Substitution

19.2.1

A team may substitute a player(s) during a substitution opportunity.

19.2.2

A substitution opportunity starts when:

• For both teams, the ball becomes dead, the game clock is stopped and the referee has ended communication with the scorer's table.
• For both teams, the ball becomes dead following a successful last free throw.
• For the non-scoring team, a goal is scored when the game clock shows 2:00 minutes or less in the fourth quarter and in each overtime.

19.2.3

A substitution opportunity ends when the ball is at the disposal of a player for a throwin or for a first free throw.

19.2.4

A player who has become a substitute and a substitute who has become a player cannot respectively re-enter the game or leave the game until the ball becomes dead again after a game clock running period, unless:

• The team is reduced to fewer than 5 players on the court.
• The player entitled to the free-throws, as the result of the correction of an error, is on the team bench after having been legally substituted.

19.2.5

A substitution shall not be permitted to the scoring team when the game clock is stopped following a successful goal when the game clock shows 2:00 minutes or less in the fourth quarter and in each overtime, unless a referee has interrupted the game.

19.2.6

If the player receives any treatment or any assistance, that player must be substituted unless the team is reduced to fewer than 5 players on the court.

19.3.1

Only a substitute has the right to request a substitution. The substitute (not the head coach or the first assistant coach) shall go to the scorer’s table and ask clearly for a substitution, making the proper conventional sign with the hands, or sit on the substitution chair, ready to play immediately.

19.3.2

A substitution request may be cancelled only before the timer's signal has sounded for such a request.

19.3.3

When a substitution opportunity starts, the timer shall sound the signal to notify the referees that a request for a substitution has been made.

19.3.4

The substitute shall remain outside the boundary line until the referee blows the whistle, gives the substitution signal and beckons the substitute to enter the court.

19.3.5

The substituted player is permitted to go directly to the team bench without reporting either to the timer or the referee.

19.3.6

Substitutions shall be completed as quickly as possible. A player who has committed 5 fouls or has been disqualified must be substituted immediately (taking no more than 30 seconds). If there is a delay of the game, a time-out may be charged against the offending team. If the team has no time-out remaining, a technical foul for delaying the game may be charged against the head coach, entered as a 'B'.

19.3.7

If a substitution is requested during a time-out or during an interval of play other than the half-time interval, the substitute must report to the timer before entering the game.

19.3.8

If the free-throw shooter must be substituted because of

• being injured, or
• having committed 5 fouls, or
• having been disqualified, the free throw(s) must be attempted by the substitute who may not be substituted again until after having played in the next game clock running period.

19.3.9

If the request for a substitution is made by either team after the ball is at the disposal of the free-throw shooter for the first free throw, the substitution shall be granted if:

• The last free throw is successful.
• The last free throw, if not successful, is followed by a throw-in.
• A foul is committed between free throws. In this case, the free throw(s) shall be completed and the substitution shall be permitted before the new foul penalty is administered, unless otherwise stated in these rules.
• A foul is committed before the ball becomes live after the last free throw. In this case, the substitution shall be permitted before the new foul penalty is administered.
• A violation is committed before the ball becomes live after the last free throw. In this case, the substitution shall be permitted before the throw-in is administered. In the event of consecutive sets of free throws and/or possession of the ball resulting from more than 1 foul penalty, each set shall be treated separately.