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Basketball · Official Basketball Rules

Law 2: Court

2 parts · 8 tests · 80 facts · updated 22 October 2026 · markdown

The 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.

2.21The Court, Its Halves and Lines

Court and floor sizes, backcourt and frontcourt, line width and colour, the boundary and centre markings, and the bench side of the court.

Test 1Court and floor dimensionsTake a test

  1. The court measures 28 m by 15 m.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.1 · recall

  2. Both dimensions run from the inner edge of the boundary line, so the line itself lies outside them.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.1 · recall

  3. The court must be a flat, hard surface with nothing on it that obstructs play.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.1 · recall

  4. The floor is the court plus a further boundary lane at least 2 m wide, kept free from obstructions.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.2 · recall

  5. Adding a 2 m lane on every side to a 28 m by 15 m court gives a floor of at least 32 m by 19 m.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.2 · applied

  6. The floor is at least 32 m long: 28 m of court and a 2 m lane at each end.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.2 · applied

  7. Cameras and other obstructions have to stay out of the clear lane on every side, the endlines included.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.2 · applied

  8. 15 m, then 19 m, then 28 m, then 32 m.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.1, 2.2 · recall

  9. The boundary line is not part of the court; beyond it runs the clear lane, and the lane's outer edge is the edge of the floor.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.1, 2.2, 2.5.1 · recall

  10. B is the court's width (15 m); A is its length (28 m), C the lane (2 m) and D the floor's length (32 m).

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.1, 2.2 · applied

Test 2Backcourt and frontcourtTake a test

  1. The backcourt is the team's own basket, the inbounds part of that backboard and the half of the court behind the centre line.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.3 · recall

  2. The centre line is part of the backcourt.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.2 · recall

  3. The frontcourt is limited by the inner edge of the centre line nearest the opponents' basket, so the whole line stays backcourt.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.4 · recall

  4. The centre line belongs to the backcourt, so a foot on it is in the backcourt.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.3, 2.5.2 · applied

  5. Team A's backcourt holds Team A's own basket, which is the basket Team B attacks: for Team B it is the frontcourt.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.3, 2.4 · applied

  6. Frontcourt and backcourt each include the inbounds part of the backboard at that end.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.3, 2.4 · recall

  7. The backcourt runs from the endline behind the team's own basket to the centre line, between the sidelines.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.3 · recall

  8. Team A's own basket is in its backcourt; the centre line, still backcourt, leads into the frontcourt and the opponents' basket.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.3, 2.4 · applied

  9. The ball starts in the backcourt and reaches the frontcourt once it is beyond the centre line.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.3, 2.4 · applied

  10. Attacking to the left, the white caps' frontcourt is the left half; the centre line (B) is backcourt.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.3, 2.4 · applied

Test 3Line width, colour and contrastTake a test

  1. All lines are 5 cm wide.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5 · recall

  2. Lines are of a solid colour, clearly visible and in high contrast with the court and the lane around it.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5 · recall

  3. All boundary lines, including the throw-in lines and the team bench area lines, share one colour.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5 · recall

  4. Each pair of other markings, the restricted areas among them, must be the same colour in both half-courts.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5 · applied

  5. The centre line and centre circle may be a different colour from the boundary lines and the other markings.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5 · recall

  6. Between each other, the centre line and the centre circle may be the same colour or different colours.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5 · applied

  7. Grey on grey cannot be seen clearly: lines have to stand out strongly against the surface.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5 · applied

  8. 5 cm, then 0.15 m, then 3.60 m, then 15 m.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5, 2.5.3, 2.5.6 · recall

  9. The corner line ends about 3 m from the endline, the throw-in line is at 8.325 m, the bench area starts 9 m out (5 m short of the centre line).

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.4, 2.5.5, 2.5.6, Diagram 1 · applied

  10. The two 3-point lines are a pair and must match; the centre circle is free to differ.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5 · applied

Test 4Boundary line, centre line and circlesTake a test

  1. The court is limited by the boundary line, which consists of the endlines and the sidelines.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.1 · recall

  2. The endlines and sidelines are not part of the court.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.1 · applied

  3. The centre line is drawn from the mid-points of the sidelines and extends 0.15 m beyond each of them.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.2 · recall

  4. The centre circle has a radius of 1.80 m measured to the outer edge of the line.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.2 · recall

  5. The free-throw semi-circles are centred on the mid-points of the free-throw lines.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.2 · recall

  6. Both the free-throw semi-circles and the centre circle have a radius of 1.80 m.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.2 · applied

  7. The centre line runs parallel to the endlines from the mid-point of each sideline.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.2 · recall

  8. 0.15 m, then 1.80 m, then 3.60 m, then 15 m.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.1, 2.5.2 · recall

  9. The centre line starts 0.15 m outside the sideline, crosses it and reaches the centre circle, whose middle is the court's centre.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.2 · applied

  10. The sideline is part of the boundary line and not part of the court; the other lines lie on the court.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.1 · applied

Test 5Bench areas, throw-in lines and the scorer's tableTake a test

  1. Each team bench area must have 16 seats.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.5 · recall

  2. The seats are for the head coach, the substitutes, the excluded players and the accompanying delegation members, assistant coaches included.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.5 · recall

  3. Anyone not entitled to a bench seat must be at least 2 m behind the team bench.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.5 · applied

  4. Any obstruction, seated bench personnel included, must be at least 2 m from the court.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.1 · recall

  5. There are 4 throw-in lines, 0.15 m long, two on each sideline, marked outside the court.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.6 · recall

  6. The throw-in lines are marked with their outer edge 8.325 m from the nearest endline.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.6 · recall

  7. The scorer's table and its chairs must be placed on a platform; announcers and statisticians may sit beside or behind it.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.6 · recall

  8. FIBA's layout places them in this order along the table.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.6, Diagram 5 · recall

  9. The substitution chairs sit at the ends of the table, and the bench area runs from 5 m beyond the centre line to the endline.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.5, 2.6, Diagrams 1 and 5 · applied

  10. The substitution chairs stand at either end of the scorer's table, between it and the bench areas.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.6, Diagram 5 · applied

2.22The Markings Near the Basket

The free-throw line and restricted area, the 3-point line and goal area, the no-charge semi-circle and the free-throw rebound places.

Test 1Free-throw line and restricted areaTake a test

  1. The free-throw line has its furthest edge 5.80 m from the inner edge of the endline.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.3 · recall

  2. The free-throw line is 3.60 m long.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.3 · recall

  3. Its side lines have their outer edges 2.45 m either side of the endline's mid-point, so 4.90 m in all.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.3 · applied

  4. The free-throw line is centred on the imaginary line through the mid-points of the endlines.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.3 · recall

  5. The lines of the restricted area, except the endline, are part of it.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.3 · applied

  6. Since 2010 FIBA's restricted area is a rectangle; the older trapezium shape is no longer used.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.3 · recall

  7. The free-throw rebound places are reserved for players during free throws.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.3 · recall

  8. 2.60 m, then 3.60 m, then 4.90 m, then 15 m.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.1, 2.5.3, 2.5.7 · applied

  9. 1.20 m, 1.575 m, 5.80 m and 7.60 m from the endline.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.2, 2.5.3, 2.5.4, 2.5.7 · applied

  10. A is 5.80 m; B is 4.90 m, C is 1.80 m and D is 1.575 m.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.3 · applied

Test 2The 3-point line and goal areaTake a test

  1. The arc has a radius of 6.75 m. 6.25 m was FIBA's distance before 2010; 7.24 m is the NBA's.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.4 · recall

  2. From the endline, two straight lines run parallel to the sidelines and join the arc.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.4 · recall

  3. That point lies 1.575 m in from the endline.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.4 · recall

  4. The corner part of the 3-point line has its outer edge 0.90 m in from the sideline.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.4 · recall

  5. The 3-point line is not part of the 3-point goal area.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.4 · applied

  6. A team's 3-point goal area is the entire court except the area near the opponents' basket.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.4 · applied

  7. Each team's 3-point area leaves out only the zone near the basket it attacks, so a spot inside one arc differs by team.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.4, Diagram 4 · applied

  8. 0.90 m, then 1.30 m, then 1.80 m, then 6.75 m.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.2, 2.5.4, 2.5.7 · recall

  9. From the basket: the no-charge line at 1.30 m, the free-throw line about 4.2 m out, the arc at 6.75 m, then the centre circle.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.2, 2.5.3, 2.5.4, 2.5.7 · applied

  10. The strip between the corner 3-point line and the sideline is in the 3-point area; the line itself (A) is not.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.4 · applied

Test 3No-charge semi-circle and rebound placesTake a test

  1. A 1.30 m semi-circle marks out the no-charge area in front of the basket.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.7 · recall

  2. The 6.75 m arc and the 1.30 m no-charge semi-circle share their centre: the point on the floor under the basket.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.4, 2.5.7 · applied

  3. Two parallel lines, perpendicular to the endline and 0.375 m long, continue the semi-circle.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.7 · recall

  4. They end 1.20 m from the endline, directly below the front of the backboard.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.7 · recall

  5. The area is completed by imaginary lines joining the ends of the parallel lines directly below the front edges of the backboard.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.7 · recall

  6. The 1.30 m semi-circle in front of the basket sits wholly within the 4.90 m wide restricted area.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.3, 2.5.7 · applied

  7. FIBA's diagram marks a 0.40 m neutral zone between the first and second rebound places.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.3, Diagram 3 · recall

  8. 1.75 m of clear line, a 0.85 m place, the 0.40 m neutral zone, then two more 0.85 m places.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.3, Diagram 3 · recall

  9. 1.20 m, 1.575 m, 1.75 m, then 1.575 + 1.30 = 2.875 m.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.3, 2.5.7 · applied

  10. The semi-circle line is part of the area; behind the backboard's front edge (C) is outside it.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.7 · applied

Sources

FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026 (v1.1), Article 2 with Diagrams 1-5 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)

  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.58
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.38
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.27
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.47
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.3, 2.45
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.75
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.24
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.14
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.13
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.53
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.1, 2.22
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.32
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.62
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.6, Diagram 52
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.2, 2.5.3, 2.5.4, 2.5.72
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.3, 2.5.72
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.3, Diagram 32
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.1, 2.2, 2.5.11
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.41
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.3, 2.5.21
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5, 2.5.3, 2.5.61
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.4, 2.5.5, 2.5.6, Diagram 11
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.1, 2.5.21
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.61
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.5, 2.6, Diagrams 1 and 51
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.1, 2.5.3, 2.5.71
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.4, Diagram 41
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.2, 2.5.4, 2.5.71
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.4, 2.5.71