NCAA Women's Basketball Rule 10: Fouls and Penalties

• Rule 10 covers fouls and penalties in NCAA women's basketball
• A foul is an infraction of the rules and is charged to an offender

Types of Fouls

• A personal foul involves illegal contact with an opponent
• A technical foul is conduct that is detrimental to the game
• A flagrant foul involves violent or savage contact or conduct
• An intentional foul involves premeditated or excessive contact designed to impact the play
• A team control foul is a personal foul committed by a player while their team is in control of the ball
• A common foul is a personal foul that is not flagrant, intentional, or during team control

Personal Fouls

• Players should not block, hold, push, charge, trip, or impede the progress of an opponent
• Illegal contact caused by a player guarding an opponent, who is attempting a field goal, is a foul
• A player's hands or arms shall not be used to foul an opponent
• Incidental contact should not be automatically construed as a foul
• The rules are designed to prevent excessively rough play
• Contact, which does not hinder an opponent, is typically considered incidental

Technical Fouls

• Technical fouls are assessed for unsportsmanlike conduct
• Unsportsmanlike conduct includes disrespectfully addressing an official, using profane language, or baiting an opponent
• Delaying the game can result in a technical foul, such as preventing the ball from being put into play promptly
• Improper bench conduct constitutes a technical foul
• Violations related to team personnel or substitutes can result in technical fouls
• Officials assess a technical foul when a player attempts to influence their decisions
• Using electronic devices (other than those used for coaching purposes at the bench) to transmit information during the game is a technical foul

Flagrant Fouls

• A flagrant foul can be personal or technical
• A flagrant foul involves violent or savage acts that could cause injury
• Flagrant fouls carry severe penalties, including ejection from the game
• Two flagrant personal fouls result in disqualification

Intentional Fouls

• An intentional foul is a personal or technical foul designed to stop or prolong the game, or when there is not a legitimate attempt to directly play the ball
• The contact severity does not need to be high to be considered an intentional foul
• Judgment plays a significant role in determining if a foul is intentional
• Consideration includes the effort to play the ball, the score, and the time remaining

Fouls and Team Control

• A team control foul is charged to a player while their team has team control
• Team control exists when a player is holding a live ball or dribbling it, or when the ball is passed between teammates
• Team control ends when the defense gains control, when the ball becomes dead, or when a shot for goal is released

Free Throws Awarded

• If a player is fouled while attempting a field goal inside the three-point line, they are awarded two free throws
• If the foul occurs during a three-point attempt, the player receives three free throws
• If a player is fouled and the shot is successful, the goal counts and the player receives one additional free throw
• After a team reaches the bonus (four team fouls in a quarter), the opposing player receives two free throws for each subsequent common personal foul
• Technical fouls typically result in two free throws and possession of the ball at the center circle
• Intentional and flagrant fouls also result in two free throws and possession of the ball at the free-throw line extended

Free Throw Procedure

• The player awarded the free throws must attempt them
• Players line up along the free-throw lane
• Players cannot enter the free-throw lane until the ball is released
• The free thrower must release the ball within 10 seconds
• The free thrower cannot step over the free-throw line until the ball touches the rim

Penalties for Fouls

• Personal fouls are recorded on the scoresheet and count towards team fouls
• After reaching a certain number of team fouls in a quarter (the bonus), the opposing team is awarded free throws
• Disqualifying fouls result in the player being removed from the game
• A player is disqualified after committing five personal fouls
• A player is disqualified after committing two flagrant fouls
• Technical fouls can result in free throws and/or possession of the ball
• Loss of possession may also occur

The Free Throw Lane

• During free throws, players other than the free thrower must occupy designated spaces along the free-throw lane
• These players must remain in their positions until the ball is released
• Violations of the free-throw lane rules can result in the free throw being forfeited
• The free thrower should not be distracted

Administration of Penalties

• The referee signals the type of foul and designates the player who committed the foul
• The number of free throws awarded is indicated
• The ball is then given to the appropriate player for the free throws or the subsequent throw-in
• The game clock is stopped during the administration of free throws

Common Foul

• A common foul is a personal foul that is neither flagrant nor intentional nor committed against a player in the act of shooting
• After the bonus is met, the foul results in free throws being awarded to the offended player
• Common fouls are recorded and contribute to a player's foul count and the team foul count

Double Foul

• A double foul occurs when two opponents commit personal fouls against each other simultaneously
• The fouls are recorded, but no free throws are awarded
• Play resumes with the team that had possession of the ball at the time of the double foul retaining possession
• If neither team had possession, a jump ball situation occurs

Simultaneous Fouls

• Simultaneous fouls involve two or more players committing fouls at approximately the same time
• The referee determines the order in which the fouls occurred to administer the penalties correctly
• The penalties are assessed in the order the fouls occurred

Defensive Foul

• A defensive foul is a foul committed by a player on the defending team
• Defensive fouls include blocking, charging, or holding
• Penalties for defensive fouls vary depending on the circumstances
• If the foul occurs during a shot attempt, free throws may be awarded

Offensive Foul

• An offensive foul is a foul committed by a player on the team with possession of the ball
• A common type of offensive foul is charging, which occurs when a player with the ball runs into a stationary defender
• Offensive fouls are penalized, and the team loses possession of the ball

Player Disqualification

• Players are disqualified from the game after committing five personal fouls or two flagrant personal fouls
• A disqualified player must leave the game immediately
• A substitute is allowed to replace the disqualified player
• The disqualified player must remain in the team's bench area or leave the arena

Bench Decorum

• Coaches, players, and other team personnel on the bench must maintain appropriate decorum, and can be penalized with technical fouls
• Only the head coach is typically allowed to stand and address the officials during live play
• Excessive arguing or unsportsmanlike conduct from the bench can lead to technical fouls

Administration of Fouls Involving a Player out of Bounds

• When a foul is committed by or against a player who is out of bounds, special rules apply
• If the foul is against an out-of-bounds player, the ball is awarded to the opposing team for a throw-in
• The location of the throw-in is determined by where the player went out of bounds

Rule Interpretations

• Referees have the authority to interpret the rules and make judgments based on the specific circumstances of each play
• These interpretations are final and cannot be protested
• Coaches can seek clarification on rules, but they cannot argue or dispute calls