Basketball Rules

Dr. James Naismith invented the game of basketball in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1891.
The objective of today's game stems directly from Naismith's original rules that are based
around shooting a ball through a metal hoop suspended above the ground, which is called a
basket.
These rules include:

1. Only five players per team on the court.

In the NBA, WNBA, and NCAA basketball, each team can play a maximum number of five players
on the court. If a team breaks this main rule, they will lose possession of the ball. Sometimes this
inadvertently happens, particularly at low levels of the game, when substitute players check into the
game and others don't leave the court in time.

1. Score more than your opponent to win.

To win the game, a team must score more field goals than the other team. A field goal refers to any
basket a player scores during game play. Field goals can be worth two or three points. Field goals
shot from inside the arc that designates the three-point line on the court are worth two points. Field
goals shot from outside the arc are worth three points. Field goals can take the form of jump shots,
layups, slam dunks, and tip-ins.

1. Score within the shot clock.

Teams have a limited amount of time to shoot the ball during a given possession. In the NBA and
WNBA, teams are allowed 24 seconds of possession before they must shoot, while NCAA teams are
allowed 30 seconds. A shot clock mounted above the hoop on each side of the court displays and counts
down the time allotted. If the shot clock elapses, the opposing team forfeits the ball and becomes the
defensive team.

2. Dribbling advances the ball.

Basketball players may only advance the ball by passing or dribbling (bouncing the ball on the floor) as
they move up and down the court. If a player stops dribbling, they may not resume; instead, they must
pass the ball or shoot it. If an offensive player with possession of the ball stops then continues dribbling
before passing or shooting, the referee will call a “double dribble,” and the opposing team gets the ball.
Additionally, players may only advance the ball by dribbling it. If they run while holding the ball, they
are traveling. Referees will issue a traveling call, and possession of the ball will go to the opposing team.

3. The offense has five seconds to inbound the ball.

After the offense scores a basket, the opposing team receives possession of the ball. One of their players
has to inbound the ball from a designated spot on the sidelines of the court to resume game play. The
player has five seconds to pass the ball to another player on his team, or else the team loses possession.
The defender cannot contact the ball when the offensive player is trying to inbound it, or the referee can
issue a technical foul.

4. The offense must advance the ball. Once an offensive team advances the ball past the half-court line,
the ball handler may not cross that line again, or a referee will award possession of the ball to the
opposing team.
5. Ball and ball handler must remain inbounds.

During game play, the player with possession of the ball must stay within the designated inbounds lines
marked on the court. If a player steps out of bounds or touches this line with their foot while holding the
ball, the referee will award possession to the opposing team. Additionally, if a player shoots the ball
while their foot is touching the line and the shot is successful, it will not count.

6. Defenders can’t interfere with a shot on a downward trajectory.

After the offensive player shoots the ball, it is illegal for a defensive player to interfere with it once it
begins its descent toward the rim. This interference is called a goal tend and will result in an automatic
field goal for the offense.
7. Defenders can legally block or steal the ball.

The defending team’s goal is to prevent the offensive team from scoring by either stealing the ball,
blocking the ball from entering the basket, or using defensive tactics to prevent an offensive player from
shooting and scoring.

8. Defenders must leave the paint after three seconds.

The area directly in front of the basket is sometimes referred to as "the paint" or "inside the key."
Offensive players may not camp out in this area waiting for the ball or an offensive rebound. Any
individual player can spend a maximum of three seconds at a time in the space before they have to move.
Once they step out of the paint, they can return. If the referee notices a player hovering in the paint for
over three seconds, the team will receive a three-second violation.

9. Each team is allotted a certain number of fouls.

The NBA allows each team a total of 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.

10. Illegal contact results in a foul.

When a basketball player commits illegal physical contact against an opposing player, the referees will
call a personal foul. 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. Referees can assess coaches with fouls for unsportsmanlike acts, such as using profanity to
dispute a missed call.

11. Illegal contact results in a personal foul.

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. Shooting fouls result in free throw
attempts for the fouled player. If a defender fouls a shooter attempting a two-point shot, the shooter will
receive two free throws. If a shooter is fouled during a three-point shot attempt, they will receive three
free throws. If the player makes the shot they were attempting at the time of illegal contact, the basket
counts, and the shooter will receive one free throw.

12. Excessive contact results in a flagrant foul.

Flagrant fouls refer to a personal foul that can potentially 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. The penalty for this foul type is a free throw for the opponent and possession of the
ball. Flagrant 2 refers to any foul involving unnecessary and excessive contact. Officials perform an
instant-play review to determine if an act qualifies for the flagrant 2 penalty. If it does, the player at fault
is assessed a fine and an automatic ejection from the game, and the opposing team receives free throws
and possession of the ball.

13. Charges and illegal screens result in an offensive foul.

An offensive foul is a personal foul that offensive players commit when their team possesses the ball.
The two most common offensive fouls are charging and illegal ball screens. Charging is when an
offensive player makes contact with a defensive player who has planted their feet in a locked position.
An illegal screen is when a non-ball-handling offensive player moves while setting a screen for their
team mate to prevent the defender from moving about the court.

14. Certain rule violations result in technical fouls.

 A technical foul is a penalty for violating the game’s administrative rules. Officials commonly assess
technical fouls for fighting and verbal abuse, often assessing coaches with this penalty if they are too
abrasive when disputing a call. Technical fouls result in a free throw and a change of possession. If a
player or coach receives two technical fouls in the same game, the referee will eject them. Players with a
long history of technical fouls risk suspension from the regular season and even playoff games.

BASKETBALL TERMINOLOGIES

In order to contribute to basketball conversations, you’ll need to learn the language. Below is a list of the most
common basketball terms and phrases alongside their definitions.

Assist: A pass directly leading to a made basket.

Block: Touching a ball before it reaches the hoop, preventing a made basket.
Blocking: A foul committed by obstructing an offensive player with your body.
Boxing out: Using your body to prevent another player from gathering a rebound.
Center: Typically the tallest player on the court who plays closest to the basket.
Charging: A personal foul for when an offensive player runs over a stationary defensive player.
Crossover: Switching the ball from one hand to the other while dribbling.
Defence: The team without possession of the ball.
Dribbling: Bouncing the ball off the floor repeatedly without picking it up.
Dunk: When a player jumps and throws the ball through the hoop from close range.
Field goal: When the ball goes through the hoop on any shot other than a free throw, worth either two or three
points.
Forward: The 2nd tallest players on the floor after the Center.
Free throw: A shot awarded after a player is fouled, worth one point.
Guard: The smaller players on the court who handle the ball most and play away from the basket.
Key: The painted area close to the basket.
Offense: The team in possession of the ball.
Pass: To throw the ball to one’s teammates.
Rebound: To gather the ball after a missed shot.
Shot: An attempt to throw the ball into the hoop.
Three-point-line: The semi-circle surrounding the key. Shots made from beyond this line count for three
points.
Traveling: A violation for moving without dribbling the ball.
Turnover: When a team loses possession of the ball.

BASKETBALL OFFICIALS

The game of basketball is not officiated only by referees; there is a whole group of officials to manage a game
and to keep things on track. The group includes referee, umpires, scorer, timekeeper and shot clock operator.
Though each official has his own responsibilities but their collective motive is to run a game smoothly, to
ensure the enforcement of rules and to maintain the order of the game. Below is an overview of the
responsibilities of each official.
Referees
Referees are the main officials of the game. They are the ones who are actually responsible for enforcing rules
and regulations and calling fouls and violations. The number of referees officiating a game depends on the level
of play. In NBA, a crew chief and two referees are assigned to conduct a game and there official uniform is gray
shirt and black pant. In international basketball or NCAA game, it can be either one referee and one umpire or
one referee and two umpires officiate a game. They wear typical black and white stripped shirts and black pants.
Lead Referee
Lead referee (also known as crew chief in NBA) is the in charge of the game. Normally, all two or three
referees are independent in terms of making their decisions but in case of a dispute, it’s the lead referee whose
verdict is considered final.
Scorers
Scorer play supportive role in the game of the basketball. There can be one or two scorers in a game depending
on the rules of the league and their job is to write down the stats relevant to the game. They keep a running
summary of points scored, notify field goals and free throws made and missed. They also record the fouls called
on each player and informs a referee if sixth fouls is called against a player (to eject him from game). Also notes
the timeouts and let the referee knows if all timeouts have been used up by a team.

Timers
Timer assists referee in recording time. Generally, two timers are appointed by the league. One is official timer
who operates the game clock and the other is shot clock operator who operates 24 second clock. Official timer
alerts referee when each half is going to start and stops the clock when any kind of interruption occurs during a
game (fouls, out of bounds, timeouts etc) while shot clock timer informs referee when a player takes 24 or more
seconds to shoot a ball (keeping the ball in possession for 24 seconds or more is a violation).

By: Ms. Xena Mae S. Cristobal