Rules of the National Basketball Association are often changing to prevent any unfair situations. Everything is regulated to ensure that the game is about talent, skill, and athleticism, not only about the players’ size. Not every broken rule results in a foul on a player. When it comes to more technical issues, the breaking of rules is called a violation. Violations are resolved by awarding the ball to the opposite team. For example, when the defending team commits a violation, the offensive team retains possession of the ball. Let’s take a look at violations that can be committed in NBA games.
Not every broken rule results in a foul on a player. When it comes to more technical issues, the breaking of rules is called a violation. Violations are resolved by awarding the ball to the opposite team. For example, when the defending team commits a violation, the offensive team retains possession of the ball. Let’s take a look at violations that can be committed in NBA games.
Out-of-Bounds
If the player is the last one to touch the ball, before it gets out of bounds, it is penalized by loss of the ball. The opposite team will inbound the ball from the nearest sideline. One exception is when a throw-in is made and the ball doesn’t touch any of the players. The person who threw the ball will get it back and can do it once again.
Offensive Screen Set Out-of-Bounds
Screens cannot be set outside of the endline. The offense can’t leave the playing area with the purpose of setting up a screen. If they do so, it results in loss of the ball, and the opposite team will inbound the ball from the sideline, which is nearest the place where the violation has been committed.
Offensive Player Out-of-Bounds
An offensive player can’t leave the playing area of the court unless he is injured or he is inbounding the ball. If they enter and reenter the playing court immediately then the ball will be given to the opposite team. When the floor rule is disrupted, the ball is given to the opposing team on the sideline but no closer to the baseline than the foul line extended.
Dribble
A player may not carry the ball without dribbling it, the player is not even permitted to put their hand under the ball. After a player has voluntarily stopped his first dribble, he is not permitted to dribble again.
Players who are in control of the ball and step on or over a boundary line, even if they don’t touch the ball while on or outside of it, are not permitted to return inbounds and continue their dribble. The violation is called turnover.
The only time the player can resume his interrupted dribble is when there was a field goal attempt at his basket and the ball touched the backboard or the rim; or when the opponent touches the ball; a pass occurs and the ball is touched by a different player or the ball hits the backboard or basket ring.
The penalty for the dribble violation is losing possession of the ball and the opposite team inbounds it on the nearest sideline, but no closer to the basket than the foul line extended.
Thrower-In
A person who throws in the ball can commit a violation if they carry the ball onto the court instead of throwing it or they go onto the court before the throw is made. The player has to stay on the designated spot and can’t take more time with the ball than 5 seconds or shoot directly to score a point. The ball has to be touched by another player before the thrower-in can touch it again.
If the ball is handed to another player, the thrower-in throws the ball out of bounds or exits a playing ground; it’s also considered a violation. There is one exception to throw-in violation, after a personal foul, successful field goal attempt, or the start of a period, the thrower-in may run down the end line or pass to a teammate behind the end line.
If there is a throw-in violation, the opposite team is awarded the ball at the same spot the original throw-in was supposed to be made.
Strike the Ball/Kick Ball Rule
Most commonly known as the kick ball rule in basketball, says that the players cannot intentionally kick the ball or punch the ball. It is ruled violation if it’s not done on accident, the ball accidentally striking the foot it’s not penalized If the infraction was committed by the offense, the ball goes to the opposing team on the sideline nearest to the spot where the violation has occurred; but not closer to the backboard than the free-throw line extended. If the ball is kicked or punched while throw-in is executed, the opposing team inbounds the ball at the same spot throw-in was made.
Jump Ball Rule
If there is a personal foul before the ball is tapped, the game clock doesn’t start. If the foul is committed after the ball is legally tapped it counts as a loose ball foul. The jump ball has to be performed concerning every regulation, which we wrote about in our previous article.
If the ball becomes loose, the opposing team gets the ball at the nearest sideline, or if the violation is committed by both teams or the official, the same players have to participate in a jump ball once again.
Offensive Three-Second Rule
The offensive player cannot remain in the 16ft key area for longer than three seconds, no matter if he has the ball or not. He can only stay longer over there if he is making a shot. The three seconds stop counting when he is moving towards the basket, but if he stops the clock starts ticking again. The 3-second clock cannot start until the ball is in control in the offensive team’s frontcourt. If an opponent bats away the ball, there is no violation.
If the rule is violated, the opposite team inbounds the ball at the foul line extended.
Defensive Three-Second Rule
The defensive player has to actively guard an opponent to be allowed to stay in the key area for longer than 3 seconds. Being within the arm’s reach of an offensive player and in a guarding posture is considered actively guarding. Two of the defenders can be teaming up on an offensive player and the defensive-three second rule is only applied when the offensive team is controlling the ball in the frontcourt. The rule doesn’t apply when the player is in the act of shooting or there is a loss of team possession.
Breaking of the defensive three seconds rule results in a technical foul and the offensive team gets the ball from the sideline which crosses with the nearest foul line extended.
Eight-Second Rule
When a team inbounds the ball or regains possession on its backcourt, they have 8 seconds to get the ball and the players past midcourt, otherwise, the eight-second rule is violated. The 8-second clock is restarted when there is a kickball rule broken, or technical or personal foul is assessed.
If the eight-second rule is violated, the ball is awarded to the opposing team at the midcourt line.
Backcourt Violation
If the team causes the ball to go to their backcourt, they cannot touch the ball, before the opponent does. The rule doesn’t apply in jump ball situations, or when the ball is tapped during rebounding because the ball isn’t in control of any team.
Violation of this rule means giving the opponent the ball at the midcourt line.
Swinging of Elbows
When a defensive player is nearby and the offensive player has the ball, a player shall not be permitted to swing excessively and violently with his elbows.
The violation results in awarding the ball to the opposite team, the spots closest to the place where the violation occurred; but no nearer the baseline than the free-throw line extended.
Entering Basket From Below
Players can’t throw the ball in such a way that it enters the basket from below. The penalty is the loss of the ball to the opposite team. Players inbound the ball where the free-throw line extended crosses the sideline.
Illegal Assist in Scoring
Players cannot help each other in scoring by pushing them into the air or making any illegal move that helps them locate themselves higher. The Illegal Assist violation occurs also when the player is using the backboard or the rim to raise himself.
The penalty for this violation is loss of possession of the ball. The opposing team retains possession of the ball by inbounding from the sideline at the free-throw line extended.
Traveling
Traveling is moving with the ball without dribbling. Taking more than two steps would be considered traveling. If the player uses his pivot foot to move around, and he changes the foot, it also is considered travelling. After taking the two steps, the player can only pass or shoot the ball. When a player has the ball and raises his pivot foot he must pass or shoot before the pivot foot is brought back to the ground.
A penalty for this violation is awarding the ball to the opposite team on the sideline nearest the place where traveling occurred, but no closer to the endline than the free-throw line extended.
Five-Second Back-to-the-Basket Violation
One of the youngest basketball rules is 5 seconds back to the basket violation. A player is not allowed to dribble the ball for more than five seconds while being in the perimeter and facing the opposite way of the basket.
If the player takes longer than 5 seconds, the ball is given to the opposition team to inbound it where the nearest sideline crosses the free-throw line extended.
Can you airball a shot and catch it NBA?
In basketball, traveling is defined as “the violation of taking more than two steps without dribbling the ball.” There are two situations wherein a player can catch an airball launched by themselves. If a player air-balls a shot attempt, they are allowed to catch the ball and put it back up. It has to be deemed a shot attempt by the referee and will be considered a rebound if successful. Also, if you throw the ball into the air and not move your pivot foot, you can catch it again as it won’t be considered travelling.
Is it an air ball if it hits the net?
No. In basketball, an air ball is an unblocked shot that misses the basket, rim, net, and backboard entirely. It is considered a very poor shot, as it usually results in no points being scored.
Do kick balls have to be intentional?
Yes. In the NBA, the ‘Kick ball’ rule is taken very seriously. If a player kicks the ball intentionally during the play, it’s a violation. Accidentally striking the ball with the foot is not a violation
