession situation occurs.
If there is a jump ball during the game, the possession arrow determines which team gets possession of the ball without having to jump for it. The arrow indicates which team will get the next jump ball, and possession of the ball is awarded to the team that is moving in the direction of the arrow on offense. The arrow then swaps to point to the other team.
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How the possession arrow works in relation to the direction of the team's basket
The possession arrow in basketball is used to indicate which team should be given possession of the ball when a held ball or jump ball situation occurs, where possession cannot be determined. This is done to speed up the game and prevent players from getting hurt or mismatched during a jump ball.
The possession arrow works in relation to the direction of the team's basket by pointing towards the basket that the team with possession of the arrow is shooting at. For example, if Team A has possession of the arrow, it will point towards the basket that Team A is attacking. The arrow is flipped by the scorekeeper or table personnel when teams switch baskets at halftime, so that the team that had the arrow at halftime is awarded the throw-in to begin the second half.
The possession arrow is also used at the start of the game, where it points to the team that lost the opening tip-off. This is because the arrow belongs to the team that did not win the opening tipoff, and it immediately flips to the other team once the ball is successfully inbounded.
In overtime, the possession arrow is reset, and since overtime begins with a jump ball, it adheres to the same format as the start of the game.
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Frequently asked questions
The possession arrow is used in basketball to determine which team should be given possession of the ball after a jump ball situation.
At the start of the game, the arrow points to the team that lost the opening tip. The arrow then swaps to point to the other team. Whenever a jump ball situation occurs, possession of the ball is awarded to the team that is moving in the direction of the arrow on offense.
The possession arrow is reset if the game goes into overtime. Since overtime begins with a jump ball, the arrow adheres to the same format as the start of the game.
A jump ball is a method used to begin or resume play in basketball. It involves an official tossing the ball into the air between two opposing players, who attempt to gain control of the ball.
