Law 24: Dribbling

A dribble is the movement of a live ball by a player in control who throws, taps, rolls or bounces it on the court.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.1.1 · recall

It starts when a player in control of a live ball puts it on the court and touches it again before another player does.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.1.2 · recall

A dribble ends when the player touches the ball with both hands simultaneously or lets it come to rest in one or both hands.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.1.2 · recall

A player who accidentally loses and then regains control of a live ball on the court has fumbled the ball.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.1.3 · recall

Rolling the ball on the court and touching it again is one of the ways to dribble.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.1.1 · applied

A dribble starts only after the player has gained control of a live ball on the court.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.1.2 · applied

The ball may be thrown into the air provided it touches the court or another player before he touches it again.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.1.2 · recall

Control, a bounce, a touch again, and both hands or a rest to finish.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.1.2 · recall

There is no step limit while the ball is not in contact with his hand.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.1.2 · applied

Carrying the ball, pausing it and catching an air throw are not allowed; there is no step limit while the ball is away from the hand.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.1.2 · applied

Successive shots for a goal are not dribbles.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.1.4 · applied

Fumbling the ball at the start or end of a dribble is not a dribble.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.1.4 · recall

Tapping the ball from the control of another player is not a dribble.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.1.4 · applied

Deflecting a pass and gaining control of the ball is not a dribble.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.1.4 · applied

Tossing it from hand to hand and letting it rest before it touches the court is not a dribble, provided there is no travel.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.1.4 · applied

Throwing the ball against the backboard and regaining control is not a dribble.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.1.4 · applied

Attempts to gain control by tapping the ball from the vicinity of other players are not dribbles.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.1.4 · applied

Successive shots do not count as a dribble.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.1.4 · applied

The deflection is not a dribble, so he may start one.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.1.4 · applied

Bouncing the ball repeatedly with one hand is a dribble; successive shots, scramble taps and the backboard catch are not.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.1.4 · applied

He may not dribble a second time unless he lost control of a live ball through a shot, an opponent's touch, or a pass or fumble touching another player.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.2 · recall

A shot for a goal is one of the ways of losing control that allows a new dribble.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.2 · applied

On a pass or fumble, the ball touching another player gives a new dribble.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.2 · applied

Without anyone else touching it, he never lost control in one of the listed ways.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.2 · applied

The 2026 change clarifies that any one of the three listed conditions must apply, to remove inconsistent readings.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.2; FIBA OBR 2026 changes · recall

Dribbling a second time against Art. 24.2 is a violation.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 22, 24.2 · recall

As for most violations, the opponents throw in from the place nearest the infraction.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 22.2 · recall

The shot ended his control, so a new dribble is allowed.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.2 · applied

Holding the ball ends the dribble; dribbling again is a violation.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.2 · applied

An opponent touching the ball gives him a new dribble; holding, faking or a fumble no one else touches do not.

Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.2 · applied