In basketball, technical fouls are used to penalize teams for a number of different infractions, including unsportsmanlike conduct and administrative errors such as not having the right players' numbers in the score book. The penalties for technical fouls vary depending on which level---from high school to college to professional---is being played.
High School
In high school basketball, technical fouls are penalized the same way, no matter the type of foul. The opposing team is awarded two free throws, which can be shot by anyone on the team. The opposing team is also awarded the ball out of bounds at mid-court opposite the scorer's table. If a team receives a technical foul while in possession of the ball, they lose possession. A coach who is awarded a direct or indirect technical foul loses the ability to stand in the coach's box and must remain seated for the remainder of the game except to request timeouts, confer at the scorer's table or react spontaneously to an outstanding play by his team.
College
In college basketball, technical fouls are classified in three ways: administrative, class A and class B. Administrative technical fouls are not specific to a player's or coach's conduct but have to do with administrative aspects of the game, such as score keeping, equipment, jerseys and so on. Administrative technical fouls are penalized by two free throws to the opposing team. Administrative technical fouls do not count toward team or personal fouls or toward a coach being ejected from the game. Class A technical fouls involve unsportsmanlike contact with another player that is not deemed flagrant. A Class B technical foul is for unsportsmanlike conduct such as taunting or baiting another player or berating an official. Both Class A and Class B technical fouls are penalized by awarding the opposing team two free throws. The ball is put back into play at the point in which the game was interrupted for the technical foul.
NBA
Officials may call players and coaches for technical fouls in professional basketball for similar acts and conduct, but the penalty for such fouls is only one free throw, with the ball being awarded to the team which had possession when the technical foul was assessed. The exception to this rule is a flagrant technical foul. A flagrant technical may be assessed for excessive contact with another player while the ball is dead or with an official at any time. The opposing team is awarded two free throws, but only a player on the floor at the time the technical foul is called may attempt the free throws. The opposing team is also awarded the ball out of bounds.
Member Comments