Possession Arrow

One of the differences in the rules of college basketball and that of professional basketball concerns the possession arrow.

According to the rules of the National Basketball Association (NBA), a jump ball is done at the beginning of the game. It is also done whenever a tie-up of the possession of the ball between the two teams happens. This happens in cases when the ball is stuck in the rim, or during some circumstances when possession of the ball cannot be determined).

In college basketball, a possession arrow dictates which team should have possession of the ball in a jump ball scenario. This is facilitated by a device that keeps track of which team should have the ball based on the game rules. The device flashes an arrow in the direction of the courtside where the ball should be.

This rule is officially known as the alternating-possession procedure. As the official name suggests, possession of the ball goes through an alternating-possession through a throw-in after the tip-off or jump ball. A jump ball is done usually only at the beginning of the game.

The possession arrow ensures an alternate possession of the ball in jump ball situations or when there is a held ball, a ball stuck in the rim, or a technical foul or a violation where the controlling team is undetermined.

Also, a foul committed during the throw-in does not reverse the possession arrow. It is also important to know about the alternating-possession rule. This is when overtime occurs, and in this case, the possession arrow resets as overtime starts with a jump ball.

The possession ball rule was first applied in 1981. Some of the reasons behind the crafting of the rule were to give equal advantage to smaller players in the tip-off compared to a jump ball where taller players have an advantage to eliminate the complaints about the referee’s toss. Since then, the alternating-possession has been the accepted rule in college basketball.

There are arguments that the possession arrow limits the play of a defensive team, affects last-minute game situations, and in some cases, ball possession is a matter of luck. People also argue that jump balls are not serious actions.

Whatever the case may be, the possession arrow has moved the game for college basketball.