Basketball · Sport Rules

Official Basketball Rules

Official Basketball Rules 1 to 57 as Insporta tests them: 1590 sourced facts written from the FIBA Official Basketball Rules.

Law 1DefinitionsThe basketball game, who conducts it, a team's own and opponents' basket, the winner, and every participant's duty to help the game run smoothly and report errors at the table.2 parts · 3 tests · 30 facts Law 2CourtThe court and floor, backcourt and frontcourt, the lines and their colours, the bench side with the scorer's table, and the markings near each basket: restricted area, 3-point line and no-charge semi-circle.2 parts · 8 tests · 80 facts Law 3EquipmentThe equipment every game needs: backstop units, balls, the clocks and scoreboard, the table officials' signals, markers and arrow, the scoresheet, the floor and the lighting.2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts Law 4TeamsWho may play and when: eligible and entitled team members, players, substitutes and excluded players, the make-up of a team, the uniform and shirt numbers, and the equipment a player may and may not wear.2 parts · 8 tests · 80 facts Law 5Players: Injury and AssistanceWhen the referees stop the game for an injury, who may come onto the court to help, and when an injured or bleeding player must be substituted and may come back.2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts Law 6Captain: Duties and PowersWho the captain is, when and how the captain may speak to the referees, and the captain's part in a protest against the result.2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts Law 7Head Coach and First Assistant CoachThe team list and the signature before the game, conduct on the bench, talking to the table and the referees, and who leads the team when the head coach cannot.2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts Law 8Playing Time, Tied Score and OvertimeQuarters and intervals of play, overtimes for a tie, aggregate series, the last tenths of a quarter and fouls committed during an interval.2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts Law 9Start and End of a Quarter, Overtime or the GameFive players ready, the home team's bench and warm-up half, exchanging baskets, and the moments a quarter, an overtime and the game start and end.2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts Law 10Status of the BallWhen the ball becomes live and dead, and when a shot or free throw in flight still counts.2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts Law 11Location of a Player and a RefereeWhere a player or a referee is for the rules, in the air and on the lines, and what it means when the ball touches a referee.2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts Law 12Jump Ball and Alternating PossessionThe jump ball and the held ball, how a jump ball is taken and its violations, the jump ball situations, and the alternating possession arrow.2 parts · 4 tests · 40 facts Law 13How the Ball Is PlayedPlaying the ball with the hands, what may not be done with legs and fists, and the penalty.2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts Law 14Control of the BallWhen team control starts, continues and ends, and how to read it in game situations.2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts Law 15Player in the Act of ShootingShots, taps and dunks, when the act of shooting starts and ends on jump shots and drives (redefined in 2026), what ends it after a foul, and the frontcourt rule with its exceptions.2 parts · 3 tests · 30 facts Law 16Goal: When Made and Its ValueWhen a goal is made and how much it is worth, own-basket goals, the ball from below, and what can still score in the last tenths of a second.2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts Law 17Throw-inWhat a throw-in is and when it ends, where it is taken after fouls, goals and at the start of quarters, the head coach's choice in the last two minutes, and what the thrower-in and the defenders may not do.2 parts · 4 tests · 40 facts Law 18Time-outHow long and how many, who may ask, when an opportunity opens and closes, the procedure, and time-outs around free throws.2 parts · 3 tests · 30 facts Law 19SubstitutionWhen a substitution may be made, coming back on, the scoring team late in the game, how a substitute asks and enters, fouled-out and disqualified players, and free-throw shooters.2 parts · 3 tests · 30 facts Law 20Game Lost by ForfeitWhen a team forfeits, the 20-0 score and 0 classification points, and forfeits in series and tournaments.2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts Law 21Game Lost by DefaultWhen a team is down to fewer than 2 players, the score that follows, the classification point and defaults in aggregate series.2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts Law 22ViolationsWhat a violation is, how it differs from a foul, and the throw-in that usually follows.2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts Law 23Player and Ball Out-of-BoundsWhen a player or the ball is out of bounds, who caused it, and a held ball at the line.2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts Law 24DribblingWhat a dribble is, how it starts and ends, what is not a dribble, and when a player may dribble a second time (wording clarified in 2026).2 parts · 3 tests · 30 facts Law 25TravellingTravelling and the pivot, a standing catch, the two steps on the move, how a player lands and which foot may pivot, and a player on the floor with the ball.2 parts · 3 tests · 30 facts Law 263 SecondsThe 3-second rule in the opponents' restricted area, its conditions and allowances, and what it takes to be established outside.2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts Law 27Closely Guarded PlayerWhen a player holding the ball is closely guarded, and the 5 seconds to pass, shoot or dribble.2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts Law 288 SecondsWhen the 8-second count starts, the five ways the ball reaches the frontcourt, and when the count carries on with the time left.2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts Law 29Shot ClockThe 24 seconds and what a valid shot is, the signal while the ball is in the air, and every reset to 24 or 14: after the defence, the offence, the ring, the arrow and late time-outs.2 parts · 5 tests · 50 facts Law 30Ball Returned to the BackcourtControl in the frontcourt, what makes a return to the backcourt illegal, the airborne-steal exception and the throw-in that follows.2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts Law 31Goaltending and Basket InterferenceWhen a shot starts and ends, goaltending on field goals and free throws, the six kinds of basket interference and the points or throw-in that follow.2 parts · 3 tests · 30 facts Law 32FoulsWhat a foul is, how each one is recorded, and which fouls still count once the ball is dead.2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts Law 33Contact: General PrinciplesThe cylinder, verticality, legal guarding, players in the air, screens, charging and blocking, the no-charge semi-circle, use of hands, post play and the named fouls of contact.2 parts · 6 tests · 60 facts Law 34Personal FoulWhat a personal foul is, the late-game throw-in foul, and the throw-ins and free throws that follow.2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts Law 35Double FoulWhen two fouls form a double foul, and how the game restarts without free throws.2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts Law 36Technical FoulThe rules of conduct, the two categories of technical foul, game disqualification of players and head coaches, and the free throw and restart that follow.2 parts · 4 tests · 40 facts Law 37Disruptive FoulThe new disruptive foul: stopping a break, stopping the clocks, fouls from behind on a breakaway, and the free throws and frontcourt throw-in that follow.2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts Law 38Flagrant FoulThe three criteria of a flagrant foul, its free throws and throw-in, and the disqualification it can bring.2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts Law 39Disqualifying FoulDisqualifying fouls by anyone on the team, replacing a head coach, violence and equipment, and the free throws, restarts and fight penalties.2 parts · 3 tests · 30 facts Law 40FightingWho may and may not leave the team bench area during a fight, the single 'B' technical, and how the game restarts.2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts Law 41Foul Limits and Game DisqualificationsFive fouls and the excluded player, the player head coach, the GD marker and leaving within 30 seconds.2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts Law 42Team Fouls: PenaltyWhich fouls are team fouls, how they are counted across intervals and overtime, and the free throws of the team-foul penalty.2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts Law 43Special SituationsSeveral infractions in one stopped-clock period: charging, ordering and cancelling penalties, technicals first, and how the game restarts.2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts Law 44Free ThrowsWho shoots, how the shooter and the rebounders must behave, and what each free-throw violation costs.2 parts · 3 tests · 30 facts Law 45Correctable ErrorsWhich errors can be corrected, by when, who takes part, how each kind is put right, and the shot clock as category 2.2 parts · 4 tests · 40 facts Law 46Referees, Table Officials and CommissionerWho officiates a game, the four table officials, the commissioner's seat and duty, neutrality and the uniform.2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts Law 47Crew Chief: Duties and PowersThe crew chief's checks before the game, the opening jump ball, his whistles before each period, final decisions, forfeits and the scoresheet.2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts Law 48Referees: Duties and PowersWhere officials may call infractions, when to whistle, the fundamental principles, an injured official, English and the finality of decisions.2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts Law 49Scorer and Assistant ScorerWhat the scorer records and reports, the arrow and challenges, the assistant scorer and the scoreboard, and errors on the scoresheet.2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts Law 50TimerThe timer's equipment and markers, when the game clock starts and stops, and how time-outs and intervals are measured.2 parts · 3 tests · 30 facts Law 51Shot Clock OperatorWhen the operator starts, stops, resets or switches off the shot clock, and what the display shows each time.2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts Law 52Appendix A: Referees' SignalsThe only valid hand signals: the clock, scoring, substitutions and time-outs, violations, player numbers, fouls and free-throw administration.2 parts · 4 tests · 40 facts Law 53Appendix B: The ScoresheetThe scoresheet's copies and pens, preparing it, starters and substitutes, time-outs, fouls, team fouls, the running score and the signatures.2 parts · 4 tests · 40 facts Law 54Appendix C: Protest ProcedureWhat can be protested, the deadlines and the fee, and how and by whom a protest is decided.2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts Law 55Appendix D: Classification of TeamsClassification points, tie-breaking criteria, forfeits, comparing teams across groups and phases, and home-and-away aggregate series.2 parts · 4 tests · 40 facts Law 56Appendix E: Media Time-outsWho decides on media time-outs, their length, one per quarter, and how they fit with the teams' own time-outs.2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts Law 57Appendix F: Instant Replay SystemHow replay reviews work, what may be reviewed at the end of a quarter, in the last 2 minutes or at any time, and the head coach's challenge.2 parts · 4 tests · 40 facts

Each guide paraphrases the Law in its own words; the authoritative text is the FIBA Official Basketball Rules.