Amanda Knapp
The possession arrow is a rule in basketball that determines which team gets the ball when possession is in question. It is used in college basketball and youth sports, but not in professional basketball leagues like the NBA, which uses a jump ball to determine possession. The arrow points towards the basket the team with possession is shooting at and alternates between the two teams when possession is established. At halftime, the arrow is flipped to account for the teams switching ends of the court, and the team that had possession at the end of the first half will still have it to begin the second.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is the possession arrow? | Officially known as the alternating-possession procedure, it is defined in the NCAA rulebook as "a method of putting the ball in play with a throw-in rather than a jump ball." |
| When is it used? | When there is an alternating-possession situation, which can include a held ball, a free-throw violation, a technical foul, or a live ball becoming wedged between the backboard and the rim. |
| How does it work? | The possession arrow determines which team gets possession of the ball when there is a question of possession without having to do a jump ball. The arrow points towards the basket the team with possession is shooting at. |
| When does it change direction? | The arrow changes direction when possession is established by the team it is pointing towards. It also changes direction when teams switch ends of the court at halftime and after a jump ball during overtime. |
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What You'll Learn
The possession arrow is reset if the game goes into overtime
The possession arrow, also known as the alternating-possession procedure, is a rule in basketball that differentiates college basketball from professional basketball. It is a method of putting the ball in play with a throw-in rather than a jump ball. This rule comes into play during an alternating-possession situation, which can include a held ball, a free-throw violation, or a technical foul, when no team is in control.
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 tip-off. Once that happens, the arrow 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.
When the game goes into overtime, the possession arrow is reset. Overtime begins with a jump ball, and the team that loses this jump ball is awarded the possession arrow. This process is repeated until the game ends. If additional overtime periods are needed, the arrow is reset again after the initial jump ball.
The possession arrow is a rule that is utilized in high school, college, and FIBA basketball competitions. However, it is not used in professional leagues such as the NBA and WNBA, which still use the jump ball to settle disputes.
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The arrow alternates to the team that lost the opening tip-off
The possession arrow is a unique feature of college basketball, differentiating it from professional basketball. It is officially known as the alternating-possession procedure. The possession arrow is used in situations where possession cannot be determined, such as a held ball, a free-throw violation, or a technical foul. It is a method of putting the ball in play with a throw-in rather than a jump ball, which is used in professional basketball.
The possession arrow comes into play after the opening tip-off. If Team 1 wins the opening tip-off, the possession arrow will point towards the basket of Team 2, indicating that Team 2 will be awarded possession the next time an alternating-possession situation occurs. This ensures that the team that lost the opening tip-off has a chance to gain possession without needing a jump ball.
The direction of the arrow is crucial as it indicates which team will gain possession. The arrow points towards the basket that the team with possession is attacking. For example, if Team A has the arrow, it will point towards the basket that Team A is shooting at. This helps the players and officials clearly understand which team should be in possession.
It's important to note that the possession arrow is not concerned with time. This can lead to interesting strategic decisions and clock management, especially when a half is coming to an end. Teams may fight for possession, only to lose it at a critical moment, impacting the outcome of the game.
Additionally, the possession arrow is reset at halftime when teams switch ends of the court. This ensures that the team that had possession at the end of the first half will still have it at the start of the second half. If the game goes into overtime, the possession arrow is reset again, and overtime begins with a jump ball, following the same format as the start of the game.
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It points to the basket the team with possession is attacking
The possession arrow is a rule that differentiates college basketball from professional basketball. It is defined in the NCAA rulebook as "a method of putting the ball in play with a throw-in rather than a jump ball."
The possession arrow is used on held balls where possession cannot be determined. This is often the case in youth sports, where young players are still learning the game and may be unsure of the rules regarding possession. In these situations, the possession arrow provides a clear indication of which team should have possession of the ball.
The arrow points towards the basket the team with possession is attacking. For example, if Team A has the arrow, it will point towards the basket they are shooting at. This visual indication helps both players and spectators easily identify which team is in possession and their strategic direction.
The arrow is dynamic and changes direction based on the flow of the game. When possession is established by one team, the arrow flips to indicate that the other team will receive possession during the next alternating-possession situation. This could include scenarios such as a held ball, a free-throw violation, or a technical foul.
Additionally, the possession arrow is adjusted during the halftime break to account for the teams switching ends of the court. This ensures that the team that had possession at the end of the first half will still have it to begin the second half, but now they will be attacking the opposite basket. This adjustment maintains fairness and ensures that each team has equal opportunities to attack both ends of the court.
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It is used in college basketball, not the NBA
The possession arrow is a rule that differentiates college basketball from professional basketball. Officially known as the alternating-possession procedure, it is used in college basketball (NCAA) but not in the NBA. It is defined in the NCAA rulebook as "a method of putting the ball in play with a throw-in rather than a jump ball".
The possession arrow is used during an alternating-possession situation, which can include a held ball, a free-throw violation, or a technical foul when no team is in control. It is also used when a live ball becomes wedged between the backboard and the rim. Every NCAA basketball game starts with a jump ball at centre 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-off. This team will be given the ball when the next alternating-possession situation occurs. The arrow points towards the basket the team is attacking.
The direction of the arrow is changed prior to the start of the second half to account for the teams switching ends of the court. This ensures that the team that had possession at the end of the first half will still have it to begin the second. If the game goes to overtime, the possession arrow is reset, and overtime begins with a jump ball. If additional overtime periods are needed, the arrow is also reset after the initial jump ball.
The possession arrow is used in college basketball to speed up the game and prevent players from getting hurt or having a gross mismatch in size during a jump ball.
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The arrow is flipped after possession is established
The possession arrow is a rule that differentiates college basketball from professional basketball. It is defined in the NCAA rulebook as "a method of putting the ball in play with a throw-in rather than a jump ball." This rule comes into play during an alternating-possession situation, which can include a held ball, a free-throw violation, or a technical foul when no team is in control.
If the ball goes out of bounds, either on its own or off the hands of a player, it goes to the other team, and the arrow is flipped. The arrow can also be flipped mid-game if a referee calls a jump ball. In this case, the arrow determines which team gets possession of the ball without having to jump for it.
The possession arrow is used to speed up the game and prevent players from getting hurt or mismatched during a jump ball. It provides a means to quickly determine possession and keep the game flowing.
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Frequently asked questions
The possession arrow is used in basketball to determine which team gets possession of the ball without having to do a jump ball. It is used in college basketball to speed up the game and prevent players from getting hurt.
The possession arrow works by pointing towards the basket that the team with possession is shooting at. The arrow is flipped after possession has been established, and it belongs to the team that did not win the opening tip-off.
The possession arrow changes when the ball is successfully inbounded or goes out of bounds. It also changes at halftime when teams switch ends of the court, and in the case of overtime, the arrow is reset and a jump ball is done.
