VIOLATIONS IN BASKETBALL

BLOCKING FOUL

A personal foul caused when the defender makes illegal personal contact with an opponent who may or may not have the ball.

CHARGING FOUL

A personal foul occurring when an offensive player 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.

HAND CHEEK FOUL

A personal foul caused by a defender making repeated contact with her hands on her opponent.

HOLDING FOUL

A personal foul caused by with an opponent, which interferes with his freedom of movement.

FLAGRANT FOUL

A personal or technical foul, which is violent in nature.

Examples are fighting, striking, kicking, or kneeing an opponent.

TECHNICAL FOUL

is a penalty that is assessed to a player, coach, or bench personnel during a basketball game

is called for violations that do not involve physical contact during play.

TEAM FOUL

is the total number of fouls committed by all players on a team in a quarter or half. When a team reaches a certain number of fouls (usually 4 or 5), the opposing team gets free throws every time they are fouled.

VIOLATIONS

in basketball is when a player breaks a rule that does not involve physical contact. They are penalized by a change in possession or free throw opportunities

TIME VIOLATIONS

• 24 SECONDS SHOT CLOCK

• 8 SECONDS BACK COURT

• 5 SECONDS HELD BALL

• 3 SECONDS PAINT

DRIBBLING VIOLATION

• TRAVELLING

• CARRYING

• DOUBLE DRIBBLE

SHOOTING/DEFENDING VIOLATIONS

• GOALTENDING

• KICKING THE BALL

• BASKET INTERFERENCE

24 SECONDS SHOT CLOCK

• Failing to shoot before the shot clock expires.

• If a team fails to attempt a field goal within the time allotted the ball is awarded to the defensive team.

8 SECONDS BACK COURT

• Failing to advance the ball past half-court in 8 seconds.

5 SECONDS HELD BALL

• A team attempting to throw a ball in-bounds has five seconds to release the ball towards the court.

• The five second clock starts when the team throwing it in has possession of the ball

offensive 3 seconds violation

when a player whose team is in control of the ball stays in the paint for longer than 3 seconds without trying to actively score.

defensive 3 second violation

a player cannot stay for 3 consecutive seconds inside the paint if not guarding an offensive player.

TRAVELLING VIOLATION

is called when a player has taken more than two steps without the ball being dribbled.

CARRYING THE BALL

also known as “palming the ball” • It is a violation in basketball in which the ball handler allows their hand to scoop underneath the ball or places it on the lower half of the ball while dribbling and allowing the ball to come to a momentary rest.

DOUBLE DRIBBLE VIOLATION

is a personal violation given to a player that either uses two hands to dribble, or stops with the ball and starts dribbling again.

It is a dead ball turnover, meaning the opposing team gets the ball out of the infraction occurred.

GOAL TENDING

is a violation in which one or more players interfere with the basketball when a field goal attempt is on its way to the basket and is in its downward flight

The shot must be intentional, and the ball must have a reasonable chance of going into the basket.

KICK THE BALL

Kicking the ball or striking it with any part of the leg is a violation when it is an intentional act.

The ball accidentally striking the foot, the leg or fist is not a violation.

TRAVELING VIOLATION

• When a player illegally moves one or both of their feet, a traveling violation is called.

• The referee will put both arms in front of their face and move them in a circle to signal a traveling.

DOUBLE DRIBBLE

occurs when a player dribbles the ball, picks it up, and then dribbles again.

The referee puts both of their hands in front of them with their palms down, then alternates moving them up and down to signal a double dribble has occurred.

CARRYING THE BALL

is called when a player is dribbling the basketball and puts their hand under it, then continues dribbling.

To signal a carry, the official will use one of their hands and flip it over from palm up to palm down several times.

BACKCOURT VIOLATION

It occurs when a team with possession of the ball crosses the half-court line into the frontcourt and then illegally returns the ball to backcourt.

The referee will place their hand out with their palm down and move it back and forth form side to side like their hand is going over a line.

This is to signal that a player went over the half court line and an over-and-back occurred.

3-SECOND VIOLATION

The referee will take three fingers, point them down at their side and then swipe their hand back and forth to signal this violation.

5-SECOND VIOLATION

A team has five seconds to throw the ball inbounds when they are taking it out.

If they take longer than five seconds, the referee will call a 5-seconds violation.

This is a simple signal as the referee will use one of their hands and put five fingers in the air.

8-SECONDS VIOLATION

When a team has the ball in the backcourt, they have 8 seconds to get the ball across the half-court line.

If they take longer than the allotted 8 seconds, the referee calls 8-seconds violation.

In basketball, a player may not intentionally kicks the basketball.

If they do, the official will blow their whistle

To signal a kick occurred, the referee will point at their foot.

BLOCKING FOUL

• When a defensive player does not have a legal guarding position and impedes the dribbler’s progress a _____ occurs

• The referee’s signals for blocking is placing both hands on their hips.

CHARGING FOUL

• If the defensive player is in a legal guarding position and the offensive player knocks them off of their spot, a _____ occurs

• This is also called a player-control foul.

• When the referee signals a charging foul, they make a fist with one hand and “punch” the open palm of their hand.

HAND-CHECKING FOUL

• Defensive players are not allowed to limit a ball-handler’s ability to move with their hands.

• If the defender does limit the movement with their hands, a _____ is called.

• For the signals, the referee will chop one hand across the opposite wrist.

HOLDING FOUL

The ref’s signal for a _____ is making a fist point with one hand, holding that arm out, and then “grabbing”, the wrist with their other hand.

PUSHING FOUL

The signal for pushing is putting two arms out and making a pushing motion with the hands.

ELBOW FOUL

If a player gets aggressive with their elbows and connects with an opponent, a foul will be called.

Sometimes these fouls can be deemed flagrant and can result in two shots and the ball for the team that got hit by the elbow.

• The official will signal this type of foul by swinging their elbow.

INTENTIONAL FOUL

• Over the course of the game, fouls happen unintentionally numerous times.

• However, if the referee things a foul was done purposely or with malicious intent, they can call an intentional foul.

• An intentional foul results in two shots for the offensive team and the ball.

• The signal for an intentional foul is putting both arms in the air and making an “X” in them.

TECHNICAL FOUL

• If the referee feels like a coach of a player is not conducting themselves properly or having unsportsmanlike behavior, they can call a ______.

• The signal for a technical foul is taking both hands and making the letter “T” with them.

SUBSTITUTION

• When teams wants to exchange an on-court player with someone on the bench, the coach asks for a substitution.

• At the next dead ball, the referee signals the substitution by making an “X” with their arms.

NO SCORE

• Sometimes shots are taken that are immediately after a foul is called or the time has expired.

• The official will signal the shot does not count by waving the and crossing their arms out in front of them.

JUMP BALL

• When both players have control over the ball at the same time, it is indicated by both thumbs painting upwards with extended.

30 SECONDS TIME OUT

To indicate a _____ has been called by one of the teams, the official will take both hands and place them on top od his shoulders with his elbow out.

START CLOCK

• Beginning with one hand raised above head, the start of the clock is indicated by dropping the raised hand towards the floor.

STOP THE CLOCK

• To stop the clock at any point in the game, the referee will raise on hand straight over head with his palm open or one clenched fist (for stop the clock for foul)

THREE POINT ATTEMPT

• When a player attempts a three-pointer, the referee has a signal to show that.

• They will put one arm straight up in the air to signal a three-point shot is being attempted.

TIME OUT

• When an official wishes to signal for a full timeout it is indicated by two arms spread to the sides forming a “T” shape.

LANE VIOLATION

• If a player is shooting a free throw and a lane violation occurs, the referee will signal it by raising one of his arms out to his side and holding it there until the free throw is completed.

DOUBLE FOUL

• If two players have committed a foul at the same time, the referee will put both hands, in fists, extended out towards the sides.