When is the ball considered to be live?

The ball is considered to be live when it is handed to the free thrower. This initiates the free throw process, allowing the shooter the opportunity to attempt their shot. At this moment, the ball is officially in play, and no other player may obstruct the free thrower until the shot is taken.

The other scenarios do not define the moment the ball becomes live in the same context. For example, a referee signaling its availability might indicate that play is about to begin, but the ball isn't live until it is handed to the free thrower. In cases of play after a rebound or a ball passed to a teammate, while these scenarios indicate moments when the ball can be actively used in play, they do not relate specifically to the identification of when the ball first becomes live in the context of free throws.