As a fan of basketball, you want to know everything about basketball. You are curious about the rules and violations, how the game is played, and how to be a better basketball player. But have you ever thought which of the two basketball teams that contend gets the ball at the start of each quarter?
The method basketball teams use to determine who gets the ball possession at the beginning of a quarter, half, or overtime depends on the basketball league where they play. In the NBA, the ball possession at the beginning of a quarter, half, or overtime is determined by a jump ball. I will explain this to you later in this article.
Let’s get deeper around this topic so that you will know how ball possession works in basketball. We are going to answer different questions related to our subject. Lastly, we are going to learn about the ball possession rules of various famous basketball leagues. If you are ready, let’s go!
The NBA Ball Possession Rule
In an NBA game, there is a jump ball that will happen at the very start of the first quarter. Two teams will choose their player, usually centers, to jump on the jump ball. The referee throws the ball up in the air, and the two centers will fight for the ball. The two players fighting for the ball should tap the ball to their teammates.
After the jump ball has happened, the team that wins the tip will get possession of the ball at the start of the first quarter and the fourth quarter. The team that lost the jump ball will get possession of the ball at the beginning of the second and third quarters.
Let me give you an example. For example, the Golden State Warriors and the Brooklyn Nets face off each other. The Warriors won the first jump ball. Warriors will get possession of the ball at the start of the first and fourth quarter.
On the other hand, because the Nets lost the tip, they will get possession of the ball at the beginning of the second and third quarters.
Overtime In The NBA
This is the common question of all new fans of the NBA. They ask who will get the first possession of the ball in overtime. Let me answer that.
Overtime is extra time and used if both teams were tied in the fourth quarter. Who gets the ball first? Simple! There will be another jump ball like in the first quarter, and whoever wins the tip will have possession of the ball. If there will be additional overtime, jump ball is also the way to determine who gets possession of the ball.
So, for example, again, the Warriors and the Nets. The Warriors and the Nets were tied, and they are going to overtime. They will go to the center of the court for a jump ball and whoever wins gets possession of the ball.
If they are still tied on the first overtime, they will go to the second overtime. They have to go to the center of the court again for a jump ball.
What Is Possession Arrow In Basketball?
This is also the common question of new basketball fans. They don’t know what is the use of the possession arrow. Well, I am here to tell everything to you about the possession arrow in basketball.
In College and high school basketball, they use a possession arrow to determine who receives the possession of the ball after a held ball, after a turnover, when the ball gets stuck on the rim, or after an offensive foul.
The possession arrow is placed at the sidelines on the scorer’s table. If the arrow is pointing on the team’s bench, it means that team gets the possession of the ball after a dead ball or jump ball. The possession arrow helps referees determine who gets possession of the ball without delaying or slowing the game.
At the start of the game, there will be a jump ball that will happen to determine who gets possession of the ball first. The team that loses the opening tip will have the possession arrow pointed to them.
When the referees are unsure who will get possession of the ball after a held ball or if the ball gets stuck on the rim, they will go to the possession arrow. The possession arrow will point to the bench of the team who will get possession of the ball after a turnover, or whatsoever that causes changes in possession of the ball.
The NBA and WNBA do not use possession arrows. Check the video below for a concise explanation of what a possession arrow is.
Overtime Possession Rule In Different Basketball Leagues
Now that you already know what the overtime possession rule is in the NBA, let’s check the other overtime possession rule of other famous basketball leagues.
High School Basketball
In high school basketball, if two teams are tied, they will go to overtime. The possession is not used, and it resets. There will be a jump ball in the middle of the court to determine who will get possession of the ball.
The team that wins the jump ball will get possession of the ball, while the team that loses the jump ball gets the arrow pointing at them. The other team can get possession of the ball if the other team scores or if any violation happens.
College Basketball
College basketball and high school basketball have the same rules. There will be a jump ball at the start of the overtime to determine who will get the ball first. The team that lost the possession will get the possession arrow pointing at them.
FIBA Basketball
The FIBA basketball league has different overtime possession rules. They don’t have a jump ball at the start of the overtime to determine who gets possession of the ball but by the alternating arrow.
The FIBA has a different way of determining who gets the ball first in overtime. The team with the arrow gets possession of the ball at the start of the overtime period. The arrow is switched to the other team like how it’s done at the beginning of a quarter.
WNBA
The WNBA and NBA have the same rules and regulations. So it means they follow the same overtime possession rule.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know who gets the ball at the start of each quarter in basketball, I hope it adds up to your basketball knowledge and helps you become a better basketball player. If you want to know more about basketball, go to the “learn better basketball” category or click here.
