Basic Rules
The basketball court is a rectangle divided in two equal parts. Each team tries to score at a basket located in its frontcourt. Each team defends the basket located in its backcourt.
Violations
The referee will give the ball to the other team as penalty for these violations.
- Double dribble: Dribbling with both hands at the same time, or starting to dribble again after stopping.
- Traveling: Moving with the ball but without dribbling.
- Striking the ball: A player may not punch the ball with their fist or kick the ball.
- Backcourt: Dribbling or passing the ball into the backcourt after crossing the midcourt line into the frontcourt.
- 3 seconds: An offensive player must not stay too long in the area under the basket.
- 5 seconds: A team has 5 seconds to throw in the basketball on any inbounds play.
Personal Fouls
Penalty for fouls depends on the situation.
A personal foul is illegal physical contact with an opposing player. Illegal contact includes holding, hitting, slapping, tripping, and going over a player’s back to try for a rebound. If the foul happens during a shot attempt, the referee will award free throws to the shooter.
An offensive foul is illegal physical contact by a player on offense. For example, the referee will call charging if a dribbler runs into a defender who is not moving. The referee will give the ball to the other team as a penalty.