Basketball Rules Explained: A Clear Guide to How the Game Is Played

Basketball rules come down to one idea: score more points than the other team without illegal contact or illegal ball movement. Teams of five score 1, 2 or 3 points per basket and must shoot within 24 seconds. Break a rule and you either lose the ball or give away free throws.

This guide explains the scoring, timing, violation and foul rules in plain words. It also shows how FIBA, NBA and PBA rules differ, including the PBA’s 4-point line.

What are the basic basketball rules?

Most leagues follow the FIBA Official Basketball Rules, with small changes. These are the basic basketball rules every fan should know (FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026).

• Teams: two teams of 5 players on the court at once.
• Winning: the team with more points at the end of playing time wins.
• Scoring: free throws are worth 1 point, shots inside the arc 2, and shots beyond it 3.
• Moving the ball: players dribble or pass. Walking with the ball is travelling.
• Shot clock: a team has 24 seconds to try a shot.
• Half-court: a team has 8 seconds to bring the ball past half-court.
• Fouls: illegal contact can give the other team free throws. A FIBA player is out after 5 fouls.
• Ties: a tied game goes to 5-minute overtime periods until there’s a winner.

How does scoring work in basketball?

A basket’s value depends on where the shot is taken from. Under basketball rules, a shot from inside the three-point arc is worth 2 points and a shot from beyond it is worth 3 (FIBA, Art. 16).

Shot	Points	Notes
Free throw	1	Shot from the free-throw line after certain fouls
Two-pointer	2	Any field goal from inside the three-point arc
Three-pointer	3	Any field goal from beyond the arc (6.75 m in FIBA)
Four-pointer (PBA only)	4	Shot from beyond the PBA’s 27-foot line

Source: FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026, Art. 2.5.4 and 16.2.1; PBA line from The Philippine Star.

Goaltending

Goaltending is touching a shot on its way down above the ring, or after it hits the backboard. If a defender does it, the basket counts anyway. If an attacker does it, the basket is cancelled (FIBA, Art. 31).

Timing rules: the game clock and shot clock

Basketball runs on two clocks. The game clock counts down each quarter, while the shot clock limits how long a team can hold the ball before shooting.

Game length and overtime

A FIBA game has four quarters of 10 minutes. If the score is tied, teams play 5-minute overtime periods until one side wins (FIBA, Art. 8).

The shot clock rule

A team has 24 seconds to shoot, and the shot must hit the ring. In some situations in the attacking half, the clock resets to 14 seconds instead of 24 (FIBA, Art. 29).

Time-outs

Each FIBA time-out lasts 1 minute. A team gets 2 in the first half, 3 in the second half and 1 in each overtime. Unused time-outs don’t carry over (FIBA, Art. 18).

Basketball violations

A violation is a breach of the rules that doesn’t involve illegal contact. The penalty is simple: the other team gets the ball for a throw-in.

Violation	What it means	FIBA article
Travelling	Moving your feet illegally while holding the ball	Art. 25
Illegal dribble (double dribble)	Dribbling again after ending a dribble	Art. 24
3 seconds	An attacker stays in the opponents’ restricted area for more than 3 seconds	Art. 26
Closely guarded (5 seconds)	A player guarded within 1 m must pass, shoot or dribble within 5 seconds	Art. 27
8 seconds	Failing to bring the ball into the frontcourt within 8 seconds	Art. 28
Shot clock	Failing to get a shot to the ring within 24 seconds	Art. 29
Backcourt	Taking the ball back across half-court after reaching the frontcourt	Art. 30
Throw-in (5 seconds)	Failing to release a throw-in within 5 seconds	Art. 17

Source: FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026.

Travelling explained

Travelling is the violation fans argue about most. A player who catches the ball while moving can take up to two steps to stop, pass or shoot. To dribble, they must start before the second step (FIBA, Art. 25).

Basketball fouls

A foul is illegal personal contact or unsportsmanlike behaviour. Basketball fouls are penalised with a throw-in or free throws, and too many fouls can remove a player from the game.

Personal and shooting fouls

A personal foul is illegal contact such as pushing, holding or blocking a player’s path. When the fouled player was shooting, they get free throws (FIBA, Art. 34):

• Shot made: the basket counts, plus 1 free throw.
• Missed two-point shot: 2 free throws.
• Missed three-point shot: 3 free throws.

Team fouls and the penalty

Fouls also count against the team. Once a team has 4 team fouls in a quarter, the penalty kicks in. Every later defensive foul gives the opponent 2 free throws, even on a non-shooter (FIBA, Art. 42).

Fouling out

Under FIBA rules, a player who commits 5 fouls can’t play again in that game (FIBA, Art. 4). The NBA allows 6 (NBA Rule No. 3).

Technical and disqualifying fouls

A technical foul covers behaviour such as disrespecting a referee or delaying the game. The opponents get 1 free throw, and play restarts with the team that had the ball (FIBA, Art. 36).

A disqualifying foul is a flagrant unsportsmanlike act. The player must leave for the dressing room, and the opponents get free throws plus possession (FIBA, Art. 39).

FIBA vs NBA rules: the key differences

FIBA and NBA rules share the same core game, but the details differ. These are the differences you’ll notice most when switching from a Gilas Pilipinas game to an NBA broadcast.

Rule	FIBA	NBA
Quarter length	10 minutes	12 minutes
Overtime	5 minutes	5 minutes
Fouls to foul out	5	6
Three-point line (top of arc)	6.75 m	23 ft 9 in (about 7.24 m)
Time-outs	2 in the first half, 3 in the second, 1 per overtime	7 in regulation, 2 per overtime
Team foul penalty starts	After 4 team fouls in a quarter	After 4 team fouls in a regulation period
Shot clock	24 seconds	24 seconds

Source: FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026; NBA Rules No. 1, No. 3, No. 5 and No. 12.

PBA rules: how the Philippine game is different

The PBA plays mostly by international basketball rules, with its own changes. The biggest are longer quarters and a line no other major league uses.

PBA quarters run 12 minutes instead of FIBA’s 10 (Philippine Basketball Association). That makes a PBA game the same length as an NBA game.

In August 2024, the PBA added a 4-point line 27 feet from the ring. Commissioner Willie Marcial said in October 2025 that the line is here to stay (The Philippine Star).

When Gilas Pilipinas plays internationally, it follows the full FIBA rules. That means 10-minute quarters and no 4-point shot, so the national team adjusts its style from the PBA.

How to follow the referee’s calls

A whistle stops play, and the referee’s signal tells you why. Use these steps to understand each call as it happens.

[IMAGE: FIBA referee signals chart for common fouls and violations | Alt: “Basketball rules referee signals for travelling, fouls and the shot clock” | Rights: FIBA material, needs rights clearance or redraw as original graphic]

1. Listen for the whistle and watch which referee blew it.
2. Check the referee’s arm signal: a rolling motion means travelling, and a hand on the wrist means a hitting foul.
3. Look at who gets the ball next. A throw-in usually means a violation, while players lining up at the free-throw line means a foul.
4. Watch the scoreboard for team fouls. Once a team passes 4 in a quarter, every defensive foul means free throws.
5. Keep an eye on the shot clock, especially late in each possession.
6. Watch the replay on the broadcast to see the contact or footwork that led to the call.

FAQ

What are the 5 main rules of basketball?

Score by shooting through the hoop, and move the ball only by dribbling or passing. Shoot within 24 seconds, avoid illegal contact and stay in bounds.

How many fouls before you foul out in basketball?

A player fouls out after 5 fouls under FIBA rules and 6 in the NBA. After fouling out, the player can’t return to that game.

What is the 3-second rule in basketball?

An attacking player can’t stay in the opponents’ restricted area, the painted lane, for more than 3 seconds in a row. The rule stops tall players from camping under the basket.

Does the PBA still use the 4-point line?

The PBA introduced the 27-foot 4-point line in August 2024, and its commissioner said in October 2025 that it would stay. Check the current season’s rules on the official PBA website for the latest.

Are PBA and FIBA rules the same?

The PBA follows FIBA rules as its base but changes some of them. The main differences are 12-minute quarters and the 4-point line.

Keep learning

New to the sport? Start with our guide to what basketball is, then learn what each player does in our basketball positions guide. Follow the latest games on the ArenaPlus Insider basketball hub.