Basketball Spectator Guide
Here are the most common basketball fouls in our program, along with the referee signal that accompanies it.
Blocking – When the defender makes an illegal personal contact with an opponent who may
or may not have the ball. Blocking is called when the defender impedes the progress of the
opponent.
Player Control Foul – When an offensive player in possession of the ball makes contact with
a defender who has already established a set position. A player with the ball must avoid
contact with a stationary defender by stopping or changing direction. No free throws are shot
for team fouls when this foul is called.
Double Fouls – When two opponents commit fouls against each other at the same time.
Flagrant/Intentional Foul – A personal or technical foul, which is violent in nature and
keeps the opponent from capitalizing on an advantageous situation. It could be contact away
from the ball or contact when a defender is not making a legitimate attempt to play the ball or
a player. These fouls have serious consequences – the fouled team receives two points, his
team gets possession of the basketball out of bounds, and the player committing the foul is not
allowed back into the game.
Illegal Use of the Hands - When a defender makes repeated contact with her hands on her
opponent.
Holding – Grabbing or touching an opponent to interfere with his freedom of movement.
Personal Foul – Illegal contact with an opponent while the ball is live, which hinders the
opponent’s offensive or defensive movement.
Pushing – When a player excessively pushes or bumps into an opponent.
Technical Foul – A non-contact foul by a player; an intentional or flagrant contact foul; or a
violation charged to the head or assistant coach because of violations on the sideline. A
technical foul results in 2 points awarded for fouled team, plus possession of the ball. A the
official’s discretion, it may result in removal of player or coach from game and/or facility.
Basketball Spectator Guide
A foul is a penalty called by the referee for rough play to keep a player from gaining an advantage over
another player. Fouls can be called on both offensive and defensive players, players with or without the ball,
coaches, as well as teammates on the sidelines. Not all contact on the basketball court is illegal, but there are
some specific fouls outlined in the rules that are designed to keep the contact from becoming too aggressive.
 It is an infraction of the rules that result in a player being charged with a personal foul.
 Each player is allowed 5 fouls before they are removed from the game.
 When a foul is committed, the ball is awarded out of bounds to the fouled team, unless the foul occurs
during the act of shooting.
 A shooter who is fouled is awarded 1, 2 or 3 free throws depending on the location of the foul and
whether or not the shot went in.
A violation is an infraction of the rules of basketball that cause a team to lose possession of the ball.
 There are no free throws taken when a violation occurs.
 Includes such things as double dribbling, traveling, over and back, 3 seconds in the lane, 10 seconds in
the backcourt, etc.
Shooting Foul – A foul called when a player is in the act of shooting. If the shooter makes the shot, she is
awarded one free throw. If she misses the shot, she gets two free throws unless she was fouled beyond the 3point line in which case she is granted three free throws.
Team Fouls – The teams’ accumulation of individual player fouls. Once a team reaches 7 team fouls, its’
opponent is in a “bonus” free throw situation. After 10 team fouls, its opponent is in a “double bonus” free
throw situation. Team fouls reset each half but individual player fouls are accumulated the entire game.
Incidental Contact – minor, usually inadvertent contact, that doesn’t create an advantage for a player or
doesn’t violate sportsmanship.
Commonly Misunderstood Rules
 3 seconds lane violation – the time resets after each shot that hits the rim and/or backboard.
 “Reaching In” Foul - there is no foul called “Reaching In” found in the rule book. The act of simply
“reaching in” is allowed unless contact is made. If contact is made, the referee can call a pushing, holding
or illegal use of hands.
 “Over the Back” – there is no foul called “Over the Back” in the rule book. Players are allowed to reach
over the back of another player as long as no contact is made. A taller player simply reaching over the
back of another player for the rebound (without making contact) has not committed a foul.
 A player must have control of the ball in order to travel. Players can “recover” a fumbled ball, traveling
does not occur during the time it takes the player to recover.
 Players cannot travel while dribbling the basketball, traveling is considered taking one or more steps
without dribbling.
 If a player attempts to set a screen and is moving, it is not considered a foul unless contact is made.
 The top edge and sides of the back board are not “out of bounds” but the basket support beams are.
 A player dribbles the ball above their head – Dribbling the ball above a player’s head is not a violation, the
only restrictions that pertain are: The ball cannot come to rest and/or the dribblers hand must stay on top
of the ball.
 Tripping Foul – it is not a foul when a player trips over their own feet. It is also not a foul if they trip over
the defenders feet who have not moved or are otherwise not responsible for the contact.