Basketball Court Markings and Rules

• The 2024 Official Basketball Rules are valid as of October 1, 2024.
• These rules are adopted by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).
• The rules were approved by the FIBA Central Board on April 26, 2024, in Mies, Switzerland.

Rule One: The Game

• Basketball is played by two teams, each with five players, aiming to score in the opponent's basket and prevent the other team from scoring.
• The game is conducted by referees, table officials, and a commissioner if present.
• Ethical behavior and positive contributions are expected from all participants, including players, coaches, officials, and delegation members.
• Participants must report any inaccuracies in scorekeeping, fouls, time-outs, or shot clock operations to the referees immediately.
• A team attacks the opponent's basket and defends its own basket.
• The team with the most points at the end of playing time is the winner.

Rule Two: Court and Equipment

• The court must be a flat, hard surface free of obstructions, measuring 28 m long by 15 m wide from the inner edge of the boundary line.
• The floor includes the court area and a boundary lane at least 2 m wide, resulting in minimum dimensions of 32 m in length and 19 m in width.
• A team's backcourt includes its own basket, the inbounds part of the backboard, and the area limited by the endline behind their basket, the sidelines, and the center line.
• A team's frontcourt includes the opponents' basket, the inbounds part of the backboard, and the area limited by the endline behind the opponents' basket, the sidelines, and the inner edge of the center line nearest the opponents' basket.
• All lines must be the same color, marked in white or another contrasting color, 5 cm in width, and clearly visible.
• The boundary line consists of the endlines and sidelines and is not part of the court.
• There must be a minimum 2 m from the court boundary to obstructions, including coaches, substitutes, and delegation members.
• The center line is parallel to the endlines from the mid-point of the sidelines, extending 0.15 m beyond each sideline and is part of the backcourt.
• The center circle is in the center of the court with a 1.80 m radius measured to the outer edge.
• The free-throw semi-circles have a 1.80 m radius measured to the outer edge, centered at the mid-point of the free-throw lines.
• Free-throw lines are parallel to each endline, with the furthest edge 5.80 m from the endline and 3.60 m long, centered between the endlines.
• Restricted areas are rectangular, marked by the endlines, extended free-throw lines, and lines originating at the endlines, 2.45 m from the mid-point of the endlines, terminating at the outer edge of the extended free-throw lines.
• Free-throw rebound places along the restricted areas are reserved for players during free throws.
• A team's 3-point goal area is the entire court area except near the opponent's basket, including:
  • Parallel lines extending from and perpendicular to the endline, with the outer edge 0.90 m from the inner edge of the sidelines.
  • An arc with a 6.75 m radius from the point beneath the opponent's basket, 1.575 m from the inner edge of the mid-point of the endline.
• Team bench areas are marked outside the court, with 16 seats for the head coach, substitutes, excluded players, and accompanying delegation members.
• Other personnel must be at least 2 m behind the team bench.
• Four throw-in lines, 0.15 m in length, are marked outside the court, 8.325 m from the nearest endline.
• No-charge semi-circle areas are marked on the court, limited by:
  • A semi-circle line with a 1.30 m radius from the point beneath the basket to the outer edge.
  • Two parallel lines perpendicular to the endline, 1.30 m from the point beneath the basket, 0.375 m in length, ending 1.20 m from the inner edge of the endline.
• The no-charge semi-circle areas are completed by imaginary lines directly below the front edges of the backboards and are part of the no-charge semi-circle areas.
• The scorer's table and chairs must be on a platform, with the announcer and statisticians seated beside or behind.
• Required equipment includes:
  • Backstop units with backboards, baskets with pressure-release rings and nets, and backboard support structures including padding.
  • Basketball, game clock, scoreboard, shot clock, stopwatch, two distinct signals for the shot clock operator and timer, scoresheet, player/coach foul markers, team foul markers, alternating possession arrow, floor, court, and adequate lighting.

Rule Three: Teams

• A team member must be authorized to play and entered on the scoresheet before the game, not disqualified, and have committed fewer than 5 fouls.
• During playing time, a team member can be a player (on the court and entitled to play), a substitute (not on the court but entitled to play), or an excluded player (having committed 5 fouls).
• Each team consists of no more than 12 team members entitled to play (including a captain), a head coach, and a maximum of 8 accompanying delegation members (including assistant coaches).
• During playing time, 5 team members from each team must be on the court and may be substituted.
• A substitute becomes a player, and a player becomes a substitute when the referee beckons the substitute to enter the court, during a time-out, or during an interval of play.

Uniforms

• All team members must wear:
• Shirts of the same dominant color front and back, with sleeves ending above the elbow; Long sleeves are not allowed.
• Shorts of the same dominant color front and back as the shirts, ending above the knee.
• Socks of the same dominant color for all team members must be visible.
• Each team member must wear a shirt numbered on the front, and back with plain numbers of a contrasting colour, clearly visible, at least 16 cm high on the back and 8 cm high on the front.
• The numbers must be at least 2 cm wide.
• Teams may only use numbers 0 and 00 and from 1 to 99. Different players must not wear the same number.
• Any logo or advertising must be at least 4 cm from the numbers.
• Teams must have at least 2 sets of shirts.
  • The home team shall wear light-colored shirts (preferably white).
  • The visiting team shall wear dark-colored shirts
• Equipment that increases height/reach or provides an unfair advantage is prohibited.

Players restrictions

• Objects that may cause injury are not permitted, including:
• Finger, hand, wrist, elbow, or forearm guards, helmets, casts, or braces made of hard materials.
• Objects that could cause cuts or abrasions (including long fingernails), hair accessories and jewellery.
• Permitted equipment includes:
  • Sufficiently padded protective equipment, compression garments, headgear that doesn't cover the face, knee/shoulder/ankle braces, nose protectors, transparent mouth guards, spectacles, wristbands/headbands (max 10 cm), taping on arms/shoulders/legs
• All compression garments, headgear, wristbands, and tape must be a solid color.
• Shoes may be any color combination, but no flashing lights, reflective material, or adornments are permitted.

Other Regulations

• Players may not display any commercial, promotional, or charitable names/logos.
• Any unmentioned equipment must be approved by the FIBA Technical Commission.
• Referees may stop the game in the event of injury to a player.
• Players must be substituted if they cannot continue playing within 15 seconds or receive assistance from team personnel, unless the team has fewer than 5 players.
• Bleeding or open wounds require substitution until the bleeding stops and the area is covered.
• Injured players may continue playing if they recover during a time-out before the substitution timer signal.
• Injured starters or players receiving treatment between free throws may be substituted, and the opponents may substitute the same number of players.

Captain Responsibilities

• The captain is designated by the coach, and may only communicate with referees during dead ball situations when the game clock is stopped.
• The captain must inform the crew chief of any protest within 15 minutes of the game's end, and signs the scoresheet in the 'Captain's signature in case of protest' column.

Head Coach/Assistant Coach Responsibilities

• Forty minutes before the game, the head coach must provide the scorer with a list of eligible players, their numbers, and the captain's name.
• The head coach must confirm team members and names of coaches 10 minutes before the game is scheduled to start.
• The head coach should indicate starting players, and Head coach A is the first to provide this information.
• The head coach/ their assistant coach may go to the scorer's table during the game to obtain statistical information only when the ball becomes dead and the game clock is stopped.
• Only head coaches, assistant coaches, substitutes, excluded players, and delegation members may sit/remain within their bench area.
• Substitutes, excluded players, and delegation members must remain seated during game time.
• The head coach may communicate in a courteous manner with the referees during the game to obtain information only when the ball is dead and the game clock is stopped.
• The first assistant coach assumes all duties and powers if the head coach cannot continue.
• If the captain leaves the court, the head coach shall inform a referee of the number of the player who will act as captain on the court.
• The captain acts as player head coach if there is no coach, or if the current one is unable to continue.
• The head coach shall designate the free-throw shooter when not determined by the rules.

Rule Four: Playing Regulations

• A game consists of four 10-minute quarters, with a 20-minute interval before the game, 2-minute intervals between the first and second quarters (first half) and the third and fourth quarters (second half) and before each overtime, and a half-time interval of 15 minutes.
• An interval starts 20 minutes before the start time and when the game signal sounds, and ends when the jump ball starts the first quarter, or a throw-in starts all other quarters/overtimes.
• Overtime periods are 5 minutes long.
• In two-game series (home and away), tied scores at the end of the second game continue with 5-minute overtimes.
• If there is a foul near the end of play time, the referee will decide the time left. 0.1 second at a minimum must be displayed on the clock.
• Fouls during intervals have free throws taken before the next quarter or overtime.
• The first quarter begins on the jump ball, and other quarters/OTs begin with a throw-in.
• A game cannot begin if either team has fewer than 5 players ready to play.
• The home team's bench and warm-up half-court are on the left side when facing the court from the scorer's table.
• Teams exchange half-courts after the first half.
• Teams will play towards the same baskets as in the fourth quarter in all overtimes.
• A period ends when the game clock signal sounds or when the backboard lighting takes priority over the clock sound.

Status and Conditions of the Ball

• The ball is either live or dead.
• The ball becomes live during a jump ball when the referee tosses the ball, during a free throw once it is at the disposal of the free thrower, or when it set for a throw-in.
• The ball becomes dead:
  • When a goal or free throw is made
  • When a referee blows the whistle while the ball is live
  • When it's apparent the ball will not enter the basket on a freethrow, when that shot will be followed by another free throw/penalty.
  • When the game clock or shot clock signal goes off.

Location Considerations during Refereeing

• The location of a player/referee is where they're touching the floor.
• If airborne, they retain the same status as their last floor contact.
• A jump ball occurs when the referee tosses it between two opponents.
• A held ball occurs when opposing players have firm possession, preventing control without roughness.
  • Each jumper stands in their half of the center circle, teammates cannot occupy adjacent positions, and the referee tosses the ball upwards above the players' reach.
• The ball must be tapped by at least one jumper after its upward flight; neither can leave position early, catch the ball, or tap it more than twice before it's touched by another player. -Violations in these cases result in the opponents' throw-in from the nearest spot. (Except behind the backboard).
• A jump ball situation occurs with held balls, out-of-bounds disputes, or double free-throw violations.
• A live ball lodging between ring and backboard. -Except during free throws or after the last throw and subsequent throw-in.
• Also when the ball becomes dead without either team having control or right to it
• Equal penalties that cancel each other out
• To start all quarters (besides the first) and all overtimes
• Alternating possession is a method to make the ball live with a throw-in instead of a jump ball.
• Teams exchange possession following jump ball situations, with the arrow indicating the next team in line. Possession switches after a throw-in.
• Violations during this throw-in result in a loss of possession.
• Fouls do not impact possession unless they occur before a quarter's start or during the possession throw-in.

How the Ball is Played

• The ball is only played with the hands and may be passed, thrown, tapped, rolled, or dribbled in any direction, with restrictions.
• Players shall not run with the ball, deliberately touch it with the leg, kick or block it with any part of the leg or punch it with a fist.
• Accidental contact is not a violation.
• Infraction will result in a throw-in for the other time from the closest place (besides directly behind the backboard).
• Team control starts when a player holds or dribbles the ball, continues when a teammate has control or is being passed between teammates, and ends when an opponent gains control, the ball becomes dead, or the its on the opponent's net.
• A goal is when the player makes a throw that is then released to the opponents' basket, when the ball is in a player's hands and thrown into the air towards the opponents' basket. At tap it should be directed or forced downwards into the opponent's basket.
• A continuous motion to the basket after the initial dribble is the motion of catching the caught following the dribble and continuing the shooting motion upwards.
• The shooting starts when the player begins to move the ball upwards towards the opponents' basket, the ball does not need to leave that player's hand.
• There is no relation between the number of steps taken and the act of shooting.
• Players may have the arms restricted but the ball does not need to leave to count. Once the ball already passed to the next player following the foul however, they are no longer considered in the act of shooting.
• A goal is made when a live ball enters the basket entirely from above, in order to count it needs to be considered within the basket when the slightest part is within the basket.
• A goal from a free throw counts 1 point, 2-point area counts two and 3-point counts 3. After the ball as touched the ring a legally touched ball before will count for 2 points.
• An accidental score in the player's own basket counts 2 points and is scored by the opposite captain. A deliberate goal in the player's own basket is a violation.
• It is a violation to cause the entire ball to pass through to the basket from below.
• Clocks must show 0.3 min to shoot an attempt for a shot for a goal. Only tapping or dunking is allowed.
• After the game clock or shot clock, the hand(s) are no longer touching the ball when the game clock or the shot clock shows 0.0.

Throw-Ins

• A throw-in occurs when the ball is passed into the court by an out-of-bounds player; a throw-in begins when the ball is at the disposal of the player-in, and ends when its touched, a violation happens, or a live ball lodges between the ring and backboard.
• A referee places the ball at the thrower-in's disposal, 4m range and in the correct place.
• The thrower-in will take place next to the spot of infraction. All other quarter (besides the 1st) and overtimes will start extended the center, opposite to the opponent's score table.
• When the game clock shows 2 minutes or less in the fourth quarter and overtime, a coach has the right to decide if going from their back court to the team's front court from the throw-in line, or from the backcourt where the game was stopped. The head course shall pick on the table' side, after a throw or foul.
• Following a personal foul the throw-in is close to the infraction, after a technical foul it happens closer to where the ball was and after an sportsman line it'll be from the throw in line from the team's front court, opposite the score's table
• When the ball enters the basket to the other team, the game starts free-throw line extended.
• Thrower-in must not take longer than 5 seconds to be released or step onto the court while having the ball in their hands
• During the throw-in, have any body party cross over, be 1 m to the thrower-in when less than 2m apart and the referee shall use an illegal crossing signal. It is a violation and lead to a technical foul.
• Infracations will result in the throw awarded to the opponents.

Other Regulations

• A timeout is an interruption requested by a coach, and each time out should last 1 minute. It's granted during time out opportunity and starts when the ball becomes dead.
• During a time out period, the ball becomes dead, the clock is stopped and the referee has endend communication with the scorer's table or following a successful last throw.
• When not scoring, the ball counts when a goal is scored.
• A time-out is assigned against a team when first made unless the goal scored by the opponent and no infraction having been committed. When it's not permissible, that team cannot score when during 2 min or less to go the quarter of the game ends
• Only coaches can grant a request for a time-out. It must be a conventional with hands with visual from the scorer or is clearly asking. That is a can can cancelled prior to the timer signal has sounded for such request. A minute must be displayed with the referees will notify teams when the time out starts
• The players when the time is up, can stay with its group vicinity and return when whistle by the referees for restart.
• If the time out has occurred during a freethrow, it's only granted if a freethorw is successful, has a throw-in or foul has been committed
• A substitution is a disturbance by a requested by a substitute. Each group cans substitute players during the substation opportunity when the ball becomes dead, a last freethrow is assigned or the none-scoring have goals.
• A who makes those choices be allowed to re-enter or re-leave the came, unless when the term is reduced in or the error is the is present
• Only substitutes can make that request. That action can be stopped with request but only if the timer signal has sounded a notification has been heard to stop the game. The sub has got to go without either going the timer or referee. Each person must go through the game without morethan five fouls or get send out, if that time is taking too much time then the game can result into a teching foul.
• After the freethrow a sub is only made when that time has been made unless it has already been approved.

Forfeits/Defaults

• A team shall lose by a forfeit, if.
  • It is not is present or has to few start players 15 min after the game is suppose to start, has action which prevent the event to be play and declines with command.
• Penalty for a team to lose by forfeit The game counts as won and is marked 20to0 the loosing team also gets 0 point of classification. If in a tournament the second time any player does this it result to be in elimination of the full game.
• if not to many players show up because of the the team will loose and will count as if it counts already the point of stop the teams that is ahead and If a team scores in two then both will receive and classification penalty. and both result in a looser.

Explore the rules of basketball, dimensions of restricted areas and the 3-point line. Understand the specifications for team bench areas and the no-charge semi-circle. Learn about the process that referees need to follow when the location of the player is uncertain.