possession arrow

English

Noun

possession arrow (plural possession arrows)

1. (basketball) An arrow that determines which side possesses the ball in cases where it is otherwise unclear. In such cases, possession of the ball is awarded to the team that is moving in the direction of the possession arrow on offense.
   • 2023, Lac Du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians v. Coughlin (U.S. Supreme Court No. 22–227), Justice Gorsuch (dissenting opinion):

     Faced with all that countervailing authority, the best respondent could realistically hope for is that we declare §101(27) a jump ball. And under our clear-statement rule, a jump ball is as good as a possession arrow favoring the party opposing the abrogation of sovereign immunity.

See also

• jump ball