# Law 37: Disruptive Foul (FIBA Official Basketball Rules)

Basketball · Law 37: Disruptive Foul · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/basketball/laws/law-37-disruptive-foul/)

The new disruptive foul: stopping a break, stopping the clocks, fouls from behind on a breakaway, and the free throws and frontcourt throw-in that follow.

## 37.371 What a Disruptive Foul Is

The three criteria and how they are judged.

### Test 1: The criteria of a disruptive foul

- A disruptive foul is illegal contact, not flagrant, that disrupts the flow of the game and puts the opponent at a disadvantage. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 37.1.1)
- Unnecessary contact, not a legitimate try for the ball, to stop the attack in transition is disruptive. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 37.1.1)
- The transition and the from-behind criteria apply until the offensive player starts the act of shooting. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 37.1.1)
- Unnecessary contact, not a try for the ball, to stop the game or shot clock at the end of a period is disruptive. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 37.1.1)
- Illegal contact from behind or laterally on a player progressing to the basket with no opponent in between is disruptive. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 37.1.1)
- It covers a player in control, trying to gain control, or one to whom a pass has been released. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 37.1.1)
- Disruptive fouls must be interpreted consistently throughout the game, judging only the action. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 37.1.2)
- Grabbing the runner rather than the ball stops the break unfairly. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 37.1.1)
- A released pass is enough: he need not have the ball yet. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 37.1.1)
- A grab on the break with no try for the ball is disruptive; a swipe at the ball is personal, a dangerous trip flagrant, and the shooter is past the act. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 37.1.1)

## 37.372 The Penalty

Team fouls, free throws and the frontcourt throw-in.

### Test 1: Free throws and the throw-in

- A disruptive foul is charged against the offender and counts as one of the team fouls. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 37.2.1)
- Not shooting: 2 free throws. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 37.2.2)
- The fouled team throws in from the throw-in line in its frontcourt, opposite the scorer's table. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 37.2.2)
- A made shot counts and 1 free throw is added, then the frontcourt throw-in. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 37.2.2)
- A missed shot gives 2 or 3 free throws by its value: here 3. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 37.2.2)
- Free throws are awarded to the player who was fouled. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 37.2.2)
- The transition criterion needs contact made while not legitimately trying to play the ball. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 37.1.1)
- Charged, a team foul, 2 free throws, then the frontcourt throw-in. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 37.2)
- Stopping the clocks with contact that ignores the ball is disruptive; free throws and a frontcourt throw-in follow. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 37.2.2)
- Only A has nobody in between before the act of shooting; B has a defender ahead, C is from the front, D is in the act. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Art. 37.1.1)

Sources: FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026 (v1.1), Article 37 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)

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