With over 450 million people playing basketball worldwide, the sport is one of the most prevalent globally. While many are well-versed in the fundamental rules of basketball, there is often confusion due to certain rules differing between college and elite levels. This short guide will outline the basic rules of basketball, including its scoring system, court layout, and more.
Court Layout
The basketball court is divided by several different lines. The baseline or end-line runs behind the basket, around 4ft rearwards at 50ft in length. These lines mark the boundaries of the court and it is a rule violation if players cross this line while holding the ball.
Connecting the two baselines are the sidelines.
Running the length of the court, the sidelines alongside the baselines make up the outer skeleton of the basketball court. The half-court line splits the court into front and back courts. This line runs down the middle of the court. Once the ball passes over the line, it the offense cannot bring the ball back over the line. If they do so, it is called a back-court violation.
The center circle is directly in the middle of the court It is the key area where the game starts.
Each section of the court also has a three-point line – an arc shape connecting the free throw circle and the baseline. The three-point line transformed basketball when it was introduced in [insert year]. More recently, the game at the highest levels has been 3-pt heavy largely due to Stephen Curry’s influence, who began scoring three-pointers at higher volumes ever seen before, changing the nature of offense, defense, and strategies for success on the court.
Alongside lines, the basketball court has various areas, specifically around and inside the three-point arc.
The paint, or the ‘key’, makes up a large portion of this region bounded by lane lines and the free-throw circle. Hence its name: offensive players cannot remain in the key for more than three seconds if their team possesses the ball. If they do so, refs will say “3 in the key” which signifies someone on offense has remained inside the key for more than 3 seconds.
Court dimensions vary depending on the level of play. In the NCAA at the college level, the three-point line is closer to the basket than at the NBA level by about a foot, with the width of the key also being shorter at 12 feet wide compared to the NBA court at 16 feet.
General Rules and Scoring
Basketball teams have five players on either side; players aim to score points by putting the ball in the basket with different types of shots. Shots within the three-point line count as 2 points, while shots outside the line count as three points. Players may also score points through a free throw after an opposing team commits rule violations. Each free throw shot successfully made results in a single point. The team with the most overall points wins at the game’s end when the time runs out.
The Shot Clock
Shot clocks run throughout the game alongside the game’s overall timer. Each team must make a successful shot attempt before the shot clock runs out. In college basketball, teams must attempt a shot at the basket within 30 seconds, while players in the NBA and FIBA have 24 seconds. If the ball hits the basket’s rim and the offensive team secures the rebound, the shot clock resets to 20 seconds in NCAA games and 14 seconds in the NBA and FIBA. The offense then can attempt another shot at basket.
Change of Ball Possession: After an offensive team gains control of the ball, they have to shoot before the shot clock expires; if a shot is scored, the ball passes to the opposing team to restart play.
Back Court Violation: If an adversarial team gains possession of the ball in their half, they must move it to the opposing team’s half (the offensive side) within ten seconds. In the NBA, this time limit is 8 seconds. Once the ball crosses the midline, it cannot be dribbled back into the backcourt, which would otherwise result in a violation and the opposing team’s possession.
Out of Bounds: Throwing the ball or carrying the ball outside of the boundary lines will result in a change of possession.
Traveling: Players must travel around the court by dribbling and passing, using one hand to dribble at a time. Once a player puts two hands on the ball, they must pass or shoot. A violation will occur if a player moves more than two steps without dribbling (traveling); an opposing team will, in this instance, gain possession of the ball.
Double Dribble: It is also illegal to dribble with 2 hands. Doing so will result in a double dribble call and a change of possession. The other form of double dribble is when a player dribbles, stops dribbling and holds the ball, and then continues to dribble again. Once you stop your dribble, you must pass or shoot.
Personal fouls: Any sort of overly rough contact (pushing, holding, etc.) will typically result in the other team gaining possession of the ball. These fouls are added up for each player, as well as the team as a whole (called team fouls). A regular foul will result in a change of possession. If a player is fouled while trying to shoot, it will result in free throws; these rules differ slightly depending on the level of play. Please read more below.
Personal Fouls Limits:
NBA: Players are disqualified and cannot continue playing in the game after they commit six personal fouls.
NCAA: Players are disqualified and cannot continue playing in the game after they commit after five personal fouls.
FIBA: Players are disqualified and cannot continue playing in the game after they commit after five personal fouls.
Team Fouls:
NBA: Teams enter the bonus (penalty) after five fouls in a quarter. On the 5th foul, the opposing team gets two free throws, even if the foul does not occur during a shot attempt.
NCAA: Teams enter the bonus after seven team fouls in a half ( one free throw) and the double bonus after ten team fouls (two free throws).
FIBA: Teams enter the bonus after five team fouls in a quarter (two free throws).
Technical Fouls:
NBA: One free throw for the opposing team.
NCAA: Two free throws and possession for the opposing team.
FIBA: One free throw and possession for the opposing team
Fouling Out: In most leagues, each player can have a maximum of 4 fouls. If a player commits more than 4 fouls in a game, they must leave the game and are not allowed to return.
Technical Fouls: These fouls are given mostly for unsportsmanlike conduct. This can include swearing/using profanity on the court. Even if you don’t direct it at an individual. Other examples include taunting the crowd or other players. Technical fouls can even be given to coaches, and players sitting on the bench. In rare cases, if a crowd becomes unruly, referees may give technical fouls to a team if they fans are being excessively rude or vulgar during a game.
Ejections: If technical fouls occur twice, in most leagues the offending player or coach will be ejected from the game and must actually leave the court/gym.
Game Duration
In the NBA, Basketball games are played for 48 minutes, consisting of four 12-minute rounds. These games also have a 15-minute halftime break and at least four timeouts per team, which add to the game duration. While these timings are common within the NBA for a standard game, game duration varies depending on the level of play. Games handled by FIBA and NCAA are 40 minutes long, with four rounds of ten.
