Dribbling is required in basketball if you are going to move around the court while in possession of the ball. If a player tries to move without dribbling, he can be called for traveling. The exception to this rule is when a player is going to the hoop when attempting a layup or a dunk. In those cases, a player is allowed more leeway without dribbling.
Discontinued Dribble
One of the primary traveling callsthat officials make is when a player is dribbling down the court and picks up his dribble because he is going to make a pass or a shot. However, at the last minute, the player decides to keep going with the dribble instead of passing or shooting. If the player has continued to dribble continuously, that's fine. However, if the player stopped dribbling and held the ball for a even fraction of a second, and then started dribbling again, the referee will blow his whistle and give possession of the ball to the opponent. That call is "discontinuation," and it is a form of traveling.
Stepping Before Dribbling
A player who receives a pass from a teammate and starts running without dribbling is performing an illegal move. The player must dribble before he moves on the court with the ball, or else the referee will cite him for traveling. At the professional level, National Basketball Association referees seem to let players take a step before the dribble, but this should not happen in college, high school or youth basketball.
Extra Steps
Players are allowed a step and one-half when going in for a layup. That means the player can stop the dribble, gather the ball to his body and bring it up for the shot. However, players who take extra steps will be called for traveling. Most players pick up the ball somewhere around the free-throw line when going straight in for a layup. If the referee sees the player pick up the ball two or three feet before the free-throw line, he will make a traveling call and give the ball to the opponent.
Moving the Pivot Foot
A player may stop his dribble and hold on to the ball. He may lift one of his feet and use the other to slide and pivot before passing or shooting. However, if the player picks up his pivot foot, the referee will call traveling.
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