Basketball Rules

The rules of basketball can vary slightly depending on the level of play (for example professional rules differ from college rules) or where the game is played (international rules are different from USA professional rules). These rule differences, however, are usually just variations on the basic game of basketball and the majority of the rules discussed below can be applied to most any game of basketball played.

The winner of a basketball game is the team with the most points. You get points by throwing the basketball through the opponent's hoop or basket. In regular play a basket made from within the three point line is worth 2 points and a basket shot from outside the three point line is worth three points. When shooting a free throw, each free throw is worth 1 point.

Rules for the offense

The basketball team on offense is the team with the basketball. When a player has the basketball there are certain rules they must follow:

1) The player must bounce, or dribble, the ball with one hand while moving both feet. If, at any time, both hands touch the ball or the player stops dribbling, the player must only move one foot. The foot that is stationary is called the pivot foot.

2) The basketball player can only take one turn at dribbling. In other words, once a player has stopped dribbling they cannot start another dribble. A player who starts dribbling again is called for a double-dribbling violation and looses the basketball to the other team. A player can only start another dribble after another player from either team touches or gains control of the basketball. This is usually after a shot or pass.

3) The ball must stay in bounds. If the offensive team looses the ball out of bounds the other team gets control of the basketball.

4) The players hand must be on top of the ball while dribbling. If they touch the bottom of the basketball while dribbling and continue to dribble this is called carrying the ball and the player will lose the ball to the other team.

5) Once the offensive team crosses half court, they may not go back into the backcourt. This is called a backcourt violation. If the defensive team knocks the ball into the backcourt, then the offensive team can recover the ball legally.

Defensive Rules

The team on defense is the team without the basketball.

1) The main rule for the defensive player is not to foul. A foul is described as gaining an unfair advantage through physical contact. There is some interpretation that has to be made by the referee, but, in general, the defensive player may not touch the offensive player in a way that causes the offensive player to lose the ball or miss a shot.

Rules for everyone

1) Although the foul rule is described above as a defensive rule, it applies exactly the same to all players on the court including offensive players.

2) Basketball players cannot kick the ball or hit it with their fist.

3) No player can touch the basketball while it is traveling downward towards the basket or if it is on the rim. This is called goaltending. (touching the ball on the rim is legal in some games).

Every player on the court is subject to the same rules regardless of the position they play. The positions in basketball are just for team basketball strategy and there are no positions in the rules.

Sumber: https://www.ducksters.com/sports/basketballrules.php

Fouls

Basketball is sometimes called a non-contact sport. Although, there is plenty of legal contact between players, some contact is considered illegal. If an official decides that the contact is illegal, they will call a personal foul.

Most of the fouls in a game are committed by the defense, but the offense can commit fouls as well. Here are list of some of the types of fouls.

Typical Defensive Fouls

Blocking - A blocking foul is called when one player uses their body to prevent the movement of another player. This is often called when the defensive player is trying to draw a charge, but does not have their feet set or initiates the contact.

Hand Check - A hand check foul is called when a player uses their hands to impede or slow the movement of another player. This is usually called on the defensive player covering the player with the ball on the perimeter.

Holding - Similar to a hand check foul, but is generally called when a player grabs another player and holds on to prevent them from moving.

Illegal Hand Use - This foul is called for any use of the hands on another player that the referee thinks is illegal. It's generally called when you hit another player on the arm during shooting or when trying to steal the ball.

Typical Offensive Fouls

Charging - Charging is called on the player with the ball when they run into a player that already has position. If the defensive player doesn't have position or is moving, then generally the official will call blocking on the defender.

Moving Screen - A moving screen is called when the player setting the pick or screen is moving. When setting a screen you have to stand still and maintain position. Sliding a bit over to block your opponent will cause a moving screen foul to be called.

Over the Back - This foul is called when rebounding. If one player has position, the other player is not allowed to jump up over their back to try and get the ball. This is called on both offensive and defensive players.

Who Decides?

The officials decide if a foul is committed. While some fouls are obvious, others are more difficult to determine. The referee has the final say, however, arguing will get you nowhere.

Sometimes referees will call the game "close". This means they are calling fouls with just a little bit of contact. Other times the referees will call the game "loose" or allow more contact. As a player or coach you should try to understand how the referee is calling the game and adjust your play accordingly.

There are various penalties for fouls depending on the type of foul. You can read more about it on the basketball penalties for fouls page.

Penalties for Fouls

Fouling Out

Each time a player commits a foul, they get another personal foul added to their name. If they reach a certain total during they game they will have "fouled out" and will not be allowed to play any more. It takes five fouls to foul out in college and high school, six fouls in the NBA.

Team Fouls

The total number of team fouls add up during the game as well. After a certain number of fouls, a team is considered "over the limit" and free throws will be awarded for non-shooting fouls. The rules for the NBA and college/high school are different:

NBA - Team fouls are added up per quarter. Four fouls are allowed with two free throws being awarded starting with the fifth foul. Only defensive fouls count toward team fouls.

NCAA college and High School - Team fouls are added up per half. After 6 fouls a team is awarded a one-and-one free throw. A one-and-one means that the first free throw must be made in order to get a second free throw. If the player misses the first, the ball is live and play begins. After 10 fouls in a half, two free throws are awarded.

Technical Foul

A technical foul is given for unsportsmanlike conduct or other infraction. This can range from fighting to arguing with the official. Both coaches and players can get technical fouls.

In high school the penalty for a technical foul is two free throws and the ball for the other team. Also, if a player or coach receives two technicals during a game, they will be ejected. In college a technical foul counts as a personal foul as well, so it adds into fouling out. In the NBA a technical foul does not count as a personal foul.

Flagrant Foul

Another type of foul in basketball is the flagrant foul. This is when a foul could seriously injure an opponent. Generally two free throws and possession of the ball are awarded. In high school and college the player committing the flagrant foul is ejected from the game. In the NBA it can count as a technical foul or the player can be ejected depending on the severity of the foul.

Violations

Here is a list and description of non-foul violations in the game of basketball. The penalty for most violations is loss of possession of the ball.

Traveling (walking)

One of the basic ideas of the sport of basketball is that you have to dribble or bounce the ball while you are walking or running. When you have stopped dribbling one of your feet will become your pivot foot. You cannot move your pivot foot or lift it off of the ground. If you do, this is called traveling.

Double dribble

You only get to dribble once in basketball. If you stop dribbling you have to pass it to another player or shoot the ball. If you start dribbling again, this is called double dribbling.

Three seconds

Offensive players are not allowed to stay in the free throw lane, or key, for more than three seconds. Anytime they leave the key or the ball hits the rim, the three second count starts over again.

Ten Seconds

The offensive team has 10 seconds to get the ball across half court. If it takes longer than 10 seconds, then they will lose possession of the ball.

Over-and-back

Once the offensive team has gotten the ball over half court, they cannot go back into the defender's half court with the ball. This is called over-and-back.

Carrying (palming)

Carrying, or palming, is like a double dribble. Players may not put the palm of their hands under the ball or carry the ball in one hand for a long time. This is similar to holding the ball and a double dribble.

Lane violations

During a free throw shot, players will line up on both sides of the lane. If they jump into the lane prior to the shot, it will be called a lane violation. If it was an offensive player, a made shot will not count. If it was a defensive player, a missed shot will not count and the shooter will get another try.

Kicking

Players are not allowed to intentionally kick the ball. If a defensive player kicks the ball, the offensive team will get it out of bounds.

Goaltending

Goaltending is when a player interferes with a shot when it is above the rim, but still on its downward path to the basket, interferes with the ball while on the rim of the basket, or touches the net or rim while the ball is being shot. If goaltending is called on the defense, the shot is called good. If goaltending is on the offense, then the shot does not count and the defense gets the ball.

Out of bounds

The ball is considered out of bounds when it touches the ground outside the lines of the court. The lines themselves are considered out of bounds as well. It is also out of bounds if the ball touches a player who has any part of their body touching the ground out of bounds.

The Clock and Timing

How long is a basketball game?

Basketball games are played a set amount of time. It's different for different leagues and levels of play:

High School - High school basketball games are made up of four 8-minute quarters or two 16-minute halves.

College - NCAA college basketball games consists of two 20 minute halves. This is the same for the WNBA and international games.

NBA - NBA games are made up of four 12-minute quarters.

When does the clock run?

The clock runs whenever the ball is in play. The clock is stopped whenever the ball goes out of bounds, a foul is called, free throws are being shot, and during time outs. When the ball is inbound, the clock starts once a player touches the ball.

In the NBA the clock stops after a made shot during the last two minutes of the game and overtime. For college it stops during the last minute of the game and overtime.

Overtime

If the game is tied after regulation time, there will be overtime. Overtime is 5 minutes long in most leagues. Additional overtimes will be added until one team ends up on top.

The Shot Clock

In order to speed up the game and to prevent teams from stalling, a shot clock was added. This is how long you have to shoot the ball. If the ball changes possession or hits the rim of the basket, the shot clock starts over. The length of the shot clock is different for different basketball leagues:

NCAA College Men - 35 seconds

NCAA College Women - 30 seconds

NBA - 24 seconds

Not all states have a shot clock for high school. Where they do, it generally follows the NCAA rules.

Time outs

In order to give your team some rest, call a play, or just stop the game for a while, teams can call a time out. There are different rules on time outs for different leagues:

High School - Players on the floor or the coach can call a time out. There are five time outs per game including three 60-second time outs and two 30-second time outs.

NCAA College - There are a different number of time outs depending on whether the game is on TV or not. This is because during a TV game there are media time outs so the TV channel can show ads. For a TV game each team gets one 60-second time out and four 30-second time outs. For a non-TV game each team has four 75-second and two 30-second time outs.

NBA - In the NBA each basketball team has six full time outs and one 20-second time out per half. Only a player in the game can call a time out.