Basketball rules

RULE ONE –

THE GAME

Definitions

Basketball game Basketball is played by 2 teams of 5 players each. The aim of each team is to score in
the opponents' basket and to prevent the other team from scoring.

Basket:

opponents'/own The basket that is attacked by a team is the opponents' basket and the basket which is
defended by a team is its own basket.

Winner of a game The team that has scored the greater number of game points at the end of playing
time shall be the winner.

RULE TWO – PLAYING COURT AND EQUIPMENT

The following equipment shall be required: • Backstop units, consisting of: ▬ Backboards ▬ Baskets
comprising (pressure release) rings and nets ▬ Backboard support structures including padding. •
Basketballs • Game clock • Scoreboard • Shot clock • Stopwatch or suitable (visible) device (not the
game clock) for timing time-outs • 2 separate, distinctly different and loud signals, one of each for the ▬
shot clock operator, ▬ timer. • Scoresheet • Player foul markers • Team foul markers • Alternating
possession arrow • Playing floor • Playing court • Adequate lighting

RULE THREE – TEAMS

Definition

A team member is entitled to play when his name has been entered on the scoresheet before the
beginning of the game and as long as he has neither been disqualified nor committed 5 fouls.

During playing time, a team member is: • A player when he is on the playing court and is entitled to play.
• A substitute when he is not on the playing court but he is entitled to play. • An excluded player when
he has committed 5 fouls and is no longer entitled to play.

No more than 12 team members entitled to play, including a captain.

Captain: Duties and powers

Head coach and first assistant coach:

Duties and powers

At least 40 minutes before the game is scheduled to begin, each head coach or his representative shall
give the scorer a list with the names and

2 At least 10 minutes before the game is scheduled to begin, each head coach shall confirm his
agreement by signing the scoresheet. At the same time, the head coach shall indicate the 5 players to
begin the game.

.3 The head coaches, assistant coaches, substitutes, excluded players and accompanying delegation
members are the only persons permitted to sit on the team bench

.4 The head coach or the first assistant coach may go to the scorer’s table during the game to obtain
statistical information only when the ball becomes dead and the game clock is stopped.

5The head coach may communicate in a courteous manner with the referees during the game to obtain
information only when the ball is dead and the game clock is stopped.

6 Either the head coach or the first assistant coach, but only one of them at any given time, is permitted
to remain standing during the game.

7 If there is a first assistant coach, his name must be entered on the scoresheet before the beginning of
the game (his signature is not necessary).

8 If the captain leaves the playing court, the head coach shall inform a referee of the number of the
player who shall act as captain on the playing court.

9The captain shall act as player coach if there is no head coach, or if the head coach is unable to
continue

10 The head coach shall designate the free-throw shooter of his team in all cases where the free-throw
shooter is not determined by the rules.

RULE FOUR – PLAYING REGULATIONS tied score and overtime

Playing time

The game shall consist of 4 quarters of 10 minutes each

There shall be an interval of play of 20 minutes before the game is scheduled to begin. There shall be the
intervals of play of 2 minutes between the first and second quarter (first half), between the third and
fourth quarter (second half) and before each overtime. There shall be a half-time interval of play of 15
minutes.

Status of the ball

The ball can be either live or dead.

The ball becomes live when: • During the jump ball, the ball leaves the hand(s) of the crew chief on the
toss. • During a free throw, the ball is at the disposal of the free-throw shooter. • During a throw-in, the
ball is at the disposal of the player taking the throw-in.

The ball becomes dead when: • Any field goal or free throw is made. • A referee blows his whistle while
the ball is live. • It is apparent that the ball will not enter the basket on a free throw which is to be
followed by: ▬ Another free throw(s). ▬ A further penalty (free throw(s) and/or possession). • The
game clock signal sounds for the end of the quarter or overtime. • The shot clock signal sounds while a
team is in control of the ball. •

Jump ball and alternating possession

Jump ball definition

A jump ball occurs when a referee tosses the ball between any 2 opponents.

A held ball occurs when one or more players from opposing teams have one or both hands firmly on the
ball so that neither player can gain control without undue roughness.

Jump ball situations

A jump ball situation occurs when: • A held ball is called. • The ball goes out-of-bounds and the referees
are in doubt or disagree about which of the opponents last touched the ball. • A double free-throw
violation occurs during an unsuccessful last free throw. • A live ball lodges between the ring and the
backboard except: ▬ Between free throws, ▬ After the last free throw followed by a throw-in from the
throw-in line in the team’s frontcourt. • The ball becomes dead when neither team has control of the
ball nor is entitled to the ball. • After the cancellation of equal penalties on both teams, if there are no
other foul. • All quarters other than the first one and all overtimes are to begin

Alternating possession definition

Alternating possession is a method of causing the ball to become live with a throw-in rather than a jump
ball.

Alternating possession throw-in Begins when the ball is at the disposal of the player taking the throw-in.
Ends when The ball touches or is legally touched by any player on the playing court. The team taking the

throw-in commits a violation.

How the ball is played

Definition During the game: the ball is played with the hand(s) only and may be passed, thrown, tapped,
rolled or dribbled in any direction, subject to the restrictions of these rules. Rule A player shall not run
with the ball, deliberately kick or block it with any part of the leg or strike it with the fist. However, to
accidentally come into contact with or touch the ball with any part of the leg is not a violation. An
infraction is a violation.

Control of the ball

Team control starts when a player of that team is in control of a live ball by holding or dribbling it or has
a live ball at his disposal.

Player in the act of shooting

A shot for a field goal or a free throw is when the ball is held in a player’s hand(s) and is then thrown
into the air towards the opponents' basket.

A tap for a field goal is when the ball is directed with the hand(s) towards the opponents' basket.

A dunk for a field goal is when the ball is forced downwards into the opponents' basket with one or
both hands.

A continuous movement on drives to the basket or other moving shots is an action of a player who
catches the ball while he is progressing or upon completion of the dribble and then continues with the
shooting motion, usually upwards.

Goal: When made and its value 16.1 Definition 16.1.1 A goal is made when a live ball enters the basket
from above and remains within or passes through the basket entirely.

• A goal released from a free throw counts 1 point. • A goal released from the 2-point field goal area
counts 2 points. • A goal released from the 3-point field goal area counts 3 points. If a player
accidentally scores a field goal in his team’s basket, the goal counts 2 points and shall be entered on
the scoresheet as having been scored by the captain of the opponents’ team on the playing court.

If a player deliberately scores a field goal in his team’s basket, it is a violation and the goal does not
count

Throw-in

A throw-in occurs when the ball is passed into the playing court by the out-of-bounds player taking the
throw-in.

Procedure

A referee must hand or place the ball at the disposal of the player taking the throw-in. He may also toss
or bounce pass the ball provided that: • The referee is no more than 4 m from the player taking the
throw-in. • The player taking the throw-in is at the correct place as designated by the referee.

The player shall take the throw-in from the place nearest to the infraction or where the game was
stopped

At the beginning of all quarters other than the first one and all overtimes,

Following a personal foul committed by a player of the team in control of a live ball.

Following a technical foul, the game shall be resumed with a throw-in from
Following an unsportsmanlike or disqualifying foul, the game shall be resumed with a throw-in

Rule

The player taking the throw-in shall not: • Take more than 5 seconds to release the ball. • Step into the
playing court while having the ball in his hand(s). • Cause the ball to touch out-of-bounds, after it has
been released on the throw-in. • Touch the ball on the playing court before it has touched another
player. • Cause the ball to enter the basket directly. • Move from the designated throw-in place behind
the boundary line laterally in one or both directions: • Moves any part of his body over the boundary
line to interfere with a throw-in, or • Is closer than 1 m to the player taking the throw-in

Time-out

Definition

A time-out is an interruption of the game requested by the head coach or first assistant coach.

Each time-out shall last 1 minute

Each team may be granted: • 2 time-outs during the first half. • 3 time-outs during the second half with
a maximum of 2 of these time-outs when the game clock shows 2:00 minutes or less in the fourth
quarter. • 1 time-out during each overtime.

Substitution

A substitution is an interruption of the game requested by the substitute to become a player. 19.2 Rule
A team may substitute a player(s) during a substitution opportunity.

Procedure

1 Only a substitute has the right to request a substitution

As soon as a substitution opportunity begins, the timer shall sound his signal to notify

The substitute shall remain outside the boundary line until the referee blows his whistle

The player being substituted is permitted to go directly to his team bench without reporting

Game lost by forfeit

Rule A team shall lose the game by forfeit if: • The team is not present or is unable to field 5 players
ready to play 15 minutes after the game is scheduled to begin. • Its actions prevent the game from being
played. • It refuses to play after being instructed to do so by the crew chief.

The game is awarded to the opponents and the score shall be 20 to 0.

Game lost by default Rule

A team shall lose a game by default if, during the game, the team has fewer than 2 players on the
playing court ready to play.

If the team to which the game is awarded is not ahead, the score shall be 2 to 0 in its favor.