Great Lakes Basketball Officials Consortium

The most impactful changes this season involve game-clock administration.

Re-Starting the Clock 5-9-5 (New) In the last 59.9 seconds of each quarter and overtime period, a minimum of three-tenths (0.3) of a second must expire from the game clock when the ball is legally touched by a player inbounds after a throw-in. The rule, however, does not apply if the game clock does not display tenths of a second.

Rationale: When play is resumed with a throw-in or unsuccessful free throw, a player may not gain control and attempt a try without at least .3 seconds expiring from the game clock. This change aligns with existing provisions related to tap attempts found in Rule 5-2-5.

PLAY 1: With 34.2 on the game clock, team A attempts a throw-in and (a) the ball is immediately deflected out of bounds by B1, or (b) the ball is immediately kicked by B1. The timer does not start the game clock.
RULING: In (a), the referee should instruct the timer to reset the game clock to 33.9 because the ball was legally touched. In (b), the clock should remain at 34.2 since the ball was kicked and not legally touched.

PLAY 2: With 2.8 seconds remaining on the game clock at the end of the third quarter, thrower A‑5 passes the ball, which is immediately deflected out of bounds by B‑3. The game clock was not properly started and is still showing 2.8 seconds left.
RULING: The Referee will direct the timer to adjust the clock to 2.5 seconds remaining.

PLAY 3: With 2.8 seconds remaining on the game clock at the end of the third quarter, free thrower A‑5 attempts a try that is unsuccessful. B‑5 rebounds the ball and immediately requests a time‑out. The game clock was not properly started and is still showing 2.8 seconds left.
RULING: The Referee will direct the timer to adjust the clock to 2.5 seconds remaining

Rule 5-10-2 now specifically permits officials to use either a visible count or a silent count as definite knowledge when correcting timing errors. A note was added to allow officials to utilize a silent count in the event of a clock malfunction. If an officials determines the clock was not started or stopped properly, a silent count may be used as definitive knowledge to correct the timing mistake (see PlayPics A and B below)

This change provides much-needed support for officials dealing with clock malfunctions or situations where the timer fails to start the clock properly. Officials have long used silent counts to apply the three-second rule. The new language formally recognizes this practice and provides rules support when adjustments to the game clock are necessary.

Rationale: Officials currently utilize visible counts for backcourt violations, closely guarded situations, and three-second violations. This change permits officials to also maintain silent counts that may be used as definite knowledge in correcting timing mistakes under Rule 5-10-1.

PLAY 1: Team A has a frontcourt endline throw-in with one second remaining in the second quarter. A1 releases the throw-in pass, which is immediately and legally tipped by B2. As the officials begins a silent count, A3 receives the pass at the top of the key and attempts a successful three-point try before the horn sounds.
RULING: No goal. The silent count gives the official definitive knowledge that the game clock did not start properly.

All technical fouls committed during the same dead-ball period are considered to be at approximately the same time for purposes of offsetting their penalties, and play would resume at the point of interruption (see PlayPic E)

a. All technical fouls are considered to have occurred at approximately the same time for offsetting penalty purposes;
b. All fouls are recorded and penalties identified;
c. If an unequal number of technical fouls are committed, play resumes as though the final single technical foul was the only foul committed; and
d. If penalties cancel for equal technical fouls, play resumes at the point of interruption.

Rationale: This proposal clarifies that all technical fouls occurring during the same dead-ball period are treated as occurring at approximately the same time.

PLAY 1: With 14 minutes left in warmups, team A dunks the ball. With five minutes remaining in warmups, the scorer notifies an official that team B has not supplied the name and number of each team member, nor have they designated the five starting players.
RULING: Since both teams were assessed an equal number of technical fouls during the same dead-ball period, teh penalties are charged and offset. Each team is charged with one technical foul, which counts toward the bonus. No free throws are awarded, and the game will start with a jump ball.

PLAY 2: With seven minutes remaining in pregame warmups, team A’s head coach informs the scorer that a player’s number needs to be changed in the scorebook. Immediately after, team B dunks. As teams are walking to their bench with less than a minute remaining in the pregame, B1 taunts Team A.
RULING: All fouls occur in the same dead-ball period but not in equal numbers. Team A is charged with one technical foul, which counts toward the bonus, for the scorebook issue, Team B is charged with two technical fouls, which count toward the bonus – one technical for dunking and the second for B1’s taunting, which is also charged to B1 and counts as one of B1’s five for disqualification. Team B’s head coach is charged with an indirect technical foul because of the unsporting technical foul charged to B1 and loses the privilege of the coaching box. Team A will shoot two free throws, plus be awarded the ball for a division-line throw-in to start the game.

Play is stopped when there is team control, a goal is scored, or another official stoppage occurs. When play is properly stopped, the ensuing resumption is administered under the appropriate rule for the situation, rather than using the alternating possession procedure. (This is NOT a rule change; rule 6-4-4g is now eliminated after inadvertently being left in the rulebook after the rule change in 2025-2026, which addressed faking being fouled).

PLAY 1: A1 attempts a try for goal and falls to the ground after releasing the ball. While the try is unsuccessful, and before the ball is controlled, the referee sounds the whistle for A1 faking being fouled.
RULING: Since neither team is in control, play shall be resumed with an alternating possession throw-in.

Rationale: The provision is no longer necessary due to the 2025-26 interpretation change modifying procedures for addressing faking being fouled situations.

When an infraction occurs on a throw-in, the location of the violation is the original throw-in spot. If the original throw-in spot is NOT one of the eight designated spots, the ensuing throw-in is moved to one of the eight spots.

PLAY 1: In their backcourt, team B has a throw-in, B1 passes the ball across the court, but the ball goes out of bounds on the opposite sideline before touching any players.
RULING: Team A is awarded a throw-in, which is now in their frontcourt. Since team B committed a throw-in violation, team A is awarded a designated-spot throw-in at the 28-foot mark along the sideline nearest the original throw-in spot.

Rationale: Prior to designated throw-in spots, all throw-in violations were administered from the original throw-in location. Language referencing the original throw-in spot was inadvertently removed following implementation of designated throw-in spots. This change restores that language and clarifies administration procedures.