Table Official's Guide to Basketball Australia Domestic Basketball 2026/27

The scorer must notify a referee (the nearest one, or through a referee in the case of coaches) immediately when:

• there is an infraction of the rules about the 5 players to start the game, substitutions or player numbers;
• a head coach should be disqualified;
• a player should be disqualified after two category 1 technical fouls, two flagrant fouls, or one category 1 technical and one flagrant foul;
• a head coach has no time-outs left in a half or overtime (the scorer tells the head coach through a referee);
• a head coach erroneously requests a second challenge (the nearest referee is notified).

The scorer also keeps the record of teams, the running score, fouls charged against each player and each head coach, time-outs, the alternating possession arrow and, for each team, the head coach's challenge granted.

The rules list this equipment for the game:

• game clock, scoreboard and shot clock
• a stopwatch or suitable visible device (not the game clock) for timing time-outs
• 2 separate, distinctly different and loud signals, one for the shot clock operator and one for the timer
• the scoresheet
• player and head coach foul markers
• team foul markers
• the alternating possession arrow

The scorer's table and its chairs are placed on a platform. The announcer and/or statisticians, if present, can sit at the side of and/or behind the scorer's table.

At least 40 minutes before the scheduled start, the scorer prepares the scoresheet:

1. Enter the two team names. Team A is the home team or, for tournaments and games on a neutral court, the first team named in the schedule. Team A goes in the upper part of the sheet and team B in the lower part.
2. Enter the competition name, game number, date, time and place, and the names of the crew chief and umpire(s).
3. For each team, enter the licence number (last 3 digits), name and initials of each player, head coach and first assistant coach, in shirt number order, in BLOCK CAPITALS, from the list the head coach or team representative provides. Mark the captain with (CAP) after the name.
4. If a team has fewer than 12 players, draw a line through the unused spaces below the last player.
5. Enter the head coach and first assistant coach names at the bottom of each team's section, and the names of the scorer, assistant scorer, timer and shot clock operator at the bottom of the sheet.

At least 10 minutes before the start, each head coach confirms the names and numbers, confirms the head coach and first assistant coach names, marks a small 'x' beside the 5 starters in the 'Player in' column, and signs. The team A head coach goes first.

At the start of the game, circle the 'x' of the 5 starters. When a substitute first enters, draw a small uncircled 'x'. Tell the nearest referee immediately if there is an infraction of the rules about the 5 starters, substitutions or player numbers.

Running score

• Keep a chronological running summary of points for each team. For a valid goal draw a diagonal line (/ if right-handed, \ if left-handed) over the team's new total. For a valid free throw draw a filled circle over the new total. Then write the scorer's shirt number beside it.
• A 3-point goal: draw a circle around the player's number.
• A goal accidentally scored in a player's own basket is entered as scored by the opponents' captain on the court.
• At the end of each quarter or overtime, draw a thick circle around each team's latest points, followed by a thick horizontal line under those points and the scorer's number. Continue from that point at the start of the next period.
• Check the running score against the scoreboard whenever possible. If they differ and the score is correct, have the scoreboard corrected. If in doubt, or a team objects, tell the crew chief when the ball is dead and the clock is stopped.

Pens
Use RED for the first and third quarters and BLUE or BLACK for the second and fourth quarters and all overtimes. The scoresheet may be completed electronically.

Player fouls
Enter 'P' for a personal foul, 'T' for a category 2 technical foul, 'DI' for a disruptive foul and 'D' for a disqualifying foul against a player; category 1 technical and flagrant fouls have their own symbols. Add the number of free throws (1, 2 or 3) beside the letter where a foul involves free throws. Technical or disqualifying fouls by a head coach, first assistant coach, substitute, excluded player or accompanying delegation member are entered against the head coach.

Team fouls
Each quarter has 4 spaces under the team name. Mark a large 'X' in turn whenever a player commits a personal, technical, disruptive, flagrant or disqualifying foul. At the end of each quarter, cross out the unused spaces with 2 horizontal parallel lines.

• The scorer operates the arrow. It points in the direction of the opponents' basket of the team entitled to the next alternating possession throw-in.
• In a jump ball situation, the team that does not gain first team control of a live ball after the jump ball is entitled to the first alternating possession throw-in.
• Reverse the arrow immediately when the alternating possession throw-in ends.
• If a team commits a violation during its own alternating possession throw-in, it loses that throw-in. Reverse the arrow immediately, so the opponents are entitled to the next one.
• A foul by either team before the start of a quarter (other than the first) or an overtime, or during the alternating possession throw-in, does not make the entitled team lose its alternating possession.
• Reverse the arrow immediately after the end of the first half, because the teams exchange baskets for the second half.
• The team entitled to the next alternating possession at the end of any quarter or overtime starts the next quarter or overtime with a throw-in from the centre line extended, opposite the scorer's table, unless there are further free throws and a possession penalty to be administered.

Start the game clock when:

• during a jump ball, the ball is legally tapped by a jumper;
• after an unsuccessful last free throw where the ball stays live, the ball touches or is touched by a player on the court;
• during a throw-in, the ball touches or is legally touched by a player on the court.

Stop the game clock when:

• time expires at the end of a quarter or overtime (if the clock does not stop automatically);
• a referee blows the whistle while the ball is live;
• a goal is scored against a team that has requested a time-out;
• a goal is scored when the clock shows 2:00 or less in the fourth quarter or in an overtime;
• the shot clock signal sounds while a team is in control of the ball (including when a referee then calls a violation).

The timer is provided with a game clock and a stopwatch, and measures playing time, time-outs and intervals of play.

Signals in general

• The game clock signal must sound very loudly and automatically at the end of a quarter or overtime. If it fails to sound or is not heard, use any means possible to tell the referees immediately.
• The timer sounds the signal only when the ball is dead and before it becomes live again. The signal does not itself stop the game clock or the game, or make the ball dead.

Time-outs

1. Start the stopwatch immediately when the referee blows the whistle and gives the time-out signal.
2. Sound the signal when 50 seconds have elapsed.
3. Sound the signal when the time-out has ended.

Intervals of play

1. Start the stopwatch immediately when the previous quarter or overtime has ended.
2. Notify the referees before the first and third quarter when 3 minutes and 1.5 minutes remain until the start of the quarter.
3. Sound the signal before the second and fourth quarter and each overtime when 30 seconds remain until the start.
4. Sound the signal and stop the stopwatch immediately when the interval has ended.

The timer

• Raises the player foul marker to show how many fouls each player has, in a way both head coaches can see.
• Notifies a referee immediately when 5 fouls have been charged against any player.
• Raises the game disqualification (GD) marker when a player or head coach is game disqualified.
• Operates the team foul markers, one on each side of the table nearest the team bench. The marker shows the current number of team fouls and is fully red, with no number visible, after the ball becomes live again after the fourth team foul in a quarter.

The scorer

• Notifies a referee immediately when a head coach should be disqualified, or when a player should be disqualified after two category 1 technical fouls, two flagrant fouls, or one category 1 technical and one flagrant foul.

Team fouls

• A team foul is a personal, technical, disruptive, flagrant or disqualifying foul by a player. A team is in the team foul penalty situation after 4 team fouls in a quarter.
• Fouls committed in an interval count in the next quarter, and fouls in each overtime count in the fourth quarter.
• In the penalty situation, personal fouls on a player not in the act of shooting are penalised by 2 free throws instead of a throw-in.
• Technical or disqualifying fouls for fighting (Article 40) do not count as team fouls.

Time-outs

• Only the head coach or first assistant coach can request one, by making visual contact with the scorer's table or going to the table and asking clearly with the conventional hand sign.
• A request can be cancelled only before the timer's signal has sounded for it.
• When a time-out opportunity starts, the timer sounds the signal to tell the referees a team has requested a time-out. An opportunity starts when the ball is dead, the game clock is stopped and the referee has finished communicating with the table, when the ball is dead after a successful last free throw, or, for the non-scoring team, when a goal is scored.
• If a goal is scored against a team that has requested a time-out, the timer immediately stops the game clock and sounds the signal.
• Each time-out is 1 minute. Each team may have 2 in the first half, 3 in the second half (a maximum of 2 when the game clock shows 2:00 or less in the fourth quarter) and 1 in each overtime. Unused time-outs do not carry over.
• The scorer notifies the head coach through a referee when no time-outs remain in a half or overtime, and records each time-out by the minute of play next to H1, H2 or OT.

Substitutions

• Only the substitute (not the coach) can request one, by going to the table and asking clearly with the conventional hand sign, or by sitting on the substitution chair ready to play.
• A request can be cancelled only before the timer's signal has sounded for it, and the timer sounds the signal when the substitution opportunity starts.
• During a time-out or an interval other than half-time, a substitute must report to the timer before entering.
• A player with 5 fouls or who is disqualified must be substituted immediately (no more than 30 seconds).

Start or restart when:

• a team gains control of a live ball on the court (a mere touch by an opponent does not start a new period if the same team stays in control), or
• on a throw-in, the ball touches or is legally touched by a player on the court.

Stop but do not reset (remaining time stays visible) when the same team that had control is awarded a throw-in because of the ball going out-of-bounds, an injured player of that team, a technical foul by that team, a jump ball situation (not a ball lodged between ring and backboard), a double foul, or cancellation of equal penalties. Also stop without resetting when that team gets a frontcourt throw-in as a result of a foul or violation and 14 or more seconds are showing.

Stop and reset to 24 seconds (no display) when:

• the ball legally enters the basket,
• the ball touches the opponents' ring and is then controlled by the team that was not in control before,
• a team is awarded a backcourt throw-in (for example after a foul or violation, other than an out-of-bounds violation), or
• a team is awarded free throw(s).

Stop and reset to 14 seconds (14 showing) when the same team is awarded a frontcourt throw-in with 13 seconds or less showing (foul or violation other than out-of-bounds), or when the team that did not have control is awarded a frontcourt throw-in after a personal foul or a violation (including an out-of-bounds violation) or a jump ball situation. A team awarded a frontcourt throw-in from the throw-in line after a disruptive, flagrant or disqualifying foul also gets 14 seconds.

If the shot clock signal sounds while a team is in control of the ball, the timer stops the game clock.

Errors

• During the game, the timer must wait for the first dead ball before sounding the signal about an error.
• The scorer consults the crew chief and corrects the scoresheet when the error is found within the limits for correctable errors (Article 45).
• If the error is not found within those limits, it can no longer be corrected. The crew chief or the commissioner (if present) sends a detailed report to the organising body of the competition.
• If the scoreboard and the scoresheet disagree and it cannot be resolved, the scoresheet takes precedence and the scoreboard is corrected.

End of game

1. Enter the score for each quarter and all overtimes in the summary section.
2. Enter the time in the "Game ended at (hh:mm)" column immediately at the end of the game.
3. Draw 2 thick horizontal lines under each team's final points and the numbers of the players who scored them, then draw a diagonal line down the rest of the column.
4. Enter the final score and the name of the winning team.
5. All table officials sign next to their names. The crew chief approves and signs last.

If the captain signs under protest, the table officials and umpires stay available to the crew chief until given permission to leave.