Section 1: Introduction
The International Basketball Federation (FIBA, from French: Fédération Internationale de Basketball) is the world governing body for basketball. Founded on June 18, 1932 in Geneva, Switzerland, FIBA oversees international basketball competition and sets the official rules used in all international play, including the Olympic Games, the FIBA Basketball World Cup, and continental championships.
FIBA comprises 213 national member federations across five zones (Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania), making it one of the largest international sports federations in the world. Basketball has been an Olympic sport since the 1936 Berlin Games (men's) and the 1976 Montreal Games (women's).
FIBA rules serve as the foundation for basketball worldwide. While professional leagues such as the NBA, EuroLeague, and national leagues may adopt modified rules for their own competitions, FIBA rules are the standard for all international competition and are used as the baseline by the vast majority of national federations.
Key Differences from NBA Rules
FIBA and NBA rules share the same fundamental game but differ in several significant areas:
- Game length: FIBA plays 4×10-minute quarters (40 minutes total) vs NBA's 4×12-minute quarters (48 minutes)
- Court size: FIBA court is 28m × 15m (91.9ft × 49.2ft) vs NBA's 94ft × 50ft
- Three-point line: FIBA is 6.75m (22.15ft) vs NBA's 7.24m (23.75ft)
- Personal fouls: FIBA allows 5 before disqualification vs NBA's 6
- Timeouts: FIBA allows 2 in the first half + 3 in the second half vs NBA's 7 per game
- Backcourt violation: FIBA uses 8-second rule vs NBA's 10-second rule
- Goaltending: FIBA allows touching the ball on the rim; NBA does not
Section 2: Equipment
The Basketball
FIBA approves specific balls for official competition. The Molten BG5000 is the official game ball for major FIBA competitions.
- Size 7 (men): Circumference 749–780 mm (29.5–30.7 inches), weight 567–650 g (20–22.9 ounces)
- Size 6 (women): Circumference 724–737 mm (28.5–29 inches), weight 510–567 g (18–20 ounces)
- Material: Leather, composite leather, or synthetic — no rubber balls in official FIBA competition
- Inflation: Must bounce to a height of 1200–1400 mm (47.2–55.1 inches) when dropped from 1800 mm (70.9 inches) onto the playing floor
- Color: FIBA-approved orange/brown tones with the FIBA logo
Backboard and Basket
- Backboard: Rectangular, 1.80m wide × 1.05m tall (5.9ft × 3.4ft), transparent tempered safety glass
- Rim: 450 mm (17.7 inches) internal diameter, made of solid steel, painted orange
- Rim height: 3.05m (10 feet) above the floor — same as NBA
- Net: White cord, 400–450 mm (15.7–17.7 inches) in length
- Pressure-release rim: Required for all FIBA Level 1 and Level 2 competitions
Player Uniforms
- Jersey numbers: 0–99 permitted (expanded from the traditional 4–15 range in 2014)
- Jersey: Must be tucked in. Numbers on front (minimum 100mm/4in tall) and back (minimum 200mm/8in tall)
- Shorts: Same dominant color as the jersey. Must end above the knee or at the knee.
- Shoes: Basketball shoes required; socks must match within the team
- Compression equipment: Permitted in black, white, or the dominant color of the jersey
- Headbands: NOT permitted in FIBA competition (unlike NBA, which allows them)
Shot Clock
- Display: Must be visible on all four sides of the court, positioned above each backboard and on the scorer's table
- Duration: 24-second countdown — same as NBA
Section 3: Playing Area
The Court
The FIBA court is smaller than the NBA court:
- Length: 28 meters (91.86 feet) — NBA is 28.65m (94 feet)
- Width: 15 meters (49.21 feet) — NBA is 15.24m (50 feet)
- Surface: Hardwood or synthetic surface with uniform bounce characteristics
- Ceiling height: Minimum 7 meters (23 feet) clear above the court for FIBA Level 1 competitions
Court Markings
- All lines: 50mm (2 inches) wide, painted in a color clearly contrasting with the floor
- Sidelines: The longer boundary lines running the 28m length
- End lines: The shorter boundary lines running the 15m width
- Centre line: A line parallel to the end lines, dividing the court into two equal halves, extending 150mm beyond each sideline
- Centre circle: Radius of 1.80m (5.9 feet) measured to the outer edge of the line
Three-Point Line
The FIBA three-point line is closer to the basket than the NBA line:
- Arc distance: 6.75 meters (22.15 feet) from the center of the basket — NBA is 7.24m (23.75ft)
- Corner distance: 6.75m uniform (no shortened corners) — the arc meets the sidelines at a perpendicular angle
- Note: FIBA moved the three-point line from 6.25m to 6.75m in 2010 to better space the floor
The Restricted Area (Key / Paint)
FIBA uses a rectangular restricted area (since 2010, previously trapezoidal):
- Width: 4.90m (16.08 feet) — essentially the same width as the NBA's 16-foot lane
- Length: 5.80m (19.03 feet) from the end line to the free throw line
- Free throw line: 4.60m (15.09 feet) from the inner edge of the end line, 5.80m from the outer edge
- Free throw semicircle: Radius of 1.80m
- Historical note: FIBA used a trapezoidal key (wider at the baseline) until 2010, when it was changed to rectangular to match the NBA configuration
No-Charge Semicircle
- Radius: 1.25m (4.1 feet) from the center of the basket — NBA is 1.22m (4 feet)
- Purpose: Same as NBA restricted area arc — a defensive player in this area cannot draw a charge
Team Bench Areas
Each team bench is positioned on the same side of the court as the scorer's table. The benches must be at least 2 meters from the nearest boundary line. Only players listed on the scoresheet, coaches (maximum 2 for senior competition), assistant coaches, team manager, and medical staff may sit on the bench.
Section 4: Players & Officials
Team Composition
FIBA teams have a smaller roster than NBA teams:
- Roster: Maximum 12 players eligible per game (NBA allows 13 active + 2 inactive)
- On court: 5 players per team at all times
- Captain: Each team must designate a captain on the scoresheet. The captain is the only player who may address officials about rule interpretations (not judgment calls).
Player Positions
FIBA uses the same five positions as the NBA: point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward, and center. International basketball has historically emphasized more team-oriented, motion-based offenses compared to the NBA's isolation-heavy style, though both have converged in recent years.
Substitutions
- Substitutions may be made during any dead ball situation when the game clock is stopped
- The substitute must report to the scorer's table and wait to be beckoned onto the court by an official
- A substitution opportunity begins when the ball becomes dead, the game clock is stopped, and the official has completed any communication to the scorer's table
- There is no limit to the number of substitutions
- A player who commits their 5th personal foul must be substituted within 30 seconds
Game Officials
FIBA uses 2 referees and 1 commissioner for most competitions (NBA uses 3 referees):
- Referee (crew chief): Has final decision authority on all matters not specifically covered by the rules
- Umpire: The second on-court official, sharing floor coverage with the referee
- Commissioner (if appointed): Sits at the scorer's table and oversees the table officials. Has authority to make decisions on matters not falling within the jurisdiction of the referees.
- 3-referee system: FIBA uses 3 referees for top-level competitions (Basketball World Cup, Olympics, EuroLeague) since 2012
Table Officials
- Scorer: Records the running summary of the game, including field goals, free throws, fouls, timeouts, and substitutions
- Assistant scorer: Operates the scoreboard and assists with timing of team possession
- Timer: Operates the game clock
- Shot clock operator: Operates the 24-second shot clock
Section 5: Rules of Play
Game Duration
A FIBA game consists of 4 × 10-minute quarters (40 minutes total), compared to the NBA's 4 × 12-minute quarters (48 minutes):
- Quarters: 4 periods of 10 minutes each
- Half-time interval: 15 minutes (can be extended to 20 minutes for major events)
- Between quarters: 2-minute interval between the first and second quarters and between the third and fourth quarters
- Before overtime: 2-minute interval
Shot Clock (24 Seconds)
The offensive team must attempt a shot that hits the rim within 24 seconds — same as the NBA. However, reset rules differ:
- Full reset (24 seconds): After a change of possession, after the ball goes out of bounds off the defensive team in the backcourt
- Reset to 14 seconds: After an offensive rebound (if 14 or more seconds remain, the clock continues), after a ball out of bounds off the defensive team in the frontcourt, after a foul by the defensive team
- Key difference: When the shot clock shows fewer than 14 seconds and the offensive team gains a new possession in the frontcourt (e.g., off a throw-in), it resets to 14 — not 24
Backcourt Rule (8 Seconds)
The offensive team must advance the ball past half court within 8 seconds of gaining possession in the backcourt. The NBA uses a 10-second backcourt rule.
Starting Play
- Jump ball: Only used to start the game (first quarter) and each overtime period
- Alternating possession: All subsequent held ball and jump ball situations are resolved using the alternating possession arrow. The team that did not gain possession from the opening tip gets the next alternating possession. The second and third quarters also begin with alternating possession (no jump ball).
- NBA comparison: The NBA also uses alternating possession for held balls but starts each quarter/overtime with a jump ball
Timeouts
FIBA timeout rules are much more restrictive than the NBA:
- First half: 2 timeouts per team
- Second half: 3 timeouts per team (maximum 2 in the last 2 minutes)
- Overtime: 1 timeout per team per overtime period
- Duration: 60 seconds each
- Unused timeouts: Cannot be carried over from the first half to the second half
- NBA comparison: NBA grants 7 timeouts per game (75 seconds each), with 2 mandatory per quarter
Overtime
- If the score is tied at the end of the fourth quarter, a 5-minute overtime period is played — same as NBA
- Overtime starts with a jump ball at center court
- Each team receives 1 timeout per overtime period
- Additional overtime periods continue until a winner is determined
- Personal fouls and team fouls carry over from regulation
Personal Foul Limit
A player who commits 5 personal fouls (including technical fouls) is disqualified and must leave the game. The NBA allows 6 personal fouls before disqualification.
Section 6: Scoring
Field Goals
- Two-point field goal: A shot made from inside the three-point line scores 2 points
- Three-point field goal: A shot made from behind the 6.75m (22.15ft) three-point arc scores 3 points. The shooter's feet must be entirely behind the line at the point of release. If a foot is on the line, it counts as a two-pointer.
Free Throws
- Value: 1 point each
- Awarded for: Personal fouls on a shooter (2 free throws for a two-point attempt, 3 for a three-point attempt), unsportsmanlike fouls (2 free throws + possession), disqualifying fouls, technical fouls (1 free throw in FIBA, 2 in NBA)
- Team foul bonus: Starting from the 5th team foul in each quarter, the fouled player shoots 2 free throws regardless of whether the foul occurred during a shooting act
- NBA comparison: NBA awards bonus free throws after the 5th team foul per quarter (same) but awards 2 free throws for technical fouls (FIBA awards 1)
Goaltending and Basket Interference
This is a major rule difference from the NBA:
- FIBA rule: Once the ball touches the rim, any player may touch it — even while it is still on or above the cylinder of the basket. Players may tip the ball off the rim or swat it away.
- NBA rule: No player may touch the ball while it is on the rim, within the cylinder above the basket, or on its downward flight toward the basket. Any such touch is basket interference.
- Impact: This means offensive tip-ins off the rim and defensive swats of the ball sitting on the rim are legal in FIBA but illegal in the NBA. It adds a significant physical dimension to play around the basket.
Section 7: Violations & Penalties
Traveling
FIBA's traveling rules are stricter than the NBA's:
- Gather step: FIBA recognizes a gather step (step "zero") since 2017, allowing a player receiving the ball while moving to take two additional steps. However, the interpretation is generally stricter than the NBA's, where the gather step is more liberally applied.
- Pivot foot: Once a player stops and establishes a pivot foot, lifting the pivot foot before releasing the ball for a pass or shot is traveling
- Euro step: Legal in FIBA (the two steps after the gather), but officials may call traveling if the player takes additional steps
Personal Fouls
- Limit: 5 personal fouls per player (NBA allows 6)
- Types: Contact fouls (pushing, holding, charging, blocking, hand-checking), shooting fouls, offensive fouls, loose ball fouls
- Penalty: The fouled team receives a throw-in, unless the foul was on a shooter (free throws) or the team is in the bonus (free throws from the 5th team foul per quarter)
Unsportsmanlike Foul
FIBA's unsportsmanlike foul is more severe than the NBA's flagrant foul:
- Definition: A foul where the player makes no legitimate attempt to play the ball, excessive contact, unnecessary contact on a player who has a clear path to the basket (transition), or a foul on a throw-in
- Penalty: 2 free throws + possession to the fouled team (same as NBA flagrant 1)
- Ejection: 2 unsportsmanlike fouls in a game = automatic disqualification (NBA requires 2 flagrant fouls or 1 flagrant 2)
- Key difference: FIBA applies this more broadly, especially on transition fouls — any foul on a clear fast break is automatically unsportsmanlike, even if contact is minimal
Technical Foul
- Penalty: 1 free throw (NBA awards 2) + possession to the opposing team
- Disqualification: 2 technical fouls = automatic disqualification
- Bench technical: Charged to the coach. A coach who receives 2 technical fouls or 3 total (combining any bench technicals with a personal technical) is disqualified.
Disqualifying Foul
A foul of a flagrantly unsportsmanlike nature (violent contact, endangering safety). The player is immediately ejected and may face additional disciplinary review. Penalty: 2 free throws + possession.
Other Violations
- 3-second violation: An offensive player may not remain in the restricted area (paint) for more than 3 consecutive seconds — same as NBA
- 5-second violation: On throw-ins, a player must release the ball within 5 seconds. A closely guarded player holding the ball must pass, shoot, or dribble within 5 seconds.
- 8-second violation: Backcourt rule — the offensive team must advance past half court within 8 seconds (NBA uses 10 seconds)
- 24-second violation: Shot clock violation — same as NBA
- Backcourt violation: Once the ball has been established in the frontcourt, it may not be returned to the backcourt — same as NBA
Section 8: Safety Considerations
Concussion Protocol
FIBA has implemented comprehensive concussion management procedures for all Level 1 and Level 2 competitions:
- Recognition: Any player suspected of sustaining a concussion must be immediately removed from the game for evaluation
- Assessment: The FIBA Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT) is used for sideline evaluation
- Return to play: A player diagnosed with a concussion may not return to play on the same day and must follow a graduated return-to-play protocol
- Medical clearance: Written clearance from a qualified medical professional is required before return
Anti-Doping
FIBA is a signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code (WADA). All players competing in FIBA competitions are subject to in-competition and out-of-competition testing. FIBA maintains its own anti-doping regulations in compliance with the WADA Code, and violations can result in suspensions, fines, and bans from competition.
Court Safety
- Padding: Backboard supports and any structures near the court must be padded
- Clear zone: A minimum of 2 meters of unobstructed space is required around the entire court for player safety
- Floor: Must be level, free of obstructions, and provide consistent traction. Moisture management systems are required for high-level competitions.
- Lighting: Minimum 1500 lux for FIBA Level 1 competition, uniformly distributed to prevent shadows
Player Welfare
- Medical personnel: A qualified medical doctor must be present courtside for all FIBA Level 1 and Level 2 competitions
- Defibrillator: An automated external defibrillator (AED) must be available and accessible at all venues
- Blood rule: A player who is bleeding must leave the game immediately and may only return after the bleeding has stopped and the wound has been properly covered
- Equipment inspection: Officials inspect all players before the game to ensure no dangerous equipment (sharp objects, uncovered jewelry, hard braces) is worn
