- RULE ONE – THE GAME
- 1. Definitions
- 1.1. Basketball game
- 1.2. Participants’ responsibility
- 1.3. Basket: opponents'/own
- 1.4. Winner of a game
- 1. Definitions
- RULE TWO – COURT AND EQUIPMENT
- 2. Court
- 2.1. Court
- 2.2. Floor
- 2.3. Backcourt
- 2.4. Frontcourt
- 2.5. Lines
- 2.5.1. Boundary line
- 2.5.2. Centre line, centre circle and free-throw semi-circles
- 2.5.3. Free-throw lines, restricted areas and free-throw rebound places
- 2.5.4. 3-point goal area
- 2.5.5. Team bench areas
- 2.5.6. Throw-in lines
- 2.5.7. No-charge semi-circle areas
- 2.6. Position of the scorer's table and substitution chairs
- 3. Equipment
- 2. Court
- RULE THREE - TEAMS B-1
- 4. Teams B-1
- 4.1. Definition
- 4.1.1.
- 4.1.2.
- 4.1.3.
- 4.1.4.
- 4.2. Rule
- 4.2.1.
- 4.2.2.
- 4.2.3.
- 4.3. Uniforms B-1
- 4.3.1. B-1
- 4.3.2.
- 4.3.3.
- 4.4. Other equipment
- 4.4.1.
- 4.4.2.
- 4.4.3.
- 4.4.4.
- 4.4.5.
- 4.1. Definition
- 5. Players: Injury and assistance
- 5.1.
- 5.2.
- 5.3.
- 5.4.
- 5.5.
- 5.6.
- 5.7.
- 5.8.
- 6. Captain: Duties and powers
- 6.1.
- 6.2.
- 7. Head coach and first assistant coach: Duties and powers
- 7.1.
- 7.2.
- 7.3.
- 7.4.
- 7.5.
- 7.6.
- 7.7.
- 7.8.
- 7.9.
- 7.10.
- 4. Teams B-1
- RULE FOUR - PLAYING REGULATIONS A-10 B-29
- 8. Playing time, tied score and overtime B-1
- 8.1.
- 8.2.
- 8.3.
- 8.4.
- 8.5.
- 8.6.
- 8.7. B-1
- 8.8.
- 8.9.
- 9. Start and end of a quarter, overtime or the game B-3
- 9.1.
- 9.2. B-1
- 9.3.
- 9.4.
- 9.5.
- 9.6.
- 9.7. B-2
- 10. Status of the ball A-3 B-3
- 10.1.
- 10.2. B-2
- 10.3. B-1
- 10.4. A-3
- 11. Location of a player and an official
- 11.1.
- 11.2.
- 12. Jump ball and alternating possession B-9
- 12.1. Jump ball definition B-2
- 12.1.1. B-1
- 12.1.2. B-1
- 12.2. Jump ball procedure B-3
- 12.2.1. B-1
- 12.2.2.
- 12.2.3. B-1
- 12.2.4. B-1
- 12.2.5.
- 12.2.6.
- 12.2.7.
- 12.2.8.
- 12.3. Penalty
- 12.4. Jump ball situation B-3
- 12.5. Alternating possession definition
- 12.6. Alternating possession procedure B-1
- 12.6.1.
- 12.6.2.
- 12.6.3.
- 12.6.4. B-1
- 12.6.5.
- 12.6.6.
- 12.1. Jump ball definition B-2
- 13. How the ball is played B-2
- 13.1. Definition
- 13.2. Rule B-2
- 13.3. Penalty
- 14. Control of the ball A-1
- 14.1. Definition
- 14.1.1.
- 14.1.2.
- 14.1.3.
- 14.1. Definition
- 15. Player in the act of shooting A-6 B-5
- 15.1. Definition A-3 B-4
- 15.1.1. A-1 B-2
- 15.1.2. A-1 B-1
- 15.1.3. A-1 B-1
- 15.1.4.
- 15.1.5.
- 15.1.6.
- 15.1. Definition A-3 B-4
- 16. Goal: When made and its value B-1
- 16.1. Definition B-1
- 16.1.1. B-1
- 16.1.2.
- 16.2. Rule
- 16.2.1.
- 16.2.2.
- 16.2.3.
- 16.2.4.
- 16.2.5.
- 16.1. Definition B-1
- 17. Throw-in B-5
- 17.1. Definition
- 17.1.1.
- 17.1.2.
- 17.2. Procedure B-5
- 17.2.1. B-2
- 17.2.2. B-2
- 17.2.3.
- 17.2.4. B-1
- 17.2.5.
- 17.2.6.
- 17.2.7.
- 17.2.8.
- 17.2.9.
- 17.2.10.
- 17.3. Rule
- 17.3.1.
- 17.3.2.
- 17.3.3.
- 17.4. Penalty
- 17.1. Definition
- 18. Time-out
- 18.1. Definition
- 18.2. Rule
- 18.2.1.
- 18.2.2.
- 18.2.3.
- 18.2.4.
- 18.2.5.
- 18.2.6.
- 18.2.7.
- 18.2.8.
- 18.3. Procedure
- 18.3.1.
- 18.3.2.
- 18.3.3.
- 18.3.4.
- 18.3.5.
- 18.3.6.
- 19. Substitution
- 19.1. Definition
- 19.2. Rule
- 19.2.1.
- 19.2.2.
- 19.2.3.
- 19.2.4.
- 19.2.5.
- 19.2.6.
- 19.3. Procedure
- 19.3.1.
- 19.3.2.
- 19.3.3.
- 19.3.4.
- 19.3.5.
- 19.3.6.
- 19.3.7.
- 19.3.8.
- 19.3.9.
- 20. Game lost by forfeit
- 20.1. Rule
- 20.2. Penalty
- 20.2.1.
- 20.2.2.
- 20.2.3.
- 21. Game lost by default
- 21.1. Rule
- 21.2. Penalty
- 21.2.1.
- 21.2.2.
- 8. Playing time, tied score and overtime B-1
- RULE FIVE - VIOLATIONS A-8 B-18
- 22. Violations
- 22.1. Definition
- 22.2. Penalty
- 23. Player out-of-bounds and ball out-of-bounds
- 23.1. Definition
- 23.1.1.
- 23.1.2.
- 23.2. Rule
- 23.2.1.
- 23.2.2.
- 23.2.3.
- 23.1. Definition
- 24. Dribbling
- 24.1. Definition
- 24.1.1.
- 24.1.2.
- 24.1.3.
- 24.1.4.
- 24.2. Rule
- 24.1. Definition
- 25. Travelling
- 25.1. Definition
- 25.1.1.
- 25.1.2.
- 25.2. Rule
- 25.2.1.
- 25.2.2.
- 25.1. Definition
- 26. 3 seconds
- 26.1. Rule
- 26.1.1.
- 26.1.2.
- 26.1.3.
- 26.1. Rule
- 27. Closely guarded player
- 27.1. Definition
- 27.2. Rule
- 28. 8 seconds A-1 B-3
- 28.1. Definition A-1 B-3
- 28.1.1. B-1
- 28.1.2. A-1 B-2
- 28.1.3.
- 28.1. Definition A-1 B-3
- 29. Shot clock A-2 B-1
- 29.1. Rule
- 29.1.1.
- 29.1.2.
- 29.2. Procedure A-2 B-1
- 29.2.1.
- 29.2.2.
- 29.2.3.
- 29.2.4. A-2 B-1
- 29.2.5.
- 29.2.6.
- 29.2.7.
- 29.2.8.
- 29.1. Rule
- 30. Ball returned to the backcourt A-3 B-3
- 30.1. Definition A-1 B-1
- 30.1.1.
- 30.1.2. A-1
- 30.2. Rule
- 30.3. Penalty
- 30.1. Definition A-1 B-1
- 31. Goaltending and Interference A-2 B-11
- 31.1. Definition B-1
- 31.1.1. B-1
- 31.2. Rules A-2 B-10
- 31.2.1.
- 31.2.2.
- 31.2.3.
- 31.2.4. B-4
- 31.2.5.
- 31.3. Penalty
- 31.3.1.
- 31.3.2.
- 31.3.3.
- 31.1. Definition B-1
- 22. Violations
- RULE SIX - FOULS A-7 B-10
- 32. Fouls
- 32.1. Definition
- 32.1.1.
- 32.1.2.
- 32.1.3.
- 32.1. Definition
- 33. Contact: General principles A-7 B-10
- 33.1. Cylinder principle
- 33.2. Principle of verticality
- 33.3. Legal guarding position
- 33.4. Guarding a player who controls the ball A-3 B-4
- 33.5. Guarding a player who does not control the ball
- 33.6. A player who is in the air
- 33.7. Screening: Legal and illegal
- 33.8. Charging A-1 B-1
- 33.9. Blocking A-1 B-2
- 33.10. No-charge semi-circle areas
- 33.11. Contacting an opponent with the hand(s) and/or arm(s) A-1
- 33.12. Post play
- 33.13. Illegal guarding from the rear B-2
- 33.14. Holding
- 33.15. Pushing A-1 B-1
- 33.16. Fake being fouled
- 34. Personal foul
- 34.1. Definition
- 34.1.1.
- 34.1.2.
- 34.2. Penalty
- 34.2.1.
- 34.2.2.
- 34.2.3.
- 34.1. Definition
- 35. Double foul
- 35.1. Definition
- 35.1.1.
- 35.1.2.
- 35.2. Penalty
- 35.1. Definition
- 36. Technical foul
- 36.1. Rules of conduct
- 36.1.1.
- 36.1.2.
- 36.1.3.
- 36.1.4.
- 36.1.5.
- 36.2. Definition
- 36.2.1.
- 36.2.2.
- 36.2.3.
- 36.2.4.
- 36.2.5.
- 36.3. Penalty
- 36.3.1.
- 36.3.2.
- 36.1. Rules of conduct
- 37. Unsportsmanlike foul
- 37.1. Definition
- 37.1.1.
- 37.1.2.
- 37.2. Penalty
- 37.2.1.
- 37.2.2.
- 37.2.3.
- 37.2.4.
- 37.1. Definition
- 38. Disqualifying foul
- 38.1. Definition
- 38.1.1.
- 38.1.2.
- 38.2. Violance
- 38.2.1.
- 38.2.2.
- 38.2.3.
- 38.2.4.
- 38.2.5.
- 38.2.6.
- 38.3. Penalty
- 38.3.1.
- 38.3.2.
- 38.3.3.
- 38.3.4.
- 38.1. Definition
- 39. Fighting
- 39.1. Definition
- 39.2. Rule
- 39.2.1.
- 39.2.2.
- 39.2.3.
- 39.3. Penalty
- 39.3.1.
- 39.3.2.
- 39.3.3.
- 39.3.4.
- 39.3.5.
- 32. Fouls
- RULE SEVEN - GENERAL PROVISIONS B-1
- 40. Foul limits by a player/head coach and game disqualifications
- 40.1.
- 40.2.
- 40.3.
- 40.4.
- 40.5.
- 40.6.
- 41. Team fouls: Penalty
- 41.1. Definition
- 41.1.1.
- 41.1.2.
- 41.1.3.
- 41.2. Rule
- 41.2.1.
- 41.2.2.
- 41.1. Definition
- 42. Special situations
- 42.1. Definition
- 42.2. Procedure
- 42.2.1.
- 42.2.2.
- 42.2.3.
- 42.2.4.
- 42.2.5.
- 42.2.6.
- 42.2.7.
- 42.2.8.
- 43. Free throws B-1
- 43.1. Definition
- 43.1.1.
- 43.1.2.
- 43.2. Rule B-1
- 43.2.1.
- 43.2.2.
- 43.2.3.
- 43.2.4.
- 43.2.5. B-1
- 43.2.6.
- 43.3. Penalty
- 43.3.1.
- 43.3.2.
- 43.3.3.
- 43.1. Definition
- 44. Correctable errors
- 44.1. Correctable errors – General procedures
- 44.1.1.
- 44.1.2.
- 44.1.3.
- 44.2. Correctable errors category 1 – Definition
- 44.3. Correctable errors category 1 – General procedures
- 44.3.1.
- 44.3.2.
- 44.3.3.
- 44.4. Correctable errors category 1 – Special procedures
- 44.4.1.
- 44.4.2.
- 44.4.3.
- 44.4.4.
- 44.4.5.
- 44.4.6.
- 44.4.7.
- 44.4.8.
- 44.5. Correctable error category 2 – Definition
- 44.6. Correctable errors category 2 – General procedures
- 44.6.1.
- 44.6.2.
- 44.1. Correctable errors – General procedures
- 40. Foul limits by a player/head coach and game disqualifications
- RULE EIGHT - REFEREES, TABLE OFFICIALS, COMMISSIONER: DUTIES AND POWERS A-1 B-2
- 45. Referees, table officials and commissioner
- 45.1.
- 45.2.
- 45.3.
- 45.4.
- 45.5.
- 45.6.
- 45.7.
- 46. Crew chief: Duties and powers
- 46.1.
- 46.2.
- 46.3.
- 46.4.
- 46.5.
- 46.6.
- 46.7.
- 46.8.
- 46.9.
- 46.10.
- 46.11.
- 46.12.
- 46.13.
- 46.14.
- 47. Officials: Duties and powers
- 47.1.
- 47.2.
- 47.3.
- 47.4.
- 47.5.
- 47.6.
- 47.7.
- 47.8.
- 48. Scorer and assistant scorer: Duties
- 48.1.
- 48.2.
- 48.3.
- 49. Timer: Duties B-1
- 49.1.
- 49.2. B-1
- 49.3.
- 49.4.
- 50. Shot clock operator: Duties A-1 B-1
- 50.1.
- 50.2.
- 50.3.
- 50.4.
- 50.5. A-1 B-1
- 45. Referees, table officials and commissioner
- APPENDIX A-B-C-D-E-F
- A. APPENDIX A - REFEREES’ SIGNALS
- A.1.
- A.2.
- A.3.
- B. APPENDIX B - THE SCORESHEET
- B.1.
- B.2.
- B.3.
- B.3.1.
- B.3.2.
- B.3.3.
- B.3.3.1.
- B.3.3.2.
- B.3.3.3.
- B.3.4.
- B.4.
- B.4.1.
- B.4.2.
- B.4.3.
- B.4.4.
- B.5.
- B.6.
- B.7. Time-outs
- B.7.1.
- B.7.2.
- B.8. Fouls
- B.8.1.
- B.8.2.
- B.8.3.
- B.8.3.1.
- B.8.3.2.
- B.8.3.3.
- B.8.3.4.
- B.8.3.5.
- B.8.3.6.
- B.8.3.7.
- B.8.3.8.
- B.8.3.9.
- B.8.3.10.
- B.8.3.11.
- B.8.3.12.
- B.8.3.13.
- B.8.3.14.
- B.8.3.15.
- B.8.4.
- B.9. Team fouls
- B.9.1.
- B.9.2.
- B.9.3.
- B.10. The running score
- B.10.1.
- B.10.2.
- B.10.3.
- B.11. The running score: Additional instructions
- B.11.1.
- B.11.2.
- B.11.3.
- B.11.4.
- B.11.5.
- B.11.6.
- B.11.7.
- B.12. The running score: Summing up
- B.12.1.
- B.12.2.
- B.12.3.
- B.12.4.
- B.12.5.
- B.12.6.
- B.13. Head coach's challenge
- B.13.1.
- B.13.2.
- C. APPENDIX C - PROTEST PROCEDURE
- C.1.
- C.2.
- C.3.
- C.4.
- C.5.
- C.6.
- D. APPENDIX D - CLASSIFICATION OF TEAMS
- D.1. Procedure
- D.1.1.
- D.1.2.
- D.1.3.
- D.1.4.
- D.2. Examples
- D.2.1. Example 1
- D.2.2. Example 2
- D.2.3. Example 3
- D.2.4. Example 4
- D.2.5. Example 5
- D.2.6. Example 6
- D.2.7. Example 7
- D.3. Forfeit
- D.3.1.
- D.3.2.
- D.3.3.
- D.3.4.
- D.4. Home and away games (aggregate score)
- D.4.1.
- D.4.2.
- D.4.3.
- D.4.4.
- D.5. Examples
- D.5.1.
- D.5.2.
- D.5.3.
- D.5.4.
- D.5.5.
- D.5.6.
- D.1. Procedure
- E. APPENDIX E - MEDIA TIME-OUTS
- E.1. Definition
- E.2. Rule
- E.2.1.
- E.2.2.
- E.2.3.
- E.2.4.
- E.3. Procedure
- E.3.1.
- E.3.2.
- E.3.3.
- E.3.4.
- F. APPENDIX F - Instant Replay System
- F.1. Definition
- F.2. Procedure
- F.2.1.
- F.2.2.
- F.2.3.
- F.3. Rule
- F.3.1.
- F.3.2.
- F.3.3.
- F.4. Head coach's challenge
- F.4.1.
- F.4.2.
- A. APPENDIX A - REFEREES’ SIGNALS
A jump ball occurs when a referee tosses the ball between any 2 opponents.
A held ball occurs when one or more players from opposing teams have one or both hands firmly on the ball so that neither player can gain control without undue roughness.
Each jumper shall stand with both feet inside the half of the centre circle nearest to the player’s own basket with one foot close to the centre line.
Team-mates may not occupy adjacent positions around the circle if an opponent wishes to occupy one of those positions.
The referee shall then toss the ball vertically upwards between the 2 opponents, higher than either of them can reach by jumping.
The ball must be tapped with the hand(s) of at least one of the jumpers after it has started its downward flight.
Neither jumper shall leave the jumper’s position until the ball has been legally tapped.
Neither jumper may catch the ball or tap it more than twice until it has touched one of the non-jumpers or the court.
If the ball is not tapped by at least one of the jumpers, the jump ball shall be repeated.
No part of a non-jumper's body may be on or over the circle line (cylinder) before the ball has been tapped.
An infraction of Art. 12.2.1, 12.2.4, 12.2.5, 12.2.6, and 12.2.8 is a violation.
The ball shall be awarded to the opponents for a throw-in from the place nearest to the infraction, except from directly behind the backboard.
A jump ball situation occurs when:
• A held ball is called.
• The ball goes out-of-bounds and the referees are in doubt or disagree about which of the opponents last touched the ball.
• A double free-throw violation occurs during an unsuccessful last free throw.
• A live ball lodges between the ring and the backboard except:
▬ Between free throws,
▬ After the last free throw followed by a throw-in from the throw-in line in the team’s frontcourt, opposite the scorer’s table.
• The ball becomes dead when neither team has control of the ball nor is entitled to the ball.
• After the cancellation of equal penalties against both teams, if there are no other foul penalties remaining for administration and neither team had control of the ball nor was entitled to the ball before the first foul or violation.
• All quarters other than the first quarter and all overtimes are to start.
Alternating possession is a method of causing the ball to become live with a throw-in rather than a jump ball.
In all jump ball situations teams shall alternate possession of the ball for a throw-in from the place nearest to where the jump ball situation occurs, except directly behind the backboard.
The team that does not gain the first team control of a live ball after the jump ball shall be entitled to the first alternating possession throw-in.
The team entitled to the next alternating possession at the end of any quarter or overtime shall start the next quarter or overtime with a throw-in from the centre line extended, opposite the scorer’s table, unless there are further free throws and a possession penalty to be administered.
The team entitled to the alternating possession throw-in shall be indicated by the alternating possession arrow in the direction of the opponents’ basket. The direction of the alternating possession arrow shall be reversed immediately when the alternating possession throw-in ends.
A violation by a team during its alternating possession throw-in causes that team to lose the alternating possession throw-in. The direction of the alternating possession arrow shall be reversed immediately, indicating that the opponents of the violating team shall be entitled to the alternating possession throw-in at the next jump ball situation. The game shall then be resumed by awarding the ball to the opponents of the violating team for a throw-in from the place of the original throw-in.
A foul by either team:
• Before the start of a quarter other than the first quarter or an overtime, or
• During the alternating possession throw-in,
does not cause the team entitled to the throw-in to lose that alternating possession.