MKOSZ e-Rulebook

Rulebook

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Table of contents

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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

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

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.
- 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.

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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.

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.
- 24. Dribbling
  - 24.1. Definition
    - 24.1.1.
    - 24.1.2.
    - 24.1.3.
    - 24.1.4.
  - 24.2. Rule
- 25. Travelling
  - 25.1. Definition
    - 25.1.1.
    - 25.1.2.
  - 25.2. Rule
    - 25.2.1.
    - 25.2.2.
- 26. 3 seconds
  - 26.1. Rule
    - 26.1.1.
    - 26.1.2.
    - 26.1.3.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.

RULE SIX - FOULS A-7 B-10
- 32. Fouls
  - 32.1. Definition
    - 32.1.1.
    - 32.1.2.
    - 32.1.3.
- 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.
- 35. Double foul
  - 35.1. Definition
    - 35.1.1.
    - 35.1.2.
  - 35.2. Penalty
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.

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.
- 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.
- 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.

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

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.
- 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.

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION

If you find any discrepancy between this e-Rulebook and the FIBA Official Rules or Interpretation, please, send us an email by clicking the green Feedback button at the bottom left corner.

This e-Rulebook is based on the following publications:

FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2022 v1.2 – Valid as of 01.07.2023

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FIBA Official Interpretations – Valid as of 01.07.2023 (see important note below)

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IMPORTANT

The updated official interpretations was released on 01 January 2021.

It has been restructured, there are new cases, therefore it takes time to review and modify our Interpretions section. We are contineously working on it and we will inform you which OBRI articles are already amended in our eRulebook.

Art. 1-16 HAVE ALREADY BEEN UPDATED ACCORDING TO IT.

The earlier FIBA Official Interpretations - Valid as of 01.10.2020 can be downloaded here.

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Further useful information can be gained from the book of Basketball for Everyone by Zsolt Hartyani.

The book can be ordered from the Hungarian Federation by writing an email to this email address: webshop@hunbasket.hu

The price is 10 euros plus shipping.

This book, written by Zsolt Hartyani, contains the Official Basketball Rules valid from 2014 and illustrates them with around 450 diagrams to help the reader to understand better the game.

This book, which is approved by FIBA, can be useful not only for the experts but also for everybody, who loves basketball and wants to understand it, even for spectators.