Signal 11: Five seconds or possession

Fouls · Signal 11

Look for

Five fingers are spread beside the head, then the referee points to the free-shot position.

It means

The ball has been held too long or possession was otherwise illegal.

Related rules

• The five-second possession rule
• Which competitions use a shot clock?
• How long is the current shot clock?
• What if the shot clock expires?
• Does shared possession reset five seconds?
• Does balancing the ball on a paddle count as possession?
• Can you paddle while carrying the ball?

See official signal 11 ↗