NFHS Basketball Rules Rule 4: Definitions
Exam 2026/2027 Updated Verified
Questions and Solutions A+ Pass
Guaranteed
4-1-1
- ANS - AIRBORNE SHOOTER
An airborne shooter is a player who has released the ball on a try or tap
for a goal or has tapped the ball and has not returned to the floor.
4-1-2
- ANS - AIRBORNE SHOOTER
The airborne shooter is considered to be in the act of shooting.
4-2-1
- ANS - ALTERNATING POSSESSION AND ARROW
Alternating possession is the method of putting the ball in play by a
throw-in as outlined in Rule 6-4.
4-2-2
- ANS - ALTERNATING POSSESSION AND ARROW
The possession arrow is a device located at the scorer's table which is
used to indicate the direction of a teams basket for the alternating-
possession procedure.
,4-3
- ANS - SETTING DIRECTION OF THE INITIAL ARROW
Alternating-possession control is established and the initial direction of
the possession arrow is set towards the opponent's basket when:
4-3-1
- ANS - SETTING DIRECTION OF THE INITIAL ARROW
A player secures control of the ball, as after the jump ball beginning the
game and each extra period.
4-3-2
- ANS - SETTING DIRECTION OF THE INITIAL ARROW
The ball is placed at the disposal of the free thrower after a common foul
when the bonus free throw is in effect.
4-3-3
- ANS - SETTING DIRECTION OF THE INITIAL ARROW
The ball is placed at the disposal of the thrower after:
a. A violation during or following the jump before a player secures
control
b. The free-throws for a non-common foul
c. A common foul before the bonus free throw is in effect.
NOTE: This procedure is used only to establish the alternating-possession
procedure. See Rule 6-4 for using the procedure and reversing the
possession arrow.
,4-4-1
- ANS - BALL LOCATION (STATUS), AT DISPOSAL
A ball which is in contact with a player or with the court is in the
backcourt if either the ball or the player (either player if the ball is
touching more than one) is touching the backcourt.
4-4-2
- ANS - BALL LOCATION (STATUS), AT DISPOSAL
A ball which is in contact with a player or with the court is in the
frontcourt if neither the ball nor the player is touching the backcourt.
4-4-3
- ANS - BALL LOCATION (STATUS), AT DISPOSAL
A ball which is in flight retains the same location as when it was last in
contact with a player or the court.
4-4-4
- ANS - BALL LOCATION (STATUS), AT DISPOSAL
A ball which touches a player or an official is the same as the ball
touching the floor at that individuals location.
4-4-5
- ANS - BALL LOCATION (STATUS), AT DISPOSAL
A ball which touches the front faces or edges of the backboard is treated
the same as it touching the floor inbounds. (4-15-1)
, 4-4-6
- ANS - BALL LOCATION (STATUS), AT DISPOSAL
During a dribble from backcourt to frontcourt, the ball is in the
frontcourt when the ball and both feet of the dribbler touch the court
entirely in the frontcourt.
4-4-7
- ANS - BALL LOCATION (STATUS), AT DISPOSAL
A ball is at the disposal of a player when it is:
a. Handed to a thrower or free thrower.
b. Caught by a thrower or free thrower after it is bounced to him/her.
c. Placed on the floor at the spot.
d. Available to a player after a goal and the official begins the throw-in
count.
4-5-1
- ANS - BASKET, CHOICE
A team's own basket is the one into which its players try to throw or tap
the ball.
4-5-2
- ANS - BASKET, CHOICE
Each team's basket for practice before the game and for the first half
must be the one farther from its team bench.
4-5-3
- ANS - BASKET, CHOICE
Exam 2026/2027 Updated Verified
Questions and Solutions A+ Pass
Guaranteed
4-1-1
- ANS - AIRBORNE SHOOTER
An airborne shooter is a player who has released the ball on a try or tap
for a goal or has tapped the ball and has not returned to the floor.
4-1-2
- ANS - AIRBORNE SHOOTER
The airborne shooter is considered to be in the act of shooting.
4-2-1
- ANS - ALTERNATING POSSESSION AND ARROW
Alternating possession is the method of putting the ball in play by a
throw-in as outlined in Rule 6-4.
4-2-2
- ANS - ALTERNATING POSSESSION AND ARROW
The possession arrow is a device located at the scorer's table which is
used to indicate the direction of a teams basket for the alternating-
possession procedure.
,4-3
- ANS - SETTING DIRECTION OF THE INITIAL ARROW
Alternating-possession control is established and the initial direction of
the possession arrow is set towards the opponent's basket when:
4-3-1
- ANS - SETTING DIRECTION OF THE INITIAL ARROW
A player secures control of the ball, as after the jump ball beginning the
game and each extra period.
4-3-2
- ANS - SETTING DIRECTION OF THE INITIAL ARROW
The ball is placed at the disposal of the free thrower after a common foul
when the bonus free throw is in effect.
4-3-3
- ANS - SETTING DIRECTION OF THE INITIAL ARROW
The ball is placed at the disposal of the thrower after:
a. A violation during or following the jump before a player secures
control
b. The free-throws for a non-common foul
c. A common foul before the bonus free throw is in effect.
NOTE: This procedure is used only to establish the alternating-possession
procedure. See Rule 6-4 for using the procedure and reversing the
possession arrow.
,4-4-1
- ANS - BALL LOCATION (STATUS), AT DISPOSAL
A ball which is in contact with a player or with the court is in the
backcourt if either the ball or the player (either player if the ball is
touching more than one) is touching the backcourt.
4-4-2
- ANS - BALL LOCATION (STATUS), AT DISPOSAL
A ball which is in contact with a player or with the court is in the
frontcourt if neither the ball nor the player is touching the backcourt.
4-4-3
- ANS - BALL LOCATION (STATUS), AT DISPOSAL
A ball which is in flight retains the same location as when it was last in
contact with a player or the court.
4-4-4
- ANS - BALL LOCATION (STATUS), AT DISPOSAL
A ball which touches a player or an official is the same as the ball
touching the floor at that individuals location.
4-4-5
- ANS - BALL LOCATION (STATUS), AT DISPOSAL
A ball which touches the front faces or edges of the backboard is treated
the same as it touching the floor inbounds. (4-15-1)
, 4-4-6
- ANS - BALL LOCATION (STATUS), AT DISPOSAL
During a dribble from backcourt to frontcourt, the ball is in the
frontcourt when the ball and both feet of the dribbler touch the court
entirely in the frontcourt.
4-4-7
- ANS - BALL LOCATION (STATUS), AT DISPOSAL
A ball is at the disposal of a player when it is:
a. Handed to a thrower or free thrower.
b. Caught by a thrower or free thrower after it is bounced to him/her.
c. Placed on the floor at the spot.
d. Available to a player after a goal and the official begins the throw-in
count.
4-5-1
- ANS - BASKET, CHOICE
A team's own basket is the one into which its players try to throw or tap
the ball.
4-5-2
- ANS - BASKET, CHOICE
Each team's basket for practice before the game and for the first half
must be the one farther from its team bench.
4-5-3
- ANS - BASKET, CHOICE
