In basketball, you will sometimes hear the announcer say there is a "timeout on the floor." This halt in play is often called by a coach or a player from one of the two teams, usually so the coach can give the players a chance to regroup, so he can direct their play and give them tactical or strategic advice or so he can motivate and inspire them to up their game. Sometimes, a coach or player will call a timeout to avoid having a delay of game penalty called. There are circumstances, including when media are broadcasting the game, when referees or officials call for the timeout. The timing of timeouts is regulated precisely by the governing associations.
NBA 20-Second Timeouts
Coaches and players can call for a timeout whenever the ball is dead or the team is in possession of the ball. Each team is entitled to one 20-second timeout per half. Both teams may substitute only one player during a 20-second timeout called by either team. During the last two minutes of the last quarter or during overtime, free substitution is allowed for both teams.
NBA Regular Timeouts
Each team is entitled to six 100/60-second timeouts. Each team can take no more than three timeouts in the fourth period and no more than two in the last two minutes of the fourth period. Each team is given three 60-second timeouts during each overtime period, but only two can be called during the final two minutes of the period.
Some timeouts are mandatory. At least two 100-second timeouts must occur in the first and third periods, and three 100-second timeouts must occur in the second and fourth periods. If neither team has taken a timeout by 5 minutes and 59 seconds into the first or third period, the referee will call a mandatory timeout. The first mandatory timeout is charged to the home team, and the second mandatory is charged to whichever team was not previously charged with a timeout. Even when the timeouts are mandatory, they are still considered to be floor timeouts.
NCAA Timeouts
College basketball timeout rules differ in the details from NBA regulations. In games not involving radio, television or Internet audio or video broadcasts, each team is entitled to four 75-second timeouts and two 30-second timeouts per game. All timeouts can be taken at any time. During overtime periods, teams are allowed one additional 75-second timeout, as well as any timeouts they have remaining from their unused regular period timeouts.
NBA Television Timeouts
When games are televised, game play can also be interrupted by television timeouts. Television or media timeouts are regulated and mandated breaks that give advertisers their time at the audience trough. In the NBA, they occur at the first dead ball after three minutes and six minutes during each quarter. The first television timeout is charged to the home team, and the second is charged to the away team, unless the teams have already called a timeout. There is also a television timeout after nine minutes during the second and fourth quarters. These are not charged to either team.
NCAA Television Timeouts
In college basketball, television timeouts are taken at the first dead ball in four-minute intervals, after the four-, eight-, 12- and 16-minute markers of each half. The first is charged to the home team and ensuing media timeouts are charged to whichever team had not called the immediately prior timeout. Teams are entitled to four 30-second timeouts they can call anytime during the game and one 60-second timeout they can call anytime during the game. The duration of the first timeout called by either team will be the length called for by the media contract.
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