# Law 1: Definitions (FIBA Official Basketball Rules)

Basketball · Law 1: Definitions · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/basketball/laws/law-1-definitions/)

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.

## 1.11 The 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 1: Two teams of five and who conducts the game

- Basketball is played by two teams of five players each. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.1)
- 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)
- The game is conducted by the referees, the table officials and a commissioner when one is present. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.1)
- 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)
- 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)
- The aim has two sides: scoring in the opponents' basket and preventing the other team from scoring. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.1)
- 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)
- 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)
- Only the points at the end of playing time decide the winner. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.4)
- 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)

### Test 2: Own and opponents' baskets, and the winner

- The basket a team attacks is the opponents' basket; the one it defends is its own. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.3)
- 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)
- 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)
- Baskets made are not counted on their own; the total of points scored settles the result. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.4)
- 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)
- Every point counts towards the total, and the greater total at the end of playing time wins. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.4)
- 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)
- 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)
- Leading earlier does not matter: the team ahead when playing time ends wins. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.4)
- 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)

## 1.12 Everyone'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 1: Ethical conduct and reporting errors at the table

- 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)
- All participants are expected to demonstrate ethical behaviour at all times. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.2)
- 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)
- Participants are expected to notify the referees immediately, so the error can be corrected under the rules. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.2)
- Accompanying delegation members are among those expected to report errors in timekeeping and shot clock operation. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.2)
- 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)
- 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)
- Participants report errors to the referees immediately, and the referees have them corrected. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.2)
- Errors in time-outs are among those participants are expected to report to the referees. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 1.2)
- 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)

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

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