types of basketball fouls

FIBA implements various rules that basketball players must comply with and fouls are some of them. Therefore, if you want to play basketball professionally, be aware of technical, personal, unsportsmanlike, disqualifying and team fouls. Also, learn about the basic rules like throw-ins, two steps, 3 seconds in the restricted area, etc.

basic rules of basketball

To better understand what basketball is, you must know its basic rules. According to the rules of basketball, you cannot take two steps with the ball in your hands, as you must be constantly dribbling. By this we mean hitting the basketball to the ground, without using both of your hands at the same time. This is one of the basic rules of basketball. Likewise, if you are dribbling, catch the ball with both hands and dribble again, the referee will whistle. That is why to comply with these basketball rules we recommend you pass the ball to another player or take a shot as soon as you stop dribbling. Also, always touch and pass the ball quickly, that is, do not try to play alone, because this can make any game boring. 

In addition to this, we inform you that the team loses the ball if it is taken out of the end or side lines. Fortunately, the measurements of the basketball field are almost always very well defined, with correctly painted lines, so that the referee will easily see when the players commit this type of infraction.

In another order of ideas, a basketball player cannot stay in the restricted area of ​​the opposing team for more than 3 seconds when he is attacking. The recommended thing is to throw the ball to the basket or leave this area before the 3 seconds are up. If the player puts out only one foot and the other remains inside the opposing team’s restricted area, he is also in breach of the rules. In any case, by doing this in basketball games the team will lose possession of the ball. However, when the team is defending he can be in the restricted zone as long as he wants.

Also, you should know that an attacking player can be in the painted or restricted zone if he dribbles to score the ball. Also, it is allowed if the ball is stationary, bouncing off the backboard or in the air. The latter if a player from the same offensive team has made a shot.

Not following the basic rules of basketball is considered a foul by some people, but the truth is that there are only the following sanctions or fouls in this sport.

1. Personal foul

According to FIBA, a player must not have contact with his opponent, whether the ball is dead or in motion. If this happens, the person who committed the infraction will accrue a personal foul. If he reaches 5 fouls he will be ejected from the game, although according to the NBA, the player can commit up to 6 fouls. Likewise, if the player is expelled, his coach must substitute him in just 30 seconds.

2. Foul when stealing the ball

Stealing the ball is a very popular action in both amateur and professional basketball. It occurs when the player has contact with the opponent when stealing the ball. Normally, the player who stole the ball loses it, with the opposing team taking a throw-in.

3. Double fault in the match

In this sense, we refer to a fault of two players at the same time, that is, one against the other. When this happens, a personal foul is scored on each person, in addition, neither player will have free throws. The most common double fouls are pushing and grappling.

4. Disqualifying Foul

This is a serious unsportsmanlike offense by an active, banned or benched player. In addition, it is a fault that can be applied to the technical team, for example, coach or team assistant. A disqualifying foul occurs when the person performs an act of physical or verbal violence against the referee, opposing team or public.

The person committing this foul must leave the game to the locker room area or, in some cases, outside the venue, so that they do not have direct visual contact with the game.

5. The technical foul and its consequence

This fault is a bit similar to the previous one, but it does not include any type of contact, it only comes from a behavioral situation. For example, when the player acts rudely without respecting the referee’s decisions or insults the opposing team. In case the player commits two technical fouls, he will be expelled from the game.

6. Unsportsmanlike foul

This foul also involves contact and occurs when a player makes a move outside of basketball or that is not considered sporting. The player who commits this type of infraction is immediately expelled from the game. We also mentioned that the most common unsportsmanlike sanctions are elbow or knee strikes, as well as clothing and body restraints.

7. Lack of equipment

If the team makes 4 sanctions in the same period of the game, it is penalized. According to basketball regulations, the following fouls made by the team will be penalized with 2 free throws. For that reason, in a basketball game, players should try as much as possible not to be penalized.

As you can see, the basketball rules are created to avoid disorder and not to incite physical or verbal violence. In addition, they generate greater discipline in the players.

How long does a basketball game last?

According to basketball rules, NBA games last 48 minutes, divided into four quarters of 12 minutes each. In the case of the NCAA for college basketball, we inform you that the games last 40 minutes. These are divided into two parts with 20 minutes each.

On the other hand, matches according to FIBA ​​basketball rules must have 40 minutes, which are divided into four 10-minute quarters.

If time ends and the teams are tied, overtime will begin, which is 5 minutes long and will not end until there is a winner. Basketball players must score points as fast as possible, because they are very tired in overtime.