Basketball · Official Basketball Rules

Law 13: How the Ball Is Played

2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts · updated 22 October 2026 · markdown

Playing the ball with the hands, what may not be done with legs and fists, and the penalty.

13.131Playing the Ball with the Hands

The legal ways of playing the ball, and what the rule forbids.

During the game the ball is played with the hand(s) only.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 13.1 · recall
The ball may be passed, thrown, tapped, rolled or dribbled in any direction, within the rules.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 13.1 · recall
Tapping is one of the ways the ball may be played.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 13.1 · applied
A player shall not run with the ball, deliberately play it with the leg or strike it with the fist.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 13.2 · recall
An infraction of Article 13.2 is a violation.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 13.2 · recall
The opponents get a throw-in from the place nearest the infraction, except directly behind the backboard.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 13.3 · recall
Rolling the ball is one of the ways it may be played.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 13.1 · applied
Rolling, tapping, catching and dribbling are all legal ways of playing the ball.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 13.1 · applied
Catching, dribbling and passing are all played with the hands.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 13.1 · recall
Striking the ball with the fist is a violation; rolling, tapping with an open hand and passing are legal.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 13.2 · applied

Deliberate and accidental contact with the leg, the fist, and the throw-in that follows.

Deliberately kicking the ball is a violation.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 13.2 · applied
Deliberately touching, kicking or blocking the ball with any part of the leg is not allowed.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 13.2 · recall
Striking the ball with the fist is a violation.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 13.2 · applied
The usual place: nearest to where the kick happened, but never directly behind the backboard.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 13.3 · recall
The ball is awarded to the opponents of the player who committed the violation.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 13.3 · applied
A foot is part of the leg, so stopping the ball with it on purpose is the same violation.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 13.2 · applied
It is a referee's judgement whether the ball touched the leg by accident or on purpose.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 13.2 · applied
A kicked ball hands the opponents a throw-in near the spot.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 13.2, 13.3 · applied
Accidental contact with the leg is not a violation.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 13.2 · applied
Only accidental contact with the leg is allowed; deliberate blocks, kicks and traps are violations.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 13.2 · applied

FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026 (v1.1), Article 13 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)