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Basketball · Official Basketball Rules

Law 33: Contact: General Principles

2 parts · 6 tests · 60 facts · updated 22 October 2026 · markdown

The cylinder, verticality, legal guarding, players in the air, screens, charging and blocking, the no-charge semi-circle, use of hands, post play and the named fouls of contact.

33.331Space, Guarding and Screens

The cylinder, verticality, guarding with and without the ball, jumpers and screens.

Test 1The cylinder and verticalityTake a test

  1. The cylinder of a defender, or an attacker without the ball, runs from the palms in front to the buttocks behind.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.1 · recall

  2. For the player with the ball, the front of the cylinder is the feet, bent knees and arms holding the ball above the hips.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.1 · recall

  3. Normal play is starting a dribble, pivoting, shooting and passing; spreading arms or legs to gain space is illegal.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.1 · recall

  4. The cylinder includes the space above the player.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.1 · recall

  5. A defender must not be penalised for leaving the court vertically or for arms raised within his own cylinder.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.2 · applied

  6. The player who leaves his cylinder and contacts an opponent who had established his own is responsible.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.2 · recall

  7. An initial legal guarding position needs the defender facing the opponent with both feet on the court.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.3 · recall

  8. The defender kept his cylinder; the shooter left his.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.2, 33.3 · applied

  9. Front: palms; sides: arms and legs; rear: buttocks.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.1 · recall

  10. The palms, the buttocks and the outer edge of arms and legs bound it; the toes do not.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.1 · applied

Test 2Guarding the ball and away from itTake a test

  1. When guarding a player who holds or dribbles the ball, the elements of time and distance do not apply.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.4 · recall

  2. A player with the ball must be ready to stop or change direction, even if a legal position is taken in a fraction of a second.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.4 · applied

  3. He may stay still, jump vertically, or move laterally or backwards, not towards the player with the ball.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.4 · recall

  4. Contact must occur on the torso; then the defender is considered to have been at the place first.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.4 · recall

  5. For a player without the ball, time and distance apply: in proportion to speed, but not less than 1 normal step.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.5 · recall

  6. Once the legal position is established, the defender may turn within his cylinder to avoid injury.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.4 · applied

  7. Without the ball, the defender must give time and distance; stepping in too late makes him responsible.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.5 · applied

  8. Lateral movement keeps the position; contact on the torso puts the defender there first.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.4 · applied

  9. With time and distance respected, the defender's position is legal and the contact is the cutter's.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.5 · applied

  10. A set defender, facing, both feet down, hit on the torso: the dribbler caused it. Moving forward or a hip out is a block.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.4 · applied

Test 3Players in the air and screeningTake a test

  1. He may land where he took off, or elsewhere if the landing place and path were free of opponents at take-off.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.6 · recall

  2. Moving under a player in the air and causing contact is usually a flagrant foul, sometimes disqualifying.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.6 · recall

  3. If momentum after landing causes contact with a legally set opponent beyond the landing place, the jumper is responsible.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.6 · applied

  4. A legal screener is stationary inside his cylinder with both feet on the court when contact occurs.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.7 · recall

  5. Outside a stationary opponent's field of vision the screener must allow him 1 normal step without contact.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.7 · recall

  6. For an opponent in motion, time and distance apply: not less than 1 and not more than 2 normal steps.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.7 · recall

  7. A legally screened player is responsible for any contact with the screener.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.7 · applied

  8. An opponent may not move into the path of a player who is already in the air.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.6 · applied

  9. Within the field of vision as close as he likes; behind, 1 step; in motion, 1 to 2 steps by speed.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.7 · applied

  10. Moving under a jumper after take-off is the defender's foul; in A and C the jumper is responsible.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.6 · applied

33.332Kinds of Illegal Contact

Charging, blocking, the no-charge semi-circle, hands, the post and the named fouls.

Test 1Charging, blocking and the semi-circleTake a test

  1. Charging is illegal contact, with or without the ball, by pushing or moving into an opponent's torso.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.8 · recall

  2. Blocking is illegal personal contact that impedes the progress of an opponent with or without the ball.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.9 · recall

  3. A screener who is moving when contact occurs, with the opponent stationary or retreating, commits a blocking foul.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.9 · applied

  4. Arms and elbows may be out when taking position, but must come inside when an opponent passes; contact is blocking or holding.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.9 · applied

  5. The no-charge rule applies when the defender has one foot or both feet in contact with the semi-circle area.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.10 · recall

  6. Contact by an airborne attacker in control on a shot or pass with a defender inside the semi-circle is not a team control foul.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.10 · applied

  7. The no-charge semi-circle lines are part of the no-charge semi-circle areas.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.7, 33.10 · recall

  8. All three conditions hold: control in the air, a shot, the defender inside.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.10 · applied

  9. Control while airborne, a shot or pass, and a defender in contact with the area.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.10 · recall

  10. A has a foot on the semi-circle line, which is part of the area; B, C and D stand outside it.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.10 · applied

Test 2Hands, arms and the postTake a test

  1. Touching an opponent with the hand is not in itself a foul; it is one if it gains an advantage or restricts movement.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.11 · recall

  2. Placing the hands or arms on an opponent and staying in contact to impede his progress is illegal use of hands.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.11 · applied

  3. Repeatedly touching or jabbing an opponent is a foul as it may lead to rough play.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.11 · recall

  4. Using an extended forearm or hand while dribbling to stop an opponent reaching the ball is a foul.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.11 · applied

  5. It is a foul by an attacker without the ball to push off to get free to catch the ball.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.11 · applied

  6. Verticality applies in post play: the attacker and defender must respect each other's cylinder.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.12 · recall

  7. Shouldering or hipping the opponent out of position in the post is a foul, by attacker or defender.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.12 · applied

  8. Barring the defender off the ball with the forearm is the dribbler's foul.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.11 · applied

  9. A hand that stays on the opponent and impedes his progress is illegal use of hands.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.11 · applied

  10. A light touch that gains no advantage is not a foul; a hand kept on him, jabs and a barring forearm are.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.11 · applied

Test 3From the rear, holding, pushing and fakingTake a test

  1. Illegal guarding from the rear is personal contact by a defender with an opponent from behind.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.13 · recall

  2. Attempting to play the ball does not justify contact with an opponent from the rear.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.13 · applied

  3. Holding is illegal personal contact that interferes with an opponent's freedom of movement.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.14 · recall

  4. Holding can occur with any part of the body.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.14 · recall

  5. Pushing is illegal contact with any part of the body where a player forcibly moves or tries to move an opponent.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.15 · recall

  6. A fake is any action to simulate being fouled or theatrical exaggeration to gain an advantage.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.16 · recall

  7. Pushing is defined for an opponent with or without the ball.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.15 · applied

  8. Going for the ball does not excuse contact from behind.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.13 · applied

  9. Simulating a foul to gain an advantage is a fake.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.16 · applied

  10. A theatrical fall with no real contact is a fake; a grab is holding, a shove is pushing, a bump from behind is from the rear.

    Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.13-33.16 · applied

Sources

FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026 (v1.1), Article 33 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)

  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.118
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.47
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.16
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.65
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.75
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.105
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.53
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.93
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.133
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.22
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.122
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.142
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.152
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.162
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.31
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.2, 33.31
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.81
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 2.5.7, 33.101
  • FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 33.13-33.161