Basketball Fouls and Violations

One of the important parts of coaching basketball to anyone is understanding the fouls and violations which occur during practices and games. .

8-Second Violation: After the basket is made by a team, the offensive team gets only 8 seconds to bring the ball over the midcourt line.

24-Second Violation: All NBA teams have to make a shot within 24 seconds. If not, then the violation results in change of ball possession.

Blocking: Once the game or practice is on, a player tries to position his or her body in a way to prevent the opponent from getting ahead. Blocking is mostly done by the defense team players.

Charging: This is an offense team's foul. One of the offensive team's player runs into a defending team's players who has already established his or her position.

Defensive Foul: When a player practices an unnecessary or illegal contact with either the ball or away from the ball, a defensive foul is said to have been committed.

Double Dribble: The offense player who dribbles the ball, stops, and then begins to dribble it again is said to have committed the double dribble violation.

Elbowing: Elbowing can be done by any of the teams. This is when a player swings his or her elbows in a forceful, excessive manner. The elbowing player makes contact with the opponent at this point.

Five-Second Violation: A five-second throw-in violation generally occurs during a throw-in when the ball is not passed by the player who is supposed to inbound the ball before 5 seconds have gone by after he or she got the ball. Usually the penalty for a five-second violation is losing of the ball from that team.

Flagrant Foul: This is a serious contact foul where a player tries to unnecessarily and intentionally make contact during the game. Usually the penalty for flagrant foul is that the other team gets 2 free throws and the possession of the basketball out of bounds. And the player who committed the flagrant foul is automatically disqualified from the game.

Floor Violation: This is an action of a player who violates the rules but doesn't commit any foul or hinder the opponent. Usually the penalty for floor violation is a change of ball possession.

Foul Trouble: During the track of a game, one or more players who have collected way too many fouls are said to be in "foul trouble". All the players who have collected 5 fouls in high school and college game, or 6 fouls in NBA game will be disqualified or eliminated from that game. Which is why all teams must be careful not to accumulate more than 6 fouls in each half.

Goaltending: This violation is generally committed by the defense team's player. The player illegally interferes with a shot on the rim or on a downward path to the hoop. Usually the penalty for this violation results in the shot by the offense team being assumed in and they receive a basket.

Hand Check: This is a personal foul done by the defense team player. When he or she occasionally or continuously uses his or her hands on the opponent player who has the ball.

Intentional Foul: This foul is committed by the defense team's player on purpose to stop the clock.

Lane Violation: At the time of a free throw, if a player enters the lane too soon, lane violation is said to have been committed. Usually the penalty for lane violation results in a turnover or the other team receives another free throw.

Offensive Foul: This is a personal foul committed by the offense team's player. The player, who has the ball in his or her hands, charges into the defense team's player who is standing in a stationary, defensive position.

Over-the-Back: A player who jumps on and goes over the back of his or her opponent who is trying to attempt a rebound with the ball.

Palming: A player who takes his or her hand under the ball and scoops it while dribbling is said to have committed the palming violation.

Shooting Foul: This foul is committed when a player is fouled while in the act of shooting the ball. If the player misses the shot, he or she receives 2 or 3 free throw, depending on which shot he or she was originally taking.

Reaching In: When a player tries to steal the ball from the offense team's player, the player extends his or her arm and hand out, making contact with the player who has the ball.

Technical Foul: Any violations and misconduct which detriments the game is called a technical foul. Usually the penalty for a technical foul is a free throw to the opponent team.

Three in the Key: Any defense or offense player cannot remain in the lane for more than 3 seconds at a time. If the violation is committed, it results in change of ball possession.

Traveling: The offense team's player who has the ball and takes too many steps, anywhere on the court, without dribbling the ball is said to have committed this violation.

Unsportsmanlike Foul: Any player or team that plays unfairly, unethically, and/or dishonorably is said to have committed the unsportsmanlike foul. Such fouls are usually given a penalty of a free throw to the opponent team.

Tripping: When a player uses his or her foot or leg to make the opponent to loose or fall during the game is said to have committed the tripping foul.

Holding: Whether you are in a defense or offense team, using your hands to interfere your opponent's freedom of movement commits a holding fouls.

Illegal Screen: A player who is setting the screen still moves when the defense team's player makes contact with him or her. Illegal screen is a type of blocking where the defender is prevented from moving around the screen.