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Basketball · Official Basketball Rules

Law 1: Definitions

2 parts · 3 tests · 30 facts · updated 22 October 2026 · markdown

The 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.

1.11The Game, Its Baskets and the Winner

Two teams of five and the aim of the game, who conducts it, which basket is a team's own, and how the winner is decided.

Test 1Two teams of five and who conducts the gameTake a test

  1. Basketball is played by two teams of five players each.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.1 · recall

  2. Each team aims both to score in the opponents' basket and to prevent the other team from scoring.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.1 · recall

  3. The game is conducted by the referees, the table officials and a commissioner when one is present.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.1 · recall

  4. A commissioner is appointed for some games and not for others; the referees and table officials are always there.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.1 · recall

  5. Since 2026 the rules say that wherever the commissioner is referred to, the same applies to a technical delegate.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.1 · applied

  6. The aim has two sides: scoring in the opponents' basket and preventing the other team from scoring.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.1 · applied

  7. The winner is the team that has scored the greater number of points at the end of playing time.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.4 · recall

  8. A team attacks the opponents' basket while it has the ball and defends its own basket once it has scored or lost it.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.1, 1.3 · applied

  9. Only the points at the end of playing time decide the winner.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.4 · recall

  10. Each team plays with five players on the court; the white-cap team has six (numbers 4 to 9).

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.1 · applied

Test 2Own and opponents' baskets, and the winnerTake a test

  1. The basket a team attacks is the opponents' basket; the one it defends is its own.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.3 · recall

  2. The basket a team defends is its own basket, whether or not it has the ball at that moment.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.3 · applied

  3. That basket is attacked by Team B and defended by Team A, so for Team A it is its own basket.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.3 · applied

  4. Baskets made are not counted on their own; the total of points scored settles the result.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.4 · applied

  5. A winner needs the greater number of points at the end of playing time; a tie is not a result, and play goes on (Art. 8).

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.4 · applied

  6. Every point counts towards the total, and the greater total at the end of playing time wins.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.4 · applied

  7. Teams exchange baskets for the second half (Art. 9); a team's own basket is always the one it is defending.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.3 · applied

  8. Team B's opponents' basket is Team A's own basket; a goal there scores for Team B.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.3 · applied

  9. Leading earlier does not matter: the team ahead when playing time ends wins.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.4 · applied

  10. The white caps are heading for basket 1, which they attack; basket 2, which they defend, is their own.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.3 · applied

1.12Everyone's Responsibility

Who is expected to help the game run smoothly and behave ethically, and what to do on noticing an error in the score, fouls, time-outs or clocks.

Test 1Ethical conduct and reporting errors at the tableTake a test

  1. All participants, the table officials, the commissioner, the team members, the head coaches and the accompanying delegation members are expected to help the game run smoothly.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.2 · recall

  2. All participants are expected to demonstrate ethical behaviour at all times.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.2 · recall

  3. Anyone who becomes aware of such an error is expected to notify the referees, who have it corrected.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.2 · recall

  4. Participants are expected to notify the referees immediately, so the error can be corrected under the rules.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.2 · applied

  5. Accompanying delegation members are among those expected to report errors in timekeeping and shot clock operation.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.2 · applied

  6. The duty to report concerns errors in the score, fouls, time-outs, timekeeping and the shot clock, not referees' judgement calls.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.2 · applied

  7. The point of reporting at once is to make it possible to correct the error as the rules provide.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.2 · recall

  8. Participants report errors to the referees immediately, and the referees have them corrected.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.2 · applied

  9. Errors in time-outs are among those participants are expected to report to the referees.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.2 · applied

  10. The shot from inside the 3-point line is worth 2, not 3; participants should report an error even when it favours their own team.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.2 · applied

Sources

FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026 (v1.1), Article 1 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)

  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.210
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.17
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.46
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.36
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.1, 1.31