Helena Frye
In basketball, a charity shot is a free throw given to a player after they are fouled by an opposing team member. The shot is taken from the foul line or the charity stripe, which is 19 feet from the baseline and 15 feet from underneath the basket. The term charity is used to describe these shots as they are unhindered by defenders and are essentially free shots.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of shot | Unhindered shot from the foul line |
| Other names | Charity stripe, charity throw, charity toss, foul shot, free throw, penalty free throw |
| When it is taken | When a player is fouled |
| Distance from the baseline | 19 feet |
| Distance from underneath the basket | 15 feet |
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What You'll Learn
Charity shot meaning
A charity shot in basketball is a free throw or foul shot awarded to a player whose team has been fouled by the opposing team. The player taking the charity shot must shoot it from the free throw line, which is 19 feet from the baseline and 15 feet from underneath the basket. The term "charity" is used because the shot is "free", and the player taking the shot is unhindered by defenders.
Charity shots are an important part of basketball strategy. Because many players have a poor free throw shooting percentage, a team may choose to foul an opposing player and force them to make free throws in order to prevent them from making a more valuable shot, such as a jump shot. This strategy relies on the fact that a player is more likely to make a free throw with no defenders in their face than a contested jump shot.
The term "charity stripe" is sometimes used to refer to the free throw line, with "charity" again referring to the fact that the shot is "free", and "stripe" referring to the line. A player may be given two shots at the charity stripe if they are fouled, or one shot if they make a basket while being fouled.
Examples of charity shots can be seen in the following basketball game descriptions:
> "The final quarter was full of excitement, but ultimately it was Kyle Clark's single charity shot and a couple from centre Isaac Humphries that saw the runners-up through safely."
> "After Malabes made another charity shot to start the fourth, Manama sharp-shooters Hussain and Hassan buried back-to-back baskets from beyond the arc, once again extending the gap to nine and effectively halting any Muharraq resurgence."
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Charity stripe
In basketball, the term "charity stripe" is another name for the free-throw line. It is called the charity stripe because "charity" means "free", and "stripe" refers to the free-throw line. The charity stripe is 19 feet from the baseline and 15 feet from underneath the basket. A player must shoot their free-throw attempts from the charity stripe.
A "charity shot" is a basketball term for an unhindered shot taken from the free-throw line (the charity stripe) after a foul has been committed by the opposing team. The player must stay behind the free-throw line when taking the shot. A successful charity shot is worth one point.
The terms "charity stripe" and "charity shot" are often used in basketball commentary and reporting. For example, a commentator might say that a player "will get two shots from the charity stripe" after being fouled. Similarly, a match report might describe how a player "added another charity shot to make it 70-65".
The charity shot is a common feature of basketball games, and it is an important skill for players to be able to execute accurately. Teams may even strategize to foul a player in order to challenge them to make a free throw, as a player shooting free throws with no defenders is sometimes a better defensive strategy than allowing them to shoot a contested jump shot.
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Charity shot synonyms
A "charity shot" in basketball is a free throw or foul shot awarded to a player following a foul by the opposing team. The shot is taken from the foul line or free throw line, also known as the "charity stripe", which is 19 feet from the baseline and 15 feet from underneath the basket. The term "charity" is used because the shot is "free", i.e. unhindered or uncontested.
Synonyms for "charity shot" include:
- Charity throw
- Charity toss
- Foul shot
- Free throw
- Penalty free throw
These terms all refer to the same concept: a shot taken from the free throw line, without defenders, as a result of a foul by the other team.
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Charity shot examples
A charity shot in basketball is an unhindered shot from the foul line, given to a player when the other team commits a foul. The charity shot is also known as a free throw, charity toss, foul shot, or penalty free throw. The term "charity" is used because the shot is free, and the player taking the shot is unhindered by defenders.
- In a game between the Painters and an unnamed team, Belga of the Painters missed his bonus charity shot after being fouled by RJ Jazul with 12.7 seconds left in the extra period.
- In the same game, Cuna of Bahrain Limo also had a chance to win the game with a charity shot but missed.
- In an Under-17 basketball game between Fiba and an unnamed team, Mohammed Hussain of Fiba made a crucial three-pointer to give his team the lead with 49 seconds left in overtime. He then made a charity shot to extend their lead to 81-80.
- In a game between two unnamed teams, Douglas Kramer of the Filipinos stole a basket with a charity shot to tie the game at 70-70.
- In a game between the black shirts and an unnamed team, Oumar Seck of the black shirts was fouled and made a charity shot to tie the score at 98-all but missed his second shot.
- In a game between two unnamed teams, Masiglat led all players with nine points, including a charity shot, in the second quarter.
- In a game between Manama and an unnamed team, Malabes of Manama made a charity shot to start the fourth quarter.
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Charity shot vs free throw
A charity shot and a free throw are the same things in basketball. They are unhindered shots taken from the foul line, given to penalize the opposing team for committing a foul. The free throw line is also known as the charity stripe. It is 19 feet from the baseline and 15 feet from underneath the basket.
Free throws are generally awarded after a foul on the shooter by the opposing team, analogous to penalty shots in other sports. They are also awarded in other situations, including technical fouls, and when the fouling team has entered the bonus/penalty situation. The number of free throws awarded depends on the situation, with players getting between one and three attempts. Each successful free throw is worth one point. In the NBA, most players make 70-80% of their attempts.
Free throws are not awarded for offensive fouls, even if the team fouled is in the bonus. The number of fouls that triggers a penalty is higher in college men's basketball because the game is divided into two 20-minute halves, as opposed to 12-minute quarters in the NBA or 10-minute halves in the WNBA, college women's basketball, or FIBA play.
Some players are notoriously bad at free throws, such as Wilt Chamberlain, Ben Wallace, and Shaquille O'Neal. This allows for a strategy where a team intentionally fouls this player, hoping that they will miss one or both shots and the defending team will regain possession of the ball. This strategy was dubbed "Hack-a-Shaq" when used on Shaquille O'Neal.
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Frequently asked questions
A charity shot is an unhindered basketball shot from the foul line, given to penalize the other team for committing a foul. It is also known as a free throw.
The charity stripe is another term for the free throw line, where a player must shoot their free throw attempts. It is 19 feet from the baseline and 15 feet from underneath the basket.
A player gets a chance to make a charity shot when they are fouled by a player on the opposing team.
If a player is fouled while taking a charity shot, they are awarded two or three free throws depending on the value of the missed shot, or a single free throw if the initial shot was made.
