Alternating possession and Arrow

Alternating possession is a way of putting the ball in play by a throw-in at the start of the second, third, and fourth quarter.

The possession arrow is a device located at the scorers’ table and is used to indicate the direction of a teams’ basket for the alternating-possession procedure. It is used in held ball situations and as mentioned before the beginning of the second, third, and fourth quarter.

Once a team gains control of the ball to start the game, after the jump ball, alternating-possession control is established and the possession arrow is set toward the opponent’s basket. 

Jump Ball

A jump ball is a way of putting the ball into play to start the game and each overtime period by throwing the ball up between two opponents in the center restraining circle.

 The jump ball starts when the ball leaves the official’s hand(s) and ends when the touched ball touches a nonjumper, the floor, a basket, or backboard.

                                                              

This rule can be found in the NFHS Rule Book under Rule 4 Section 2, 3, 28  

Jump Ball Violation

An important thing to note that the two players involved in the jump ball are not allowed to come down with possession of the ball. They are supposed to tap the ball to their teammates, so that they can gain possession of the ball. If the ball were to contact a nonjumper, the floor, the basket, or the backboard then the jumper can posses the ball, because the ball never touched any of those it makes the video example above a jump ball violation and the ball is given to Toronto and the arrow would then be given to Chicago.

The jump ball is supposed to the way every basketball game is started; however there are some situations where the jump ball process is skipped. If for an official were to give a technical foul to a player or a team before the game, then the game would start with opposing team shooting two foul shots and beginning the game with possession of the ball. The alternating-possession arrow would then be directed to the team that was given the technical foul.

The alternating-possession not only changes at the start of every quarter, it also changes on situations when there is a held ball.

Held Ball

A held ball occurs when:

          Opponents have their hands so firmly on the ball that no one can gain control without "undue roughness."

            

            A defender places his/her hand(s) on the ball and prevents an airborne player from throwing the ball or releasing it on a try.

People commonly forget that the alternating-possession arrow changes on a held ball so when the quarter begins teams believe that they should be entitled to possession of the ball even though there was a held ball situation causing the arrow to change during the course of the quarter.

It seems at least five times a year I have to spend a minute or two explaining to either the coaches or players the reason they are not beginning the quarter with possession even though they lost the jump ball at the beginning of the game.