Basketball · Official Basketball Rules

Law 32: Fouls

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

What a foul is, how each one is recorded, and which fouls still count once the ball is dead.

32.321What a Foul Is

The definition and how each foul is charged.

A foul is an infraction of the rules on illegal personal contact with an opponent and/or unsportsmanlike behaviour.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 32.1.1 · recall
Travelling involves no contact and no unsportsmanlike behaviour, so it is a violation, not a foul.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 25, 32.1.1 · applied
Any number of fouls may be called against a team.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 32.1.2 · recall
Going over the limit changes the penalty, not the recording: every foul still goes down.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 32.1.2 · applied
Each foul is entered on the scoresheet against the offender.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 32.1.2 · recall
A foul covers illegal contact and/or unsportsmanlike behaviour, so behaviour alone can be a foul.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 32.1.1 · applied
A foul needs illegal personal contact; incidental contact with no effect is not one.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 32.1.1, 33.11 · applied
Charged, recorded, then penalised under the rules.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 32.1.2 · recall
Unsporting behaviour with no contact is still a foul, charged and recorded.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 32.1.1 · applied
Travelling is a violation; illegal contact, unsporting behaviour and holding are fouls.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 32.1.1 · applied

End signals, infractions, and the fouls that survive them.

A foul after the ball is dead at the end of a quarter is disregarded unless it is technical, flagrant or disqualifying.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 32.1.3 · applied
Technical, flagrant and disqualifying fouls count even after the ball has become dead at the signal.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 32.1.3 · recall
Once the travelling whistle has made the ball dead, an ordinary push no longer counts.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 32.1.3 · applied
Flagrant fouls are among those still charged after the ball has become dead.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 32.1.3 · applied
The rule covers the game clock signal for the end of each quarter or overtime.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 32.1.3 · recall
Only technical, flagrant and disqualifying fouls survive the ball becoming dead.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 32.1.3 · recall
The rule disregards fouls committed after the ball has become dead; one committed while it is live counts.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 32.1.3 · applied
The ball was already dead, and a personal foul is not one of the three that survive.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 32.1.3 · applied
After a dead ball, a technical foul is still charged.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 32.1.3 · applied
Personal fouls drop away once the ball is dead; the other three kinds are still charged.
Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 32.1.3 · applied

FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026 (v1.1), Article 32 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)