Section 5: Rules of Play
Game Duration
A FIBA game consists of 4 × 10-minute quarters (40 minutes total), compared to the NBA's 4 × 12-minute quarters (48 minutes):
- Quarters: 4 periods of 10 minutes each
- Half-time interval: 15 minutes (can be extended to 20 minutes for major events)
- Between quarters: 2-minute interval between the first and second quarters and between the third and fourth quarters
- Before overtime: 2-minute interval
Shot Clock (24 Seconds)
The offensive team must attempt a shot that hits the rim within 24 seconds — same as the NBA. However, reset rules differ:
- Full reset (24 seconds): After a change of possession, after the ball goes out of bounds off the defensive team in the backcourt
- Reset to 14 seconds: After an offensive rebound (if 14 or more seconds remain, the clock continues), after a ball out of bounds off the defensive team in the frontcourt, after a foul by the defensive team
- Key difference: When the shot clock shows fewer than 14 seconds and the offensive team gains a new possession in the frontcourt (e.g., off a throw-in), it resets to 14 — not 24
Backcourt Rule (8 Seconds)
The offensive team must advance the ball past half court within 8 seconds of gaining possession in the backcourt. The NBA uses a 10-second backcourt rule.
Starting Play
- Jump ball: Only used to start the game (first quarter) and each overtime period
- Alternating possession: All subsequent held ball and jump ball situations are resolved using the alternating possession arrow. The team that did not gain possession from the opening tip gets the next alternating possession. The second and third quarters also begin with alternating possession (no jump ball).
- NBA comparison: The NBA also uses alternating possession for held balls but starts each quarter/overtime with a jump ball
Timeouts
FIBA timeout rules are much more restrictive than the NBA:
- First half: 2 timeouts per team
- Second half: 3 timeouts per team (maximum 2 in the last 2 minutes)
- Overtime: 1 timeout per team per overtime period
- Duration: 60 seconds each
- Unused timeouts: Cannot be carried over from the first half to the second half
- NBA comparison: NBA grants 7 timeouts per game (75 seconds each), with 2 mandatory per quarter
Overtime
- If the score is tied at the end of the fourth quarter, a 5-minute overtime period is played — same as NBA
- Overtime starts with a jump ball at center court
- Each team receives 1 timeout per overtime period
- Additional overtime periods continue until a winner is determined
- Personal fouls and team fouls carry over from regulation
Personal Foul Limit
A player who commits 5 personal fouls (including technical fouls) is disqualified and must leave the game. The NBA allows 6 personal fouls before disqualification.