Chapter 3

BASKETBALL RULES, VIOLATION, FOULS

 
Introduction

Basketball is an original American game invented by Dr. James Naismith in 1891. When
designing it, Naismith focused on creating a non-contact sport to be played indoors. He
developed the rules and published them in January 1892 in The Triangle, the school newspaper
of Springfield College.

The initial rules of basketball laid out by Naismith are familiar enough that those who enjoy
basketball today over 100 years later will recognize it as the same sport. While there are other,
newer rules, these original 13 still form the heart of the game

Specific Objectives

At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

 
- Enumerate the Rules in Basketball
- Explain the original and current rules
- Internalize and apply the rules in actual situation

Duration

Chapter 3: BASKETBALL RULES, VIOLATION, = 2 hours

FOULS (1 and 30 minutes discussion; 1
hours assessment)

Lesson Proper

Original 13 Rules of Basketball by James Naismith

The following list shows the original 13 rules of basketball as defined by Naismith in 1892.
Modern rules are added so you can see how the game has changed over time—and how it's
remained the same.
1. The ball may be thrown in any direction with one or both hands.
Current Rule: This rule still applies, with the exception that now a team is not allowed to pass
the ball back over the midcourt line once they have taken it over that line.
2. The ball may be batted in any direction with one or both hands (never with the fist).
Current Rule: This rule still applies.
3. A player cannot run with the ball. The player must throw it from the spot on which he
catches it, allowance to be made for a man who catches the ball running at a good speed if
he tries to stop.
Current Rule: Players can dribble the ball with one hand as they run or pass, but they cannot
run with the ball when catching a pass.
4. The ball must be held in or between the hands; the arms or body must not be used for
holding it.
Current Rule: This rule still applies. Doing so would be a traveling violation.
5. No shouldering, holding, pushing, tripping, or striking in any way the person of an
opponent shall be allowed; the first infringement of this rule by any player shall count as a
foul, the second shall disqualify him until the next goal is made, or, if there was evident
intent to injure the person, for the whole of the game, no substitute allowed.
Current Rule: These actions are fouls. A player may be disqualified with five or six fouls, or
get an ejection or suspension with a flagrant foul.
6. A foul is striking at the ball with the fist, violations of Rules 3, 4, and such as described in
Rule 5.
Current Rule: This rule still applies.
7. If either side makes three consecutive fouls, it shall count as a goal for the opponents
(consecutive means without the opponents in the meantime making a foul).
Current Rule: Instead of an automatic goal, sufficient team fouls (five in a quarter for NBA
play) now award bonus free throw attempts to the opposing team.
8. A goal shall be made when the ball is thrown or batted from the grounds into the basket
and stays there, providing those defending the goal do no touch or disturb the goal. If the
ball rests on the edges, and the opponent moves the basket, it shall count as a goal.
Current Rule: This rule no longer applies as basketball is now played with a hoop and net, not
the original basket. It has evolved into goaltending and defense pass interference rules, including
that defenders cannot touch the rim of the hoop once the ball has been shot.
9. When the ball goes out of bounds, it shall be thrown into the field of play by the person
first touching it. In case of dispute, the umpire shall throw it straight into the field. The
thrower-in is allowed five seconds; if he holds it longer, it shall go to the opponent. If any
side persists in delaying the game, the umpire shall call a foul on that side.
Current Rule: The ball is now thrown in by a player from the opposite team of the player who
last touched it before it went out of bounds. The five-second rule still applies.

10. The umpire shall be the judge of the men and shall note the fouls and notify the referee
when three consecutive fouls have been made. He shall have power to disqualify men
according to Rule 5.
Current Rule: In NBA basketball, there are three referees.
11. The referee shall be the judge of the ball and shall decide when the ball is in play, in
bounds, to which side it belongs, and shall keep the time. He shall decide when a goal has
been made, and keep account of the goals with any other duties that are usually performed
by a referee.
Current Rule: The referee still determines ball possession, but timekeepers and scorekeepers
now do some of these tasks.
12. The time shall be two 15-minute halves, with five minutes' rest between.
Current Rule: This varies by the level of play, such as high school versus collegiate formats. In
the NBA, there are four quarters—each 12 minutes long—with a 15-minute halftime break.
13. The side making the most goals in that time shall be declared the winner. In the case of
a draw, the game may, by agreement of the captains, be continued until another goal is
made.
Current Rule: The winner is now decided by a point (which does not equate goals made). In the
NBA, five-minute overtime periods are played in case of a tie at the end of the fourth quarter,
with the point total at the end determining the winner. If still tied, teams play another overtime
period.

General Rules:

1. Basketball is a game in which five players from each team play at a time on the basketball
court.

2. The aim of the players to score a basket by putting the ball inside the hoop elevated 10 ft
above the ground.

3. The team with the ball in possession is the team on the offence, and the opposite one is the
team on defence.

4. Once the offensive team has the ball, they have 24 seconds to shoot it towards the basket. If It
fails to do so, the team on defence is awarded the ball.

5. There can be a total of 12 players on the team roster, but only five can play at a time.

6. The game of basketball consists of four quarters of 10 minutes each, and if scores are tied at
the end of it, there is a five minutes’ extension called “overtime”.

7. The scoring rules are simple. If you shoot from behind the arc, you will get three points
whereas shot from inside the arc receives two points. Also, each free throw is worth a single
point.

8. A player playing on the court can be substituted from the players on the bench by the coach. A
coach can make an unlimited number of substitutions.

RULE FIBA NBA NCAA

Playing time 4x10 minutes 4x12 minutes 2x20 minutes

5 minutes over- 5 minutes over-time 5 minutes over-time
time (OT)
Shot clock 24 seconds 24 seconds Men: 35 seconds
After offensive Women: 30 seconds
rebound: 14
seconds
3-point line 6.75m (6.60 on 7.24m (6.70m on Men: 6.25m
 baseline) baseline) Women: 6.325m
Time-outs 2 in first half 6 regular 4 regular
3 in second half 2 per OT period 30 seconds
(but only 2 in last = 60 or 100 seconds + long
two minutes of + 1 short time-out (20 60 seconds
the 4  period)
th
seconds) per half Maximum 3 regular and 1
1 per OT period The second short time- long in second half
Always 60 out can be carried over !!! additional regulations
seconds to OT period
Never carried over !!! additional regulations
Jump ball and Jump ball to star Jump ball to star game Jump ball to star game
alternating game The one losing initial The one losing initial jump
possession The one losing jump ball gets ball gets possession for the
initial jump ball possession to start 2nd next jump ball situation
gets possession and 4th quarters Alternating possession
for the next jump The one winning initial between teams thereafter
ball situation jump ball gets for all jump ball situations
Alternating possession to start 3rd Jump ball to start OT
possession quarter
between teams All other jump ball
thereafter for all situations played as
jump ball "real jump ball"
situations
Individual foul Foul out on 5 Foul out on 6 or 2 Foul out on 5 (personal and
(personal and technical technical)
technical)
Team fouls and 2 free-throws 2 free-throws awarded 1 free throw, plus another if
bonus free-throws awarded for each for each foul after the the first is successful is
(non-shooting) 4th team foul or last awarded on the 7th, 8th and
foul after the 4th two minutes of each 9th foul of each half; the
period (includes quarter, whichever penalty is increased to two
player technical comes first shots on the 10th and
fouls) Does not include subsequent fouls; overtime
Does not include offensive fouls and is an extension of the
offensive technical fouls second half.
fouls/fouls by Does not include offensive
team in fouls
possession
Technical foul 1 free throw and 1 free throw per 2 free throws, play resumes
(penalty) possession of the technical foul; play at point of interruption
 ball at centre resumes at the point of
interruption; foul is
charged to individual in
question (and automatic
fine assessed)
Goaltending/basket No blocking a ball No blocking a ball in No blocking a ball in
interference in downward flight downward flight towards downward flight towards the
towards the rim. the rim. rim.

Once the ball An imaginary cylinder An imaginary cylinder exists

strikes the rim, exists that has the that has the basket as its
any player can basket as its base. base. Touching the ball
play the ball (i.e. Touching the ball while while any part of it is in this
swat it away or any part of it is in this cylinder (and still has a
tap it in) cylinder (and still has a chance to go in) is a
chance to go in) is a violation.
violation
Zone defense Legal Legal but… Legal
defensive player may
not stay in the lane
(a.k.a. key, restricted
area) for longer than
three seconds if he is
not actively guarding an
opponent
Player numbers 00, 0, 1-99 Any one or two digit 00 (or 0), 1-5, 10-15, 20-
number 25, 30-35, 40-45, 50-55

Basketball Violations and Fouls

What is a foul? While playing basketball, any player who breaks the rules of the game, making
illegal personal contact with the other team, and has unsportsmanlike behaviour. There are four
main types of fouls:

1. Personal - A personal foul is called in basketball when a player commits a violation that
prevents the opposing player from moving, scoring, or performing another allowed
activity.
 2. Technical - An infraction by a player or a coach that is deemed unsportsmanlike conduct.
3. Flagrant - A foul called as a result of contact that is deemed excessive, intentional and/or
unnecessary. The team that draws a flagrant foul is awarded two free throws and
possession
4. Team foul - is the number of personal and technical fouls committed by all players for
that team in a given period; if a team exceeds that limit (five per quarter in the NBA, six
per half in the NCAA) the other team is given free throws with each additional foul.

One of the important parts of coaching basketball to anyone understands the fouls and violations
which occur during practices and games. The fouls explained below will teach you to be an
honest and responsible player.

24-Second Violation
All NBA teams have to make a shot within 24 seconds. If not, then the violation results in
change of ball possession.
8-Second Violation
After the basket is made by a team, the offensive team gets only 8 seconds to bring the ball over
the mid court line.
Blocking
Once the game or practice is on, a player tries to position his or her body in a way to prevent the
opponent from getting ahead. Blocking is mostly done by the defense team players.
Charging
This is an offense team’s foul. One of the offensive team’s player runs into a defending team’s
players who has already established his or her position.
Defensive Foul
When a player practices an unnecessary or illegal contact with either the ball or away from the
ball, a defensive foul is said to have been committed.
Defensive Foul
The offense player who dribbles the ball, stops, and then begins to dribble it again is said to have
committed the double dribble violation.
Elbowing
Elbowing can be done by any of the teams. This is when a player swings his or her elbows in a
forceful, excessive manner. The elbowing player makes contact with the opponent at this point.
Five-Second Violation
A five-second throw-in violation generally occurs during a throw-in when the ball is not passed
by the player who is supposed to inbound the ball before 5 seconds have gone by after he or she
got the ball. Usually the penalty for a five-second violation is losing of the ball from that team.
Flagrant Foul
This is a serious contact foul where a player tries to unnecessarily and intentionally make contact
during the game. Usually the penalty for flagrant foul is that the other team gets 2 free throws
and the possession of the basketball out-of-bounds. And the player who committed the flagrant
foul is automatically disqualified from the game.
Floor Violation
This is an action of a player who violates the rules but doesn’t commit any foul or hinder the
opponent. Usually the penalty for floor violation is a change of ball possession.
Foul Trouble
During the track of a game, one or more players who have collected way too many fouls are said
to be in “foul trouble”. All the players who have collected 5 fouls in high school and college
game, or 6 fouls in NBA game will be disqualified or eliminated from that game. Which is why
all teams must be careful not to accumulate more than 6 fouls in each half?
Goaltending
This violation is generally committed by the defense team’s player. The player illegally
interferes with a shot on the rim or on a downward path to the hoop. Usually the penalty for this
violation results in the shot by the offense team being assumed in and they receive a basket.
Hand Check
This is a personal foul done by the defense team player. When he or she is occasionally or
continuously uses his or her hand(s) on the opponent player who has the ball.
Holding
Whether you are in a defense or offense team, using your hands to interfere your opponent’s
freedom of movement commits a holding fouls.
Illegal Screen
A player who is setting the screen still moves when the defense team’s player makes contact with
him or her. Illegal screen is a type of blocking where the defender is prevented from moving
around the screen.

Intentional Foul
This foul is committed by the defense team’s player on purpose to stop the clock. Usually in a
college basketball game, the team which was fouled gets the advantage of 2 free throws and also
the possession of the ball.
Lane Violation
At the time of a free throw, if a player enters the lane too soon, lane violation is said to have been
committed. Usually the penalty for lane violation results in a turnover or the other team receives
another free throw.
Offensive Foul
This is a personal foul committed by the offense team’s player. The player, who has the ball in
his or her hands, charges into the defense team’s player who is standing in a stationary, defensive
position.
Over-the-Back
A player who jumps on and goes over the back of his or her opponent, who is trying to attempt
the rebound with the ball.
Palming
A player who takes his or her hand under the ball and scoops it while dribbling is said to have
committed the palming violation.
Reaching In
When a player tries to steal the ball from the offense team’s player, the player extends his or her
arm and hand out, making contact with the player who has the ball.
Shooting Foul
This foul is committed when a player is fouled while in the act of shooting the ball. If the player
misses the shot, he or she receives 2 or 3 free throw, depending on which shot he or she was
originally taking.
Technical Foul
Any violations and misconduct which detriments the game is called a technical foul. Usually the
penalty for a technical foul is a free throw to the opponent team.
Three in the Key
Any defense or offense player cannot remain in the lane for more than 3 seconds at a time. If the
violation is committed, it results in change of ball possession.
Traveling
The offense team’s player who has the ball and takes too many steps, anywhere on the court,
without dribbling the ball is said to have committed this violation.
Tripping
When a player uses his or her foot or leg to make the opponent to lose or fall during the game is
said to have committed the tripping foul.
Unsportsmanlike Foul
Any player or team that plays unfairly, unethically, and/or dishonourably is said to have
committed the unsportsmanlike foul. Such fouls are usually given a penalty of a free throw to the
opponent team.
References/Additional Resources/Readings
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