Quote:
Originally Posted by Adam
It's not live until he's actually out of bounds and engaged in the throw-in, particularly if he's moving at a reasonable pace.
If the team or player is delaying, then we can start it earlier than that, but that's a rarity (significantly less than once per game).
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Exactly.
A player holding the ball inbounds is not able to make a legal throwin from that inbounds location so it is not yet at their disposal for a throwin. It is available for a throwin only when it has been taken to a spot where a throwin can be legally made. It is also to be considered to be available and at their disposal when sufficient time has been allowed to do so but the team/player is delaying.
Considering it live as soon as a player grabs the ball, and thus starting the 5 count, is penalizing the throwing team by reducing the actual time they have to make the throwin below the full 5 seconds. If you are not starting the 5 count, however, you have not considered the ball live.