# Law 24: Dribbling (FIBA Official Basketball Rules)

Basketball · Law 24: Dribbling · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/basketball/laws/law-24-dribbling/)

What a dribble is, how it starts and ends, what is not a dribble, and when a player may dribble a second time (wording clarified in 2026).

## 24.241 The Dribble

Definition, start and end, fumbles, and what a dribbler may do with the ball.

### Test 1: What a dribble is

- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- Control, a bounce, a touch again, and both hands or a rest to finish. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.1.2)
- There is no step limit while the ball is not in contact with his hand. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.1.2)
- 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)

## 24.242 Not a Dribble, and Dribbling Again

The actions that are not dribbles, and the second-dribble rule.

### Test 1: What is not a dribble

- Successive shots for a goal are not dribbles. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.1.4)
- Fumbling the ball at the start or end of a dribble is not a dribble. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.1.4)
- Tapping the ball from the control of another player is not a dribble. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.1.4)
- Deflecting a pass and gaining control of the ball is not a dribble. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.1.4)
- 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)
- Throwing the ball against the backboard and regaining control is not a dribble. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.1.4)
- 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)
- Successive shots do not count as a dribble. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.1.4)
- The deflection is not a dribble, so he may start one. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.1.4)
- 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)

### Test 2: Dribbling a second time

- 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)
- 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)
- On a pass or fumble, the ball touching another player gives a new dribble. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.2)
- Without anyone else touching it, he never lost control in one of the listed ways. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.2)
- 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)
- Dribbling a second time against Art. 24.2 is a violation. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 22, 24.2)
- As for most violations, the opponents throw in from the place nearest the infraction. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 22.2)
- The shot ended his control, so a new dribble is allowed. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.2)
- Holding the ball ends the dribble; dribbling again is a violation. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 24.2)
- 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)

Sources: FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026 (v1.1), Article 24 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)

Take the tests: https://insporta.app/try?utm_source=book&utm_medium=referral