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