
In basketball, a foul refers to illegal personal contact or unsportsmanlike conduct on the court or sidelines of a game. Most player fouls involve contact that impedes an opposing player's gameplay. When a player fouls another player on an opposing team 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 number of free throws for the shooting foul is determined by the value of the offensive player's field goal attempt and whether the field goal was successful. If a player is fouled while attempting a two-point shot, they will receive two free throws. If a player is fouled during a three-point shot attempt, they will receive three free throws.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of foul | Backcourt foul |
| Applicable to | Teams that are over the foul limit |
| Number of foul shots | 3 |
| Number of foul shots made | 2 |
| Applicable during | Last 3 minutes of the game |
| Used in | NBA |
| Used during | Late 50s to early 80s |
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What You'll Learn
- A player can receive three free throws if they are fouled while attempting a three-point shot
- In the NBA, a team is allotted five fouls per quarter
- If a team exceeds the foul limit and commits a backcourt foul, the fouled team gets three foul shots to make two
- A shooting foul is when a defender impedes an offensive player in the act of shooting
- Personal fouls can be incurred by pushing, blocking, or striking another player

A player can receive three free throws if they are fouled while attempting a three-point shot
In basketball, a foul refers to illegal personal contact or unsportsmanlike conduct on the court or sidelines of a game. Most player fouls involve contact that impedes an opposing player's gameplay. When a player commits a foul, the referee can reward the fouled player with unguarded free throws from the foul line. Each successful free throw counts for one point.
If the player makes the shot they were attempting at the time of the foul, the basket counts, and the number of free throws is reduced to one. This is known as a three-point or four-point play, depending on the value of the made basket. This type of free throw is often called an "and-one".
In the NBA, a team is allotted five fouls per quarter. Once a team surpasses this allotment, they go "into the bonus," which means the officials will award the opposing team with free throws for every additional foul that a player commits in that quarter of play. In the NCAA, these foul shots are known as "one and one" shots, which means that if a player makes the first free throw, they receive a second free throw. If they miss the first free throw, either team can rebound the errant shot and claim possession. After 10 team fouls, the opposing team gets a "double bonus," which means they get to take two foul shots.
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In the NBA, a team is allotted five fouls per quarter
The NBA allots players six personal fouls per game; players are automatically disqualified from competition upon incurring their sixth foul, and a referee will eject them from the game. This is different from NCAA college basketball and most high school leagues, where only five fouls per game are allowed, and players are automatically disqualified after their fifth foul.
In the NBA, players are considered to be in foul trouble with two fouls in the opening quarter or three in the first half. This can significantly hinder a player's minutes on a given night, and as a result, there is some strategy in how teams decide to utilize fouls in a game.
A personal foul refers to an infraction that violates the rules of the game. Flagrant fouls, a type of personal foul, refer to unnecessary contact that has the potential to injure the opponent. These fouls carry heavier penalties, such as fines, immediate ejection, and even suspension. There are two types of flagrant fouls: flagrant foul—penalty (1) and flagrant foul—penalty (2). Flagrant 1 refers to fouls involving unnecessary contact, and the penalty for this type is a free throw for the opponent and possession of the ball. Flagrant 2 refers to any foul involving unnecessary and excessive contact. If a player is found to have committed a flagrant 2 foul, they are assessed a fine and an automatic ejection from the game, and the opposing team receives free throws and possession of the ball.
From the late 1950s to the early 1980s, the NBA used the "3 to make 2" foul rule. If a team was over the limit and committed a backcourt foul, the team that was fouled would get three foul shots to make two.
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If a team exceeds the foul limit and commits a backcourt foul, the fouled team gets three foul shots to make two
In basketball, a team is allowed to commit a certain number of fouls in each period before penalty foul shots are awarded to the opposing team. This number varies depending on the league and level of play. Once a team exceeds this foul limit, the opposing team is awarded multiple foul shots on any subsequent fouls committed, including backcourt fouls.
A backcourt foul, also known as a rear-court or defensive foul, occurs when a player commits a foul against an opponent in their own backcourt or defensive half of the court. This includes illegal contact with an opponent, such as holding, pushing, or charging, that impedes their progress or affects their ability to play.
When a team exceeds the foul limit, typically between four and six fouls depending on the rules of the specific league or tournament, the penalties for subsequent fouls become more severe. If a team commits a backcourt foul beyond this limit, the fouled player from the opposing team is awarded three foul shots, also known as free throws, as a penalty.
The objective of the fouled player during these foul shots is to make at least two out of the three attempts. This adds an element of pressure, as the player must successfully score on the majority of their attempts to maximize the benefit of the penalty for their team. The three-shot foul rule encourages strategic fouling late in games, as teams may intentionally foul weaker free-throw shooters to gain an advantage.
It's important to note that the specifics of basketball rules, including the number of fouls allowed and the penalties for exceeding the foul limit, can vary depending on the league, tournament, or level of play. Some leagues may have slight variations in their rules, so it's always a good idea to refer to the official rulebook or consult with a referee to fully understand the specific guidelines in place for a particular competition.
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A shooting foul is when a defender impedes an offensive player in the act of shooting
In basketball, a shooting foul occurs when a defender impedes an offensive player who is in the act of shooting. This usually happens when a defender attempts to beat an opponent to a spot on the floor but is too slow, resulting in illegal contact with the opponent.
A shooting foul can also occur when a defender makes illegal contact with an offensive player who is not in the act of shooting. This is considered a defensive foul, and the offensive team will typically execute an inbound pass near the sideline or baseline as a result.
In the NBA, a clear path to the basket foul occurs when a personal foul is committed on an offensive player during their team's transition scoring opportunity. This happens when the ball is in the backcourt, no defender is ahead of the offensive player, and the offensive player is in control of the ball or a pass has been released. If a team commits a backcourt foul and is over the limit, the fouled team is awarded three foul shots to make two. This rule was used in the NBA from the late 1950s to the early 1980s to prevent tedious endings to games that had already been decided.
To avoid committing a shooting foul, defenders must establish a legal guarding position. This is achieved when both of the defender's feet are on the playing court, and they face their opponent with their torso. Once this position is established, the defender is not required to give time and distance, and the offensive player should be prepared to change their movement or direction.
In summary, a shooting foul occurs when a defender impedes an offensive player in the act of shooting, resulting in free throws for the shooter. This can be avoided by defenders maintaining a legal guarding position and offensive players being aware of their movement relative to defenders.
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Personal fouls can be incurred by pushing, blocking, or striking another player
In basketball, a personal foul occurs when a player uses any part of their body to make illegal contact with an opposing player. This includes actions such as pushing, blocking, or striking another player. Personal fouls can result from a player's attempt to unfairly disadvantage an opponent through certain types of physical contact.
The rules regarding personal fouls can vary depending on the competitive league. For example, in NFHS high school basketball, NCAA men's and women's college basketball, and FIBA competitive leagues, players are allowed up to five personal fouls. In the NBA and WNBA, players are permitted up to six personal fouls.
It is important to note that personal fouls and team fouls are different. Team fouls are the sum of all personal fouls within a quarter. Once a team reaches a certain number of team fouls, the opposing team enters a bonus foul situation, where they are awarded free throws for any subsequent fouls committed by the other team.
In the context of personal fouls, pushing, blocking, or striking another player can result in a foul being called. Blocking, in particular, refers to a defensive player legally deflecting a field goal attempt from an offensive player. While blocking is a legal defensive strategy, it can become a personal foul if it involves illegal contact or unfairly disadvantages the offensive player.
Pushing or striking another player is generally considered illegal contact and can easily result in a personal foul. These actions are not permitted as they can put the opponent at a disadvantage or cause them harm.
It is worth mentioning that the interpretation and enforcement of rules regarding personal fouls can vary depending on the specific circumstances of each play, the league, and the judgment of the officials.
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Frequently asked questions
A foul in basketball refers to illegal personal contact or unsportsmanlike conduct on the court or sidelines of a game.
If a team was over the limit and committed a backcourt foul, the team that was fouled would get 3 foul shots to make 2. This rule was used in the NBA from the late '50s to the early '80s.
A shooting foul is an infraction that occurs when a defender commits illegal contact against an opposing player who is in the act of shooting.
A personal foul is an infraction that violates the rules of the game. Players can incur personal fouls by pushing, blocking, or striking another player in the act of shooting.
If a shooter is fouled during a three-point shot attempt and misses, they will receive three free throws. If the player makes the shot, the basket counts and the shooter will receive one free throw.











































