BASKETBALL

RULES AND
HAND SIGNALS
 Basketball Rules
• Officials:
• 2 Referees and Score keepers
• Coaches:
• Responsible for discipline, calling time-
outs and making substitutions.
 Playing the Game:
• Each team begins with 5 players on the
court.
• Each game consists of four, 10-minute
quarters. 1 minute between each quarter
and up to a 10 minute half time.
• A jump ball starts the game, after which
possession situations are decided
by an alternating direction arrow.
 Playing the Game:
• The ball may be passed, thrown, tapped,
rolled or dribbled but not kicked or carried.
• Once you stop dribbling you must pass or
shoot. Another player must possess the
ball before you may dribble again.
 Playing the Game:
• A player is in possession of the ball when
s/he is holding or dribbling a live ball.
• A team is in possession of the ball when a
team member is in possession or when
the ball is being passed between two
teammates.
 Scoring
• Shots from the field = 2 points (inside the
3 point line)
• Shots from outside the 3 point line = 3
points
• Foul shots = 1 point
 Live Ball
• Ball becomes live when: tapped at a jump
ball, is touched by a player on the court or
when it is handed to the player on the foul
line.
 Dead Ball
• A ball is dead when: a point is scored, a
foul occurs, the ball touches the basket
supports, at the first of two free throws or
touches the boundary line.
 Throw-Ins
• When a ball is out of bounds, possession
is awarded to the team that did not touch
the ball last.
• During a throw in, only the in-bounder may
be out of bounds. The in-bounder may roll,
throw or bounce the ball into play. The ball
must be passed directly into the
court within 5 seconds.
 Foul Shots
• A point awarded on an unhindered shot
scored from within the free throw circle
and behind the free throw line.
• Taken after a technical foul, a personal
foul in the act of shooting or after a team
has committed 7 fouls in the half (a bonus
situation)
 Violations
• A minor infraction of the rules, penalized by a loss of the ball
• Violation = automatic dead ball
• 3 types of violations ~ 1) Free throw violation 2) Goal tending
and basket interference 3) Floor violations =traveling, double
dribble, back court, 3 seconds in key, carrying the ball
• 10 second violation = ball must be over the center line within
10 seconds
• 5 second violation = by a dribbler that is closely guarded, by
an offensive player with the ball that is closely guarded and
the ball must be in-bounded from the sideline within 5
seconds
 Fouls
• Infraction involving personal contact with an
opponent
• If a player is not shooting when fouled, her/his
team is awarded the ball until the 7th foul, then
free throws are awarded
• If shooting, the fouled player is awarded free
throws ~ 1 if the fouled shot went in or 2 if it was
missed, 3 if fouled while attempting a
3-point shot and missed
BASKETBALL TERMINOLOGY
• Blocking
• Is an illegal personal contact with an
opponent, which impedes or stops her/his
progress
BASKETBALL TERMINOLOGY
• Holding
• Is an illegal personal contact with an
opponent, which interferes with her/his
freedom to move
BASKETBALL TERMINOLOGY
• Pivot
• Occurs when a player in possession of the
ball steps in any direction with the same
foot while keeping the other foot anchored
to the floor
BASKETBALL TERMINOLOGY
• A try
• An attempt to shoot the ball into the
basket, for a possible score of 2 or 3
points
BASKETBALL TERMINOLOGY
• The act of shooting
• Begins simultaneously with the start of the
try and ends after the ball is clearly in flight
BASKETBALL TERMINOLOGY
• Infraction/Foul
• Is the breaking of the game rules
 Hand signals
(for Officiating)
 Basketball Violation
Traveling – When a player has committed a
traveling violation, the official will signal it by
placing both of his hands in front of him and
moving them in a circle.
 Basketball Violation
Carrying or Palming – In order to signal a palming
or carrying violation, the referee will have one
hand at the side, flipped over from palm up to palm
down.
 Basketball Violation
Double Dribble – The official will signal a double
dribble violation has been committed by putting
both of his hands in front of him, with palms down,
and alternating them up and down, as if dribbling a
basketball.
 Basketball Violation
Three Seconds – The official will indicate that a
player has committed a three second violation by
having three fingers raised, and the hand makes a
swiping motion back and forth at the side.
 Basketball Violation
Five Seconds – In order to signal a five second
violation, the official will have five fingers raised
with arm extended upward
 Basketball Violation
Ten Seconds – The ten second violation is shown
when the official has ten fingers raised with both
arms extended upwards.
 Basketball Violation
Kicking the Ball – When a player kicks the ball, the
referee will have one foot raised in front.
 Basketball Violation
Jump Ball – When an offensive player and a
defensive player gain possession of the ball at the
same time – the referee will blow the whistle.
 Basketball Violation
Lane Violation – If a player is shooting a free throw
and a lane violation occurs, the referee will signal it
by raising one of his arms out to his side and
holding it there until the free throw is completed.
 Basketball Foul Signals
Player Control Foul (Charge) – One hand on the
back of the head and the other pointing in the
opposite direction of the play indicates a charge
call has been made.
 Basketball Foul Signals
Blocking – If a defensive player commits a
blocking foul the official will have both hands, in
fists, touching his hips, and his elbows in tight
against his body.
 Basketball Foul Signals
Holding – The holding signal is made by having
one arm extended upwards in front of the face,
and the other hand grabbing the wrist.
 Basketball Foul Signals
Pushing – To signal a pushing foul, the official will
have both hands extended straight in front of him,
with his palms facing outward.
 Basketball Foul Signals
Intentional Foul – When a player commits an
intentional foul, the official will put both arms above
his head and cross them.
 Basketball Foul Signals
Technical Foul – To signal a technical foul has
occurred the referee will place both his hands in
front of him and put them in the formation of a
letter “T”.
 Basketball Foul Signals
Double Foul – If two players have committed a foul
at the same time, the referee will put both hands,
in fists, extended out towards the sides.
 Basketball Foul Signals
Illegal Hand Use – An illegal hand use foul is
signaled by the official putting both of his hands in
front of him, at waist level, and grabbing one of his
wrists with the other hand.