In this article, we clarify a number of NBA rules that are often misunderstood by the media and fans. Given basketball s dynamism, it is impossible to write a rulebook that can address every way a foul, travel or goaltending might be committed. So in most cases, the rules provide guidelines for enforcement rather the specific elements that constitute legal/illegal play. It is up to the league s Competition Committee (which includes team, league and referee representatives) to make recommendations to the league s Board of Governors (which includes one designated voting member from each team) on how those guidelines are to be interpreted and enforced by referees. So while the league makes every effort to keep the media and fans informed about changes to the rules and interpretations, it s not surprising that sometimes they aren t widely known, remembered or understood. Below are some clarifying explanations for what constitutes legal or illegal play based on the Competition Committee and Board of Governors decisions. Topics include: Defensive Three Seconds Goaltending and Basket Interference Fouls o Degree of Contact o Hand Checking and Automatic Fouls o Foul in the Act of Shooting o Clear Path to the Basket o Away-From-The-Play Foul o Flagrant Fouls o Block/Charge o Illegal Screens/Picks Delay of Game Defensive Three Seconds: A defensive player is not allowed inside the key area for more than three seconds unless he is guarding the player with the ball or is actively guarding an opponent without the ball. To be considered actively guarding, a defender must be within an arm s length of an opponent. If an offensive player cuts through the key, the defender must move along with (or otherwise actively guard) the offensive player to be considered legal. That is, just because an offensive player suddenly comes within an arm s length
of a defender in the key, it does not necessarily mean the defender is actively guarding him. In determining when a defensive player in the key becomes illegal, the defensive threesecond count is: (1) Stopped when a player is in the act of shooting, (2) Stopped when there is a loss of team control of the ball, (3) Stopped when the defender is actively guarding an opponent (discussed above), (4) Stopped when the defender completely clears the 16-foot lane, meaning both feet must be outside the lane lines, or (5) Suspended when it is apparent the defender will imminently become legal, meaning that if defender is clearly on his way to exit the lane, the count will be suspended provided he ultimately clears the lane. However, if the player stops before clearing the lane, the count will be considered to have been continuous, and he will be assessed a defensive three-second violation if his time in the lane exceeds three seconds. Goaltending and Basket Interference: When a defender illegally blocks or attempts to block a shot attempt from going in, it is called goaltending and the shot attempt counts as a basket whether or not it went in. When an offensive player illegally assists a shot attempt into the basket, it is called basket interference and the basket is disallowed. There are several types of violations involving players touching the ball on a shot attempt. When a player shoots the ball, no player (offense or defense) may touch the ball: 1. After it reaches its apex (its highest point) and is on a downward flight toward the basket with a reasonable chance to go in. (Exception: a defensive player may block a slam dunk attempt when it is on its way down toward the basket since the ball is not considered in flight );
2. After it hits the backboard and is headed toward the basket, whether going up or down, with a reasonable chance to go in; 3. When it is in contact with the backboard, i.e., a player may not trap the ball (a batted ball against the backboard is not a trapped ball); 4. Once it has touched the rim and is either using the rim as its base or has bounced off the rim and is in the imaginary cylinder above the rim. (Note, a ball that is rolling off the rim may be touched, even if it is still in contact with the rim because it has no chance to go in); and 5. Generally, touch or vibrate the rim, backboard or net in a way that affects a shot attempt. Fouls Degree of Contact As noted in the Comments on the Rules in the NBA Rulebook, the mere fact that contact occurs does not necessarily constitute a foul. Contact that is simply incidental to an effort by a player to play an opponent (on offense or defense) should not be considered illegal. In determining the degree of contact that constitutes a foul, referees take into account a few factors: In open areas like the perimeter, where players are often making large movements (e.g., cuts/drives), referees consider whether contact interrupts an opponent s rhythm, speed, balance or quickness (or RSBQ ). For example, if a defender makes contact with a driving offensive player such that the contact affects the offensive player s RSBQ, the contact is considered illegal and a foul is assessed. If the defender makes contact, but the offensive player continues his drive essentially unchanged, there is no foul. In close areas like the post, where players are often making tighter moves in close proximity (e.g., backdowns/box-outs), referees consider whether the contact was enough to dislodge, reroute or impede an opponent. For example, if an offensive player backs into a defensive player who is in a legal guarding position and dislodges him, an offensive foul has occurred. Or if a defender
delivers a blow with his forearm or shoulder to the offensive player as he attempts to backdown, a defensive foul has occurred. Hand Checking and Automatic Fouls A defender may momentarily touch an opponent with his hand anywhere on the court as long as it does not affect the opponent s movement (RSBQ). However, there are several types of stayed hand/arm contact with an opponent that result in a foul regardless of their degree. This contact typically involves what defenders can do with their hands/arms when guarding an opponent with the ball, and what they can do is based on the court location. When guarding an offensive player with the ball, a defender may not make contact using: Two hands anywhere on the court; An extended forearm above the free-throw line extended; An extended forearm to the front of the player below the free throw line extended and outside the lower defensive box, which is the area from the bottom tip of the free throw circle to the endline between the two 3 posted-up marks (but he may use an extended forearm to the back/side of an opponent with the ball to maintain his legally obtained position); or Two extended forearms inside the lower defensive box (but he may use an extended forearm and a hand to the back/side to maintain his legally obtained position). Foul in the Act of Shooting One of the more confusing issues is whether a player was fouled in the act of shooting, otherwise known as continuation. Generally, a shooting foul occurs when a defensive player makes contact with a shooter who, in the official s judgment, has started a continuous shooting motion and is in that shooting motion until he returns to a normal floor position. On a drive to the basket or on a running shot, the shooting motion starts when the offensive player gathers the ball (discussed below in the Traveling section). On a
jump shot, the shooting motion starts when the player starts his upward motion with the ball and continues through his release. Three areas that sometimes lead to confusion are: 1. Jumping into Defender while Shooting If an offensive player with the ball can draw his defender into their air (for example, on a pump fake), and he then jumps into the defender while taking a shot, a shooting foul is called automatically. However, if the defender is moving to his side, it is not a foul unless the contact is more than marginal (that is, it s not automatic). If the contact is more than marginal, the foul is deemed the fault of the offensive player and an offensive foul will be called. 2. Rip Throughs If a defensive player has his arm(s) extended while guarding an offensive player with the ball in a face-to-face situation, any contact with the offensive player while he attempts a rip through (moves the ball from side-to-side between him and the defender) is an automatic foul. If the contact occurs during the side-to-side movement, but before the offensive player starts his upward shooting motion, a non-shooting foul is called. If the contact occurs after the side-to-side movement, during the offensive player s upward motion, continuation will be awarded and a shooting foul will be assessed. (Exception: if the defender is lunging his arms away from the basket and the offensive player seeks the contact on his shot, a non-shooting foul will be assessed.) Also, if the defensive player is outside the Lower Defensive Box and his arm(s) are extended to his side and an offensive player with the ball initiates contact by extending or lunging his arm(s) in a shooting motion that is not directed toward the basket into the extended arm(s) of the defender, a non-shooting foul shall be assessed. 3. Take Fouls on Shooters If a defender takes a foul against an offensive player to stop play and the offensive player with the ball is on the perimeter or backcourt, a shooting foul will be assessed if the offensive player has already started his upward shooting motion towards the basket at the time of contact. If he hasn t yet started his upward shooting motion at the time of contact (that is, starting his shot after contact occurs), a non-shooting foul will be assessed. (Exception: if the contact occurs with the imminent expiration of the game or shot clock, a shooting foul will be assessed regardless of whether shooting motion started before or after the time of contact, within reason.)
Clear Path to the Basket Clear path fouls are typically called when a defender stops an offensive player on a fastbreak opportunity. To be a clear path foul, the illegal contact must occur on the offensive player with the ball while he and the ball are in between the tip-of-circle extended in the backcourt and the basket in the frontcourt, and there is no defender between the ball and the basket. There must also be clear possession at the time of the foul, the play must have originated in the backcourt (including throw-ins), and the offensive team must be deprived of an opportunity to score. Provided all of these elements are met, the foul is ruled clear path. While the illegal contact component of this rule is usually obvious, there are a few aspects concerning player location that can be confusing: If any defender (including a defender not involved with the foul) is ahead of the player with the ball being fouled at the time of the foul, there is no clear path foul if it is deemed the defender could have obtained a position between the ball and the basket had the play continued; If the defensive player who commits the foul was ahead of the driving player when that player entered the frontcourt (one foot in), but gets beat and then fouls the player from behind or the side, there is no clear path foul even though he wasn t between the offensive player and the basket at the time of the foul; If an offensive player is positioned between the tip-of-circle in the backcourt and the basket in the frontcourt, and he passes the ball to a teammate ahead of him and is subsequently fouled with no defender between him and the basket, a clear path foul is called (provided the timing of the call deprives the offensive team from scoring). The penalty for a clear-path foul is two free throws and possession. Away-From-The-Play Foul
The away-from-the-play foul is designed to prevent teams from fouling players who are not the best free throw shooters as a strategy to gain an advantage in the critical part of a game. When an away-from-the-play foul occurs, the offended team may select any player in the game to take the free-throws, and the team retains possession of the ball. An away-from-the-play fouls can only occur during the last two minutes of the fourth quarter and overtime, and they fall into two general categories: On throw-ins, if a defensive player makes illegal contact with any offensive player (including the thrower-in) before the throw-in is released, an away-from-the-play foul is called. When the ball is inbounds, including when the ball has been released on a throwin, if a defensive player makes illegal contact with an offensive player who is not directly involved in the action (i.e., the player doesn t have the ball and he is not moving to receive a pass or setting a screen ), an away-from-the-play foul is called. Flagrant Fouls There are two types of Flagrant Fouls, which may be assessed during live play or during dead ball situations immediately following a play: Flagrant Foul 1 (FF1) is unnecessary contact committed by a player against an opponent. Flagrant Foul 2 (FF2) is unnecessary and excessive contact committed by a player against an opponent. Both fouls carry a penalty of two free throws and the team that was fouled retains possession. A FF2 also results in the ejection of the player committing the foul (a player who commits two flagrant foul penalty 1s in the same game is also ejected). Since the 2012-13 season, referees call a flagrant foul on the floor without designating FF1 or FF2, and then they review the play on instant replay. During the review, they determine if the contact was a FF2, FF1, common foul or technical foul (e.g., in the case when the contact was not flagrant, but occurred in a dead ball situation). In conducting their review, referees consider the following: 1. The severity of the contact;
2. Whether or not the player was making a legitimate basketball play (e.g., whether a player is making a legitimate effort to block a shot; note, however, that a foul committed during a block attempt can still be considered flagrant if other criteria are present, such as recklessness and hard contact to the head); 3. Whether, on a foul committed with a player s arm or hand, the fouling player wound up and/or followed through after making contact; 4. The potential for injury resulting from contact (e.g., a blow to the head and a foul committed while a player is in a vulnerable position); 5. The severity of any injury suffered by the offended player; and 6. The outcome of the contact (e.g., whether it led to an altercation). In an effort to address the problem of repeat offenders, players that are assessed a flagrant foul also receive points (one point for a FF1 and two points for a FF2). Points are tallied by the league office and when a player reaches certain point levels, he is suspended. Because of these implications, the league office also reviews all flagrant fouls and hard fouls after the game and may upgrade or downgrade the contact accordingly or take other action if the contact is severe enough (additional fine and/or suspension). Block/Charge An on-ball, block/charge situation occurs when contact is made between a defensive player and offensive player who is moving in a particular direction or trying to change directions. The defender is permitted to establish his legal guarding position in the path of the dribbler regardless of his speed and distance. But to get into a legal position, the defender needs to establish himself in the path of the offensive player before contact is made (thus "beating him to the spot"). On a drive to the basket, a defender must be at the spot before the offensive player starts his upward shooting motion. Outside the Lower Defensive Box: When a player receives the ball outside the lower defensive box, the defensive player must allow the offensive player the space to stop and/or change directions (or land, stop and/or change directions, if he is in the air). Inside the Lower Defensive Box: The defensive player may establish a legal guarding position in the path of the offensive player who received a pass inside
the lower defensive box, regardless of speed or distance, by beating him to the spot. However, he must always allow an airborne offensive player the space to land. A secondary defensive player cannot be in a legal guarding position, even if stationary, inside the "Restricted Area" if the offensive player receives the ball outside the lower defensive box -- unless he jumps vertically in an attempt to defend the shot. He may establish a legal guarding position inside the Restricted Area if the offensive player received the ball inside the lower defensive box or he is the primary defender. If the defender does not get into a legal guarding position outside the Restricted Area before contact occurs, it is a blocking foul on the defender. If he gets to a legal guarding position before contact occurs, it is an offensive foul. Of course there are exceptions, such as when an offensive player leads with a foot or knee. Illegal Screens/Picks: A screen or pick situation occurs when an offensive player situates himself in the path of an oncoming defender for the purpose of slowing him down or making him change direction. For Stationary Defenders: If the offensive player attempts a screen or pick on a stationary defender, he merely needs to situate himself in a legal guarding position before the defender starts moving. If the defender then moves or runs toward the offensive player and initiates the contact, there is either a no call or a defensive foul if the contact is enough to dislodge the offensive player. For Moving Defenders: If the offensive player attempts a screen or pick on a moving defender, he needs to set himself in a legal guarding position providing the defender with enough space to stop and/or change direction. The speed of the player determines the distance needed. The offensive player cannot just jump in front of a moving opponent at the last second. In either case, an illegal screen or pick is committed when the offensive player fails to get into position before the contact occurs, or the offensive player adjusts his position as the defender tries to avoid the screen/pick. More specifically, if an offensive player sets a legal pick on a moving defensive player, who then tries to go around the pick, the offensive player cannot turn, hedge with his hips or legs, or otherwise try to reestablish a position in the path of the oncoming defender. If he does, an offensive foul is called.
Delay of Game A delay-of-game penalty is called whenever a player or team commits an act that causes a postponement or interruption in play, whether or not the delay results in an unfair advantage. The first time in a game when a player or team commits a delay-of-game violation, the team is assessed a delay-of-game warning. The second delay violation results in a technical foul. Delay-of-Game situations are: 1. Preventing the ball from being promptly put into play. 2. Interfering with the ball after a successful field goal or free throw. 3. Failing to immediately pass the ball to the nearest official when a personal foul or violation is assessed. 4. Touching the ball before the throw-in has been released. 5. A defender crossing the boundary line prior to the ball being released on a throwin. 6. A team preventing play from commencing at any time. 7. Any player, coach or trainer interfering with a ball which has crossed the boundary line (Rule 8 Section II e). 8. A player entering the game when beckoned by an official with his shirt untucked. Any act that results in a second delay-of-game offense will result in a technical foul regardless of the act that resulted in the first warning. For example, a team would be assessed a delay-of-game technical for interfering with the ball as noted above following an earlier delay-of-game warning issued because they failed to exit their huddle during a timeout. For the 2013-14 season, the Competition Committee decided to more strictly interpret a player preventing the ball from being promptly put into play (Rule 12 II a (2)) in an effort to eliminate any advantage gained by delaying an inbound.
Going forward, contact (and in particular, hand contact) with the ball after a made basket by new defensive players that is accidental or unavoidable will not be deemed to delay the game, provided that players do not hold the ball or otherwise redirect it. However, if new defensive players either seek contact with the ball or, when the contact is accidental, hold or redirect the ball in some way a delay penalty will be assessed.