A Fan’s Guide to Basketball Fouls & Violations
Basketball is a very fast-paced sport governed by many rules designed to keep the game safe and fair. These rules continue to change over time as the game, and players’ size and skills, develop. It can be challenging for even the most experienced athlete to keep up with the evolution of rules. To make it even harder, there are many situations where a generally-legal action like a screen might result in a penalty. This guide will discuss the differences between fouls and violations and describe the specific scenarios for each.
Basketball Fouls Explained
In basketball, contact between players often results in a foul. However, the game’s fast pace makes unintentional contact between players, also known as incidental contact, common. While the foul rules have been developed to keep the game safe, incidental contact isn’t a foul. If it were, games would go on forever. The concept of incidental contact requires referees to constantly judge whether contact between players is incidental or a foul. If the latter, it’s likely to be one of these types of fouls.
Personal Fouls
A personal foul involves illegal contact between players. This includes various contact fouls such as pushing, holding, blocking, tripping, or any other contact that inhibits the opponent’s freedom of movement or progress. Personal fouls don't automatically result in shooting unless they’re flagrant or committed on a player in the act of shooting unless the defense is in the bonus. However, each personal foul counts toward a player’s threshold of player fouls. If a player receives too many in a single game, they foul out and are removed from the game.
Common Fouls
As the name implies, common fouls are the most frequent fouls. Many types of calls fall into this broad category of illegal contact fouls. They’re also less serious than flagrant or technical fouls. Common fouls can be offensive or defensive, but are most often called on the defense. Here are a few common fouls you’re likely to see in any given game:
Defensive Fouls
Fouls committed by the defense add to the foul counts of both the player and their team.
Blocking Foul
This involves a defender physically blocking their opponent’s path without getting in a set, legal guarding position first. To be in a legal guarding position, the defender must face their opponent straight-on with their feet set firmly on the ground, and must not lean into the offensive player.
Reach-In Foul
This foul happens when a defender reaches in to steal the ball, but instead makes contact with their opponent.
Illegal Hand Use
Also known as a hand-check, this foul is called when a basketball player uses their hands illegally to impede or slow the movement of an opponent.
Intentional Foul
An intentional foul is any foul the defense commits deliberately, hoping that referees will call them on it. Defenders do this to stop the clock, deny the offense an easy scoring opportunity, or create an opportunity to regain possession of the ball.
Offensive Fouls
Fouls committed on offense add to the individual player’s foul count, but not their team’s foul count.
Charging Foul
This foul is called when an offensive player runs into a defensive player who has "beat them to the spot" by establishing themselves in their path in a legal guarding position. The defender must establish themselves in the path of the offensive player before contact is made. The defender on the receiving end is often said to have taken a charge. There’s one exception in the NBA/WNBA: a space under the basket called the restricted area where referees won’t call a charging foul on the offense. That’s because this area is too close to the basket for a driving offensive player to have time to avoid their defender.
Illegal Screen Foul
Just as there are rules covering how defenders can block, there are rules governing how offensive players can screen. An illegal screen results in a turnover. There are several ways a screen can be illegal. If the screener moves, sets with their legs more than shoulder-width apart, or leans to make contact with the offensive player, it’s a foul. It’s also illegal to set a screen closer than a normal step from a defender who is stationary and unaware of the screener’s position. An illegal screen by the offense results in a turnover and a foul added to that player’s total game fouls.
Swinging Elbows
Striking an opponent with an elbow nearly always results in a foul call. Leading with or swinging an elbow when approaching an opponent can result in penalties ranging from a change of possession to something more serious if it’s deemed to be malicious. Elbowing most often happens when offensive players make an overzealous attempt to gain an advantage over their defender.
Offensive or Defensive Fouls
These fouls can be committed by either the defense or the offense.
Double Foul
Sometimes, two players on opposing teams are called for fouling simultaneously. Double fouls add to a player’s total fouls, but not the team’s. They don’t result in free throws or turnovers. If a double foul is called when it’s unclear which team has possession, it’s decided by either a jump ball (in the NBA/WNBA) or the possession arrow (in college and high school basketball).
Holding
Whether a player is on offense or defense, they must allow their opponent the freedom to move at all times. When a player limits the movement of their opponents, they may be called for a holding foul.
Loose Ball Foul
This is any foul committed when neither team has control of the ball. This often happens when one player fouls another while they fight to gain control of a loose ball.
Over-the-Back Foul
This foul can happen while players jockey for position to secure a rebound. Players may legally block out or box out their opponents, but it’s a foul if they make illegal contact with an opponent by reaching up and over their back.
Tripping or Pushing Foul
This foul is exactly what it sounds like: a player pushing or tripping an opponent.
Flagrant Fouls
A flagrant foul is any foul that referees deem unnecessary or excessive. Flagrant fouls are more serious but less common than other basketball fouls. Flagrant fouls are often called on contact likely to cause injuries, such as swinging an elbow at an opponent’s face or body-checking a player in midair. While there are rules outlining what constitutes a flagrant foul, the referee must judge whether the contact was unnecessary and/or excessive in each case. In professional leagues, both flagrant and technical fouls can come with additional penalties, such as fines.
Flagrant Foul 1 (FF1)
An FF1 involves contact that is unnecessary but not excessive. The penalty grants the fouled player two free throws and possession of the ball. If a player commits two FF1 fouls in the same game, it results in an ejection.
Flagrant Foul 2 (FF2)
An FF2 involves unnecessary and excessive contact. In addition to the penalty for an FF1, the player who commits an FF2 is automatically ejected from the game.
Technical Fouls
Technical fouls can be assessed against players, coaches, the bench, and even fans. Technicals are more serious than common fouls, but not necessarily as serious as flagrant fouls. They usually don’t involve contact like flagrant fouls, and they can be called for infractions that occur outside of live play. Technical fouls result in free throw opportunities for the opposing team, and usually loss of possession. The rules regarding technicals and their consequences vary from league to league, but two technical fouls for a player or coach in one game usually result in an ejection.
There are three different categories of technical fouls:
Administrative
Certain administrative issues can trigger a technical, such as:
- Having too many players on the court during live play.
- Players not complying with rules regarding their uniforms.
- A coach or player calling more timeouts than are available.
Unsportsmanlike Foul
This foul covers a wide range of unsportsmanlike or disruptive behavior. Here are some common examples:
- Arguing with the referee or opponents.
- Taunting an opponent.
- Flopping, or faking a foul to convince the referee that an opponent has fouled when there’s been little or no actual contact, is a technical foul in the NCAA. This is currently the subject of much discussion in the NBA, but it’s not yet a rule.
- Actions that delay the game such as purposefully interfering with the ball after a made basket, hanging on the rim too long after a dunk, or slamming the ball down in frustration at a call.
Double Technical
A double technical foul occurs when both teams commit technical fouls at once, such as when two players both act in an unsportsmanlike manner to each other. In this case, both players are assessed a technical foul, but neither team’s foul count increases.
Shooting Fouls
Any foul committed against a player who is shooting is a shooting foul. When a player is fouled while shooting, the result is always the same, regardless of the type of foul or whether they made the initial shot. The fouled player gets to shoot free throws, their defender is charged with a personal foul, and the defender’s team is charged with a team foul.
The number of free throw opportunities a fouled shooter receives depends on the situation:
- A fouled player who missed a two-pointer can attempt two free throws.
- A fouled player who missed a three-pointer can shoot three free throws.
- A player who was fouled but made the shot anyway shoots one free throw. This is called an extra point, or colloquially an “and-1”.
Non-shooting fouls can also result in players being awarded free throws. This depends on whether the team committing the foul is in the bonus due to reaching their team foul limit.
How many fouls are allowed?
Individual players and teams both have a running foul count throughout the game. The number of fouls each is allowed differs at the professional level (NBA and WNBA) and the non-professional level (college, high school, and below). Here’s how they’re counted:
Player Fouls
The scorer’s table keeps track of each player’s fouls throughout the game. Once a player reaches the maximum number of fouls in a game, they’re considered “fouled out,” and must leave the game and not return. The maximum number of player fouls is six in NBA/WNBA, or five in non-professional leagues.
Team Fouls
A team’s foul count measures the total fouls that the team has committed, not counting offensive fouls or double fouls. There is no limit on team fouls, but hitting certain thresholds can put a team in the bonus or double bonus. Team fouls reset to zero throughout the game at different times, depending on the level of play. In the NBA/WNBA, team fouls reset each quarter. In college and high school, they reset at the half.
Bonus & Double Bonus
The total threshold of fouls necessary to reach the bonus or double bonus is different in the NBA/WNBA and college/high school. Once a team reaches the first threshold, they’re in the bonus. Any non-shooting foul they commit from that point on will result in at least a 1-and-1 free throw opportunity for the other team, or two free throws in the NBA/WNBA. In the non-professional leagues, a second threshold of fouls is called the double bonus. When a team is in the double bonus, their opponents are awarded two free-throw opportunities on non-shooting fouls. The bonus doesn’t apply to offensive fouls. Offensive fouls never result in free throws, no matter the league. Instead, the penalty is a turnover.
The Difference Between Fouls & Violations
Every foul is a violation, but not every violation is a foul. Basketball violations aren’t tracked to individual players like fouls are. Here are some types of violations:
Time Violations
Several rules govern how much time a player or team has to complete a certain action. Here are a few examples of violations related to time restrictions:
24-Second Violation
This is also called a shot clock violation, which happens when the shot clock expires. The shot clock marks how much time the offense has to attempt a shot. The shot must leave the player’s hand before the shot clock expires. It resets when the offense takes a shot that contacts the basket. This violation was created to keep the game moving and to prevent teams from stalling by just passing the ball around. A shot clock violation results in a turnover. The shot clock’s length varies depending on the level of play: 24 seconds in the NBA/WNBA and 30 in college. Not all high school leagues use the shot clock, but most that do set it at 35 seconds.
8-Second Violation
In the NBA and WNBA, once the offense gains possession of the ball in the backcourt, they only have eight seconds to get the ball over half-court. If they don’t, they lose possession and turn over the ball at midcourt. This rule is 10 seconds instead of eight in college and high school.
5-Second Inbound Violation
A player has five seconds to inbound the ball once a referee hands it to them. Failure to do this results in a turnover.
Floor Violations
There are several rules concerning certain locations on the court. Here are some important ones:
3-Second Violation
An offensive player may not remain in the lane for over three seconds. This rule was created to force offensive players (especially taller ones) to make moves around the basket instead of sitting in the lane and waiting for a pass. This is sometimes called three seconds in the key or lane.
Defensive 3-Second Violation
This rule only applies in the NBA and WNBA. A defensive player must not stand in the key for more than three seconds without actively guarding an opponent (within arm’s length of an offensive player and in a guarding position). If they do, a technical foul will be assessed on the player, and the offensive team will gain possession on the sideline.
Backcourt Violation
This is also known as over and back. Once an offensive player brings the ball into the frontcourt near their basket, the offense cannot bring or touch the ball in the backcourt. The penalty is a turnover, and the opposing team gains possession at midcourt.
Out-of-Bounds Violation
This violation is called on a player with the ball who steps out of bounds, or on any player who touched the ball last before it went out of bounds. This results in the ball being awarded to the opposing team.
Free Throw Violations
Several basketball violations can happen during free throws. These are often called lane violations.
Offensive Violations
This violation occurs if the shooter crosses the free throw line before the shot hits the rim or backboard. It’s also a violation if the shooter’s teammate moves into the lane for the rebound before the shooter has released the ball. If these violations are called on a made basket, the basket does not count.
Defensive Violations
The defenders can be in violation if they move into the lane to get in position for the rebound before the shooter has released the ball. If a defender steps in the lane too soon and the shooter misses, the shooter is given another shot opportunity.
Dribbling Violations
Double Dribble
This violation occurs when a player voluntarily picks up their dribble, then resumes dribbling afterward. It also occurs when a player dribbles with both hands at the same time. The penalty is a turnover.
Carrying or Palming
A player who is dribbling must keep their hand above the ball at all times. If they place their hand under the ball to hold or “carry” the ball, it’s a violation and results in a loss of possession.
Other Basketball Violations
Traveling or Walking
This violation occurs when the player in possession of the ball takes too many steps without dribbling. It’s very common because there are many different ways a player might travel. Here are some common ones:
- Moving their pivot foot.
- Taking too many steps after picking up their dribble.
- Taking an additional step before dribbling or shooting.
- Sliding or rolling on the floor while diving for the ball or trying to maintain possession.
The penalty for a travel violation is loss of possession.
Goaltending Violation
This violation occurs when a defender interferes with the ball on the way to the basket. Like traveling, a defender can trigger a goaltending violation in several ways. Some common ones are touching the ball:
- While it’s on its way downward, with a chance to enter the basket.
- By reaching up and through the net and rim to contact the ball.
- When it’s coming off the backboard toward the basket.
- While it’s in the cylinder (the imaginary area from the rim upward).
The penalty for goaltending is that the opposing team is awarded points for the basket, whether it went in or not.
Kicked Ball Violation
A player may not purposefully kick the ball. A kicked ball by the defense results in the offense retaining possession of the ball. A kicked ball by the offense results in a change in possession. Accidental contact between the ball and a player's leg or foot isn’t technically a violation, but referees often call it one. That’s because it’s difficult for them to determine a player’s intent in chaotic situations.
Strike the Ball Violation
A player may not punch or otherwise strike at the ball with their fist. The penalty for a strike violation is the same as a kicked ball.
Illegal Assist Violation
A player may not use the rim, net, or backboard to lift or support themselves while trying to score. The penalty for an illegal assist is loss of possession.
Offensive Basket Interference
This violation is similar to goaltending, but it’s called on the offense. Offensive players other than the shooter aren’t allowed to touch the ball while it’s on its way into the basket. The penalty for doing so is a turnover.
FAQs
What were the first basketball fouls and violations in the history of basketball?
The original basketball rules were created in 1892 by Dr. James Naismith, the inventor of basketball. The five original fouls were shouldering, holding, tripping, pushing, and striking. Here is his original list of 13 rules, some of which are still in play today.
What are the most team fouls in one game?
On April 9, 1990, the Utah Jazz faced off against the Phoenix Suns and committed 52 fouls, the most team fouls in NBA history for one game.
Which player fouled out of a game the fastest in NBA history?
Bubba Wells holds the record for fouling out after just three minutes of play on December 29, 1997. This is because he was put in the game to deliberately foul Dennis Rodman, employing an approach similar to the hack-a-Shaq strategy.
Can an offensive and defensive player be called for a foul on the same play at the same time?
Yes. This is called a double foul. Double fouls add to both players’ total game fouls, but not the team foul counts. When a double foul is called, the team in possession of the ball retains possession. A jump ball is called if the call comes when neither team has clear possession.
What is the worst basketball violation?
This is situational, but it’s commonly held that flagrant fouls are the most serious violations due to their extreme nature and malicious intent. Depending on the league, they may carry a heavy penalty and potential fines. Technical fouls are the next most serious violations behind flagrant fouls.
Which NBA player has the most personal fouls of all time?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has the most personal fouls at 4,657, with Karl Malone not far behind at 4,578.
What is a false double foul?
A false double foul is similar to a double foul, but it involves two fouls in quick succession rather than at the same time. It can also involve more than two players.
Here is an example, using D for the defense and O for the offense:
- Player D1 fouls Player O while Player O is shooting.
- After the shot, Player O fouls Player D2.
In this situation, if Player O made the shot, it wouldn’t count, but they’d be awarded free throws because of D1’s shooting foul on them. After the free throw attempts, the defense would receive possession because of O’s foul after the shot.