Ayrton Oneill
Basketball is a popular sport played at multiple skill levels, from the NBA to the Olympic Games to pickup games at the local gym. The rules of basketball establish guidelines for personnel, penalties, and gameplay. While many of the basic rules are uniform worldwide, there are some variations. For example, the rules for the NBA differ slightly from those of the WNBA and NCAA, and international rules differ from USA professional rules. The objective of the game is for two teams of five players each to score points by shooting a ball through a hoop suspended 10 feet above the ground. The team with the most points wins.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of players per team on the court | 5 |
| Maximum number of fouls per player | 6 |
| Maximum time to inbound the ball | 5 seconds |
| Maximum time to attempt a shot after gaining possession | 24 seconds (NBA), 30 seconds (FIBA), 45 seconds (NCAA men) |
| Time to advance the ball over the mid-court line | 8 seconds (FIBA), 10 seconds (NBA, NCAA men, U.S. high schools) |
| Maximum time to hold the ball when being closely guarded | 5 seconds |
| Maximum number of substitutions | Unlimited |
| Maximum time to release the ball after a foul is committed | 5 seconds |
| Maximum time for offensive players to remain near opponents' basket | 3 seconds |
| Maximum time defensive players can remain near opponents' basket | 3 seconds |
| Points for a basket made within the three-point line | 2 points |
| Points for a basket made outside the three-point line | 3 points |
| Points for a free throw | 1 point |
| Points for a three-point goal when fouled | 3 free throws |
| Points for a regular goal when fouled | 2 free throws if the shot doesn't go in, 1 free throw if it does |
| Allowed body parts to touch the ball | Hands |
| Allowed body parts to touch the ground | Feet |
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What You'll Learn
Player positions and substitutions
Basketball is a sport played with five players on the court for each team at a time. Each player is assigned a different position based on the strategic role they play. The three main position categories are guard, forward, and center. The standard team features two guards, two forwards, and a center.
The guards are typically called the "back court" and the forwards and centers the "front court". Each of the five positions is known by a unique name and number: point guard (PG) or 1, shooting guard (SG) or 2, small forward (SF) or 3, power forward (PF) or 4, and center (C) or 5. The guards were originally tasked with guarding the team's forwards, hence the position's name.
Over time, as more specialized roles developed, each of the guards and forwards became differentiated. For example, some point guards are known for focusing their game on their prolific defensive skills and their ability to impact the offense of opposing teams' forwards and centers, despite their smaller size. A shooting guard is generally between 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) to 6 feet 7 inches (2 m). A player who is both a point and a shooting guard is called a combo guard.
The small forward (SF), also known as the three, is considered to be the most versatile of the main five basketball positions. Small forwards can do just about everything, from scoring, to rebounding, handling the ball, passing, and defending. The concept of the point forward has become increasingly popular in recent years, as teams have sought to find players who can effectively play multiple positions and bring more versatility to their lineups.
In the past, players who played the center position were relatively slow and hung out at the basket but were much taller than every other player. Today, players who play as centers can also be classified as power forwards, dominate opponents with their defensive skills, and shoot from the high post. The presence of a center who can score in the low post (the area closest to the basket) helps to create balance within an offense.
In terms of substitutions, in 1900, five players became the standard, and players that were substituted were not allowed to re-enter the game. Players were allowed to re-enter a game once from 1921, and twice from 1934; such restrictions on substitutions were abolished in 1945 when substitutions became unlimited.
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Fouls and violations
Fouls
Fouls are tracked to individual players, and the number of fouls a player can commit is limited. If a player exceeds the foul limit, they are disqualified and ejected from the game. The foul limit has changed over time; originally, a player was disqualified on their second foul, but this limit became four fouls in 1911 and five fouls in 1945. Today, in a 48-minute game, a player is disqualified on their sixth foul.
Fouls can be committed by players, coaches, or trainers, and they can be personal or technical. Personal fouls are infractions that violate the rules of the game and involve illegal physical contact against an opposing player. Most player fouls impede an opposing player's gameplay. When a player fouls another player who is shooting, the fouled player is rewarded with unguarded free throws from the foul line. Each successful free throw counts for one point.
Coaches and trainers can also commit personal fouls for unsportsmanlike acts, such as using profanity to dispute a missed call.
Technical fouls are assessed for unsportsmanlike tactics and can lead to ejection from the game. Examples of technical fouls include:
- Delay of game
- Coaches box violations
- Defensive 3-seconds
- Having more or less than five players when the ball becomes alive
- Participating in the game when not on the team's active list
- Shattering the backboard or making the rim unplayable during the game
- Throwing the ball or any object at an official
- Fighting
Flagrant 2 is a type of foul that refers to any foul involving unnecessary and excessive contact. If a player commits a Flagrant 2 foul, they are assessed a fine and are automatically ejected from the game, and the opposing team receives free throws and possession of the ball.
Violations
Violations are not tracked to individual players like fouls are. Violations can result in penalties such as loss of ball or turnover, with possession going to the opposing team. Examples of violations include:
- Double dribbling: When a player dribbles, they may not pick up their dribble and then start dribbling again.
- Travelling: Players may not run while holding the ball. They must dribble or pass the ball.
- Shot clock violation: When the shot clock expires before the shot is released.
- Three-second rule violation: Offensive players may not remain near their opponents' basket for longer than three seconds.
- Backcourt violation: Once the offensive team crosses half-court, they may not go back into the backcourt.
- Goaltending: Players may not touch the basketball while it is travelling downward towards the basket or if it is on the rim.
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Scoring and points
The objective of basketball is to score more points than the opposing team by shooting a ball through a hoop, known as a basket, that is suspended above the ground. The rules of basketball vary slightly depending on the level of play and location, but the majority of rules are applicable to most games.
Points are scored by throwing the basketball through the opponent's basket. In regular play, a basket made from within the three-point line is worth two points, and a basket shot from outside the three-point line is worth three points. Each successful free throw, or foul shot, is worth one point.
A player shooting while being fouled gets two free throws if their shot doesn't go in, but only one free throw if their shot does go in. Three free throws are awarded if a player is fouled while shooting for a three-point goal and misses their shot. If a player is fouled in the act of shooting, the referee rewards the fouled player with unguarded free throws from the foul line. Each successfully made free throw counts for one point.
The winner of a basketball game is the team with the most points.
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Time restrictions
Another critical time restriction is the eight-second rule, which was previously set at ten seconds until FIBA and the NBA reduced it in 2000 and 2001, respectively. This rule dictates that once a team gains possession of the ball, they must advance it beyond the halfway line within eight seconds. This rule adds urgency to the game and prevents teams from stalling or excessively strategizing.
The three-second rule, introduced in 1936, is another key time restriction. This rule prohibits offensive players from lingering in the lane or key, the area near the opponents' basket, for more than three seconds. This rule was implemented to prevent tall offensive players from gaining an advantage by waiting close to the basket and to reduce rough play in that area.
Additionally, players must be mindful of the five-second rule when closely guarded. A player cannot hold the ball for more than five seconds while being closely guarded by a defender. This rule encourages active play and discourages players from holding onto the ball for extended periods.
Finally, shot-clock restrictions, which vary across different leagues and levels, dictate the time frame within which a team must attempt a shot. For example, the NBA introduced a 24-second shot clock in 1954, while FIBA adopted a 30-second shot clock. These shot-clock restrictions further contribute to the fast-paced nature of the game and ensure that teams actively pursue scoring opportunities.
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Out of bounds
In basketball, a player is ruled out-of-bounds when any part of their body touches the floor or any object on or outside a boundary line. This includes the boundary lines themselves. For a player in the air, their position is determined by the last point of contact with the floor.
A basketball is ruled out-of-bounds when it touches a player who is out-of-bounds, any other person, the floor, or any object on, above, or outside a boundary line. The ball is also out-of-bounds if it touches the supports or back of the backboard, or rebounds or passes directly behind it. If the ball is out-of-bounds because it touched a player on or outside a boundary, that player is deemed responsible. If a player has their hand in contact with the ball and an opponent hits that hand, causing the ball to go out-of-bounds, the team whose player had their hand on the ball retains possession.
If the ball goes out-of-bounds and was last touched simultaneously by two opponents, or if the official is unsure who last touched the ball, play is resumed with a jump ball between the two players in the nearest restraining circle. If the ball is interfered with by an opponent on the bench or sideline, it is awarded to the offended team out-of-bounds, at the nearest spot to the violation.
During a throw-in, until the ball has crossed the plane of the boundary, no player can have any part of their body over the boundary line. If the ball goes out-of-bounds without being touched by a player, it is returned to the original throw-in spot. After a score, field goal, or free throw, any player of the team not credited with the score puts the ball into play from any point out-of-bounds at the endline of the court where the points were scored.
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Frequently asked questions
Only five players are allowed on the court per team.
If a player commits a foul, the referee will call it out and the fouled player will get unguarded free throws from the foul line. Each successful free throw counts for one point.
The three-second rule prohibits offensive players from remaining near their opponents' basket for longer than three seconds.
The shot clock was introduced by the NBA in 1954 to increase the speed of play. Teams must attempt a shot within 24 seconds of gaining possession.
You score points by throwing the basketball through your opponent's hoop or basket. 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 3 points. Each free throw is worth 1 point.
