Five Seconds Closely Guarded

Also known as: 5-second rule, Back-to-the-basket count

You can’t just hold the ball with a defender up close.

The rule

A player holding the ball with a defender close by must pass, shoot or dribble within 5 seconds. How close counts as “closely guarded” depends on the rulebook, and the NBA and WNBA use a different count altogether.

The penalty

The other team gets the ball.

The reason

It stops a player from holding the ball to run down the clock when the defense is playing them tight.

Around the leagues

• 5 s back to the basket: NBA, WNBA. No limit on holding the ball. But below the free-throw line you can’t dribble with your back or side to the basket for more than 5 seconds.
• 5 seconds holding: FIBA, Wheelchair. With a defender within 1 m (3 ft). Dribbling is fine.
• 5 seconds holding: NCAA M, NCAA W. In the frontcourt, with a defender within 1.83 m (6 ft). Dribbling is fine.
• 5 seconds holding: 3x3. With a defender within 1 m. Also: no dribbling inside the arc with your back to the basket for more than 3 seconds.