HoopsVibe

LIVE BALL. A live ball is one that is legally in play. A dead ball is one that isn't legally in play.
The ball becomes live when (a) it leaves the referee' s or umpire' s hands on a jump ball, (b) during a throw-in, or (c) when the referee or umpire places the ball at a free thrower' s disposal for a free-throw attempt.

A ball becomes dead at the sound of the referee or umpire's whistle.

CENTER JUMP. This probably is the only maneuver in basketball that goes back to the game' s invention in December 1891 at Springfield College in Massachusetts. Now, the game (and each overtime period) is started by a jump ball between any two opponents in the center circle.

OTHER "JUMPS." In situations other than at the start of the game and the start of extra periods, teams will alternate taking the ball out of bounds at the spot nearest to where the situation occurred. The team not obtaining the initial jump will start the alternating process.

JUMP-BALL PROCEDURE. Each jumper must have both feet on or inside the half of the jumping circle that is farther from his or her own basket. The eight nonjumpers must remain entirely outside the circle until the ball has been touched, but they are entitled to alternate positions between opponents around the jumping circle. They may move after the ball has left the official' s hand.

An official tosses the ball up between the jumpers to a height greater than either can jump and so that it will drop between them. If it falls to the floor without being touched by either jumper, the official tosses the ball again.

Although both jumpers must take proper positions in the circle, a player is not required to make a futile jump when matched against a much taller opponent, unless neither jumper attempts to touch the ball. In this unlikely circumstance, the ball is tossed again with both players ordered to jump.

There are some things a jumper may not do:

Leave the circle until the ball has been touched.
Touch the tossed ball before it reaches its highest point.
Touch the ball more than twice
Catch the ball, unless it touched a nonjumper.
Fist the ball.

The jump ball (and those restrictions) ends when the ball touches one of the eight nonjumpers, the floor, the basket or the backboard.
DEAD BALL. To know how many times the ball becomes dead during a game, you can come close by counting the officials' whistle blasts. Better still, watch for the officials' signal for stopping the game clock (see Officials' Signals) whenever a held ball, foul or floor violation occurs, a goal is made, time runs out on the game clock, etc.