RULE NO. 2—OFFICIALS AND THEIR DUTIES
Section VI—Correcting Errors
A. FREE THROWS
B. LINEUP POSITIONS
C. START OF PERIOD—POSSESSION
D. RECORD KEEPING
Officials may correct an error if a rule is inadvertently set aside and results in the following:
(1) A team not shooting a merited free throw
EXCEPTION: If the offensive team scores or shoots earned free throws on the next possession which occurred due to not attempting a merited free throw, the error shall be ignored.
(2) A team shooting an unmerited free throw
(3) Permitting the wrong player to attempt a free throw
a. Officials shall be notified of a possible error at the first dead ball.
b. Errors which occur in the first, second or third periods must be discovered and rectified prior to the start of the next period.
c. Errors which occur in the fourth period or overtime(s) must be discovered and rectified prior to the end of the period.
d. The ball is not in play on corrected free throw attempt(s). Play is resumed at the same spot and under the same conditions as would have prevailed had the error not been discovered.
e. All play that occurs is to be nullified if the error is discovered within a 24-second time period. The game clock shall be reset to the time that the error occurred.
EXCEPTION (1): Acts of unsportsmanlike conduct, and points scored therefrom, shall not be nullified.
EXCEPTION (2): Free throw attempt resulting from an illegal defense violation.
EXCEPTION (3): Free throw attempt(s) resulting from a personal foul which is a clear path to the basket, or a flagrant foul—penalty (1).
NOTE: The game clock shall not be reset in (2) and (3) above.
If the first period or overtime(s) begins with jumpers lined up incorrectly, and the error is discovered:
(1) After more than 24 seconds has elapsed, the teams will continue to shoot for that basket.
(2) If 24 seconds or less has elapsed, all play shall be nullified.
EXCEPTION: Acts of unsportsmanlike conduct, and points scored therefrom, shall not be nullified.
a. The game clock shall be reset to 12:00 or 5:00, respectively.
b. The 24-second clock shall be reset to 24.
(EXAMPLE: 12:00 to 11:36 or 5:00 to 4:36—Restart; 12:00 to 11:35 or 5:00 to 4:35—Do not restart).
If the second, third or fourth period begins with the wrong team being awarded possession, and the error is discovered:
(1) after 24 seconds has elapsed, the error cannot be corrected.
(2) with 24 seconds or less having elapsed, all play shall be nullified.
EXCEPTION: Acts of unsportsmanlike conduct, and points scored therefrom, shall not be nullified.
A record keeping error by the official scorer which involves the score, number of personal fouls and/or timeouts may be corrected by the officials at any time prior to the end of the fourth period. Any such error which occurs in overtime must be corrected prior to the end of that period.
