The inbounder has five seconds once the ball is available.

How officials judge the throw-in

1. Identify why play stopped and where the throw-in should be administered under the competition's restart rule.
2. Decide whether the thrower has a designated spot or may run the end line after a made or awarded basket.
3. Start the count when the ball is at the thrower's disposal, either handed to the thrower, placed where it can be picked up, or otherwise made available under the rulebook.
4. Watch the boundary line, the thrower's feet, the defender's position, and whether teammates or opponents touch the ball legally.
5. If the throw-in is not released in time, or another throw-in violation happens first, stop play and award the ball to the opponent at the proper restart spot.

What an inbound pass is

An inbound pass is a pass from a player out of bounds to put the ball back in play. It follows violations, out-of-bounds plays, many fouls, held-ball or alternating-possession situations, timeouts, made baskets, and other dead-ball rulings. The exact spot depends on why play stopped and the rulebook being used.

The inbounder is out of bounds, but the ball is not simply free to be handled however the team wants. The thrower must pass the ball so it is legally touched on the court, and players on the court must respect boundary, screening, contact, and timing rules while trying to get open.

When the inbound count starts

The five-second throw-in count normally starts when the ball is at the inbounder's disposal. That is not always the same as the whistle, the scoreboard clock, or the moment players line up. If the official hands or bounces the ball to the thrower, the count begins when the thrower has it. If the rulebook allows the official to place the ball at the spot after a delay, the count can begin once the ball is available to be picked up.

To beat the count, the thrower must release a legal throw-in pass before the count reaches five. A pass that is still in the inbounder's hands when the count expires is a violation. After release, the play is judged by the normal rules for touching, location, fouls, and violations.

Where the inbounder may stand

Many throw-ins are from a designated spot. On those plays, the thrower may usually move backward from the line and may have limited side-to-side movement, but cannot turn the throw-in into a run along the sideline or end line. Stepping onto the court before releasing the ball, or leaving the allowed throw-in area, can create a violation.

After a made or awarded basket, many rulebooks allow the inbounding team to run the end line. That is a special restart privilege, not a rule for every baseline throw-in. A timeout, violation, foul, deflection, or other stoppage can change whether the next throw-in is a running end-line play or a designated-spot throw-in.

What the defense may do

Defenders may guard the throw-in, deny receivers, switch, trap, and pressure the pass as long as they stay legal. They cannot cross the boundary plane to interfere with the inbounder or the ball before the throw-in is released unless the rulebook permits a specific warning or penalty process. They also cannot hold, push, or illegally screen cutters trying to get open.

The boundary line is important. A defender standing close to the line may be legal, but reaching through the plane, contacting the thrower, or delaying the restart can draw a violation, warning, technical, or other penalty depending on the competition and whether the conduct is repeated or severe.

Not every five-second rule is an inbound rule

Basketball has several five-second ideas, and they are easy to mix together. The throw-in five-second count applies while the ball is out of bounds and being put back in play. A closely guarded count, where used, applies to a player holding or dribbling the ball while closely defended in a live-ball situation. Some competitions also have special post-up, free-throw, or delay rules with their own timing.

Because these counts are not identical across NBA, WNBA, FIBA, NCAA, NFHS, youth, and local rules, the safest general approach is to ask which rulebook is active and what status the ball has. A dead-ball throw-in count is different from a live-ball closely guarded count, even if both use five seconds.

Important exceptions

• Running the end line is limited: it commonly follows a made or awarded basket, but it does not automatically apply after every baseline restart.
• A timeout can change the situation: some competitions have special advance or restart rules after timeouts, while others keep the ordinary throw-in location and restrictions.
• Officials can administer after delay: if a team avoids taking the ball, the official may be allowed to place it at the throw-in spot and begin the count.
• Contact still matters: illegal screens, holds, pushes, and displacement away from the inbounder can be fouls even before the pass is caught.
• The ball must enter play legally: a throw-in cannot be used to step inbounds with the ball, pass to a teammate who is out of bounds, or create a direct scoring play unless the active rulebook specifically allows the result.

Common arguments

• "The count starts on the whistle" is not always right. The usual trigger is when the ball is at the thrower's disposal.
• "The inbounder can run anywhere behind the line" confuses running end-line plays with designated-spot throw-ins.
• "A defender can reach across if there is no contact" is too broad. Interfering through the boundary plane can be illegal even without heavy contact.
• "A tipped pass restarts the inbound count" misunderstands the play. Once the throw-in is legally released and touched as required, the throw-in count has ended.
• "Five seconds is the same rule everywhere" is wrong. The throw-in count is widely used, but related five-second rules and penalties vary by competition.

What officials look for

The administering official usually gives a visible count and watches the thrower, the boundary line, and nearby defenders. Other officials watch off-ball screens, cuts, holds, and contact because the most important illegal action may happen away from the inbounder.

If the inbounding team violates, the penalty is normally loss of possession and a throw-in for the opponent. If the defense violates or delays, the remedy can range from resetting the throw-in to a warning, technical, free throw, or possession consequence under the active rulebook.

Next basketball topics

• Timeout and substitution rules
• Shot clock and backcourt violations
• Personal fouls and free throws
• Three-second and lane violations
• Back to basketball overview

Source material

• FIBA Official Basketball Rules
• NBA Rulebook
• Official Rules of the WNBA
• NCAA Basketball Rules
• NFHS Basketball Rules