Fundamental B-Ball Rules

  1. Traveling: The ball must be in control by the player and the pivot foot must return back to the floor without a dribble in order for a traveling violation to occur.
  2. Back court violation (over & back):
    1. The player in control of the ball must have both feet and the ball in front court before being considered to have progressed to the front court.  A back court violation may only occur once the player has first progressed to the front court. The divisional line is considered to be in back court.
    2. There is no back court violation on a throw in from anywhere on the court.
  3. Three-second violation: Both feet must be completely “in the paint” for a 3-second violation to occur. A 3-second count resets on every shot attempt, whether the shot attempt hits the basket or not. The 3-second count also resets when a player is attempting to exit the lane or begins their move toward the basket.
  4. Double dribble: It is a double dribble violation when a player picks up their initial dribble and dribbles again while in control of the ball. It is also a violation when a player uses both hands to dribble the ball while in control of the ball.
  5. Shot: Any purposeful attempt to direct, tip or bat the ball into the basket. It is permissible for a player to catch and secure any shot they attempt with or without hitting the rim. This may occur several times in succession. The player may also start a new dribble after a shot attempt when the ball did not hit the rim.
  6. Screens: A player setting a screen must have both feet stationary and positioned on the floor. Such a player must not extend their arms and elbows outside the width of their body. Hands positioned and in contact with their chest is a legal screen position.
  7. Kick: Kicking the ball is a purposeful act of striking the ball with any part of the player’s leg or foot. This is both for the offense and defense.
  8. Legal guarding position: A legal guarding position – especially to initiate a 5-second closely guarded count – is for the defensive player to be within 6 feet of the offense player, attempting to play defense on that player and facing the offensive player. There is no 5-second closely guarding count while the ball is in the back court. The only count that is ever in effect while the ball is in back court is the 10-second count to cross half court.
  9. Blocking/Player control fouls:  A defensive player must establish their position before the shooter takes off on an attempt for goal. Established position is when a defensive player gets both feet stationary and secure on the floor. There is no player control foul (i.e., charging) when a defensive player has established position directly under the basket.
  10. Throw in: A player has a total of 3 feet to move while attempting a throw in. This is not meant to be 3 feet in each direction, but 3 feet in total area to move. A throw in can be made to the front court or back court at anytime and placement on the court. 
  11. Free Throws: Those players occupying the lane spaces on each side of the lane, may enter the lane when the ball is released by the free throw shooter.  The shooter and the remaining players must wait until the ball hits the rim to enter the lane.   The lane space on each side of the lane nearest to the shooter may be occupied only by a member of the non-free throw shooting team.  The next lane space on each side of the lane may only be occupied by a member of the free throw shooting team.  The final lane space on each side of the lane may only be occupied by a member of the non-free throw shooting team.  (Note: On many courts, there will be an empty lane space on each side of the lane closest to the basket.)