Signaling 3 Seconds in Basketball

Video Transcript

"DAVE TYLER: Three seconds is a violation in basketball that's often misunderstood as well. The rule is that the offensive team is allowed in the key for no longer than three seconds and they have to get out of the key and may come right back in immediately. Both feet of the offensive team--of a player has to be out of the key, both their feet, not just one but both. Also each three second is reset upon the shot by every shot by an offensive team; the clock is reset by the official in his mind for three seconds. The proper mechanic for a three-second call is a whistle, three fingers and along the lane you'd see the official showing all three fingers and again pointing the other way. It wouldn't be a personal foul. So we're going to look at our post play here. It's usually where you'd see 3 seconds. Our offensive player is out of the paint. He takes one foot in. Now he's got 1,001, 1,002, 1,003, and he's gotta get out, and now he can go right back in again. Again, 1,001, 1,002, 1,003, both feet have to come out or he can shoot. As long as both feet are out of the key, the clock is reset on three seconds. Also we get in the key and we get a shot, 1,001, 1,002, the shot goes off. If that was a missed shot, he could get his own rebound and shoot again. Let's see if he misses his shot, 1,001, 1,002, missed shot again, 1,003. Every time that's a shot it's a reset of the three-second clock so there's no violation in that situation."