A dead ball means play has stopped. The referee has blown the whistle. No action can continue. For example, the ball becomes dead after a foul call. Players must pause immediately. Shots after dead balls do not count. Dead balls allow substitutions and instructions. Coaches use them to reset teams. The clock usually stops during dead balls. Players relax briefly but stay alert. Understanding dead-ball moments avoids mistakes. Some violations only occur on dead balls.
Did You Know dead ball timing affects clock management?
Pro-Tip: Always wait for the whistle.