In basketball, if a defender fouls a player in the act of shooting, the referee will award the shooter a certain number of free throw shots. These shots cannot be defended. The National Basketball Association, the governing body for the sport in the United States, provides detailed rules regarding fouls and free throws that provide a standard for competitive basketball. Learning these rules will help you better understand the role of free throw shots in basketball.
Foul Types
Common fouls include holding, charging, pushing or impeding the progress of a player on the opposing team. If you commit any of these fouls, the referee will charge you with a personal foul. If you commit these fouls as a defender, the referee will also charge your team with a team foul. As a defender, you cannot physically contact an offensive player in possession of the ball. Such contact would also constitute a personal foul.
Fouls on Shooter
If you commit any personal foul against a player in the act of shooting, the referee will award that player free throw shots. If the player made the shot into the basket, he will get one free throw attempt. If he missed the shot, he will get two free throw attempts if the shot was taken from inside the three-point line and three free throw attempts if the shot was taken from outside the three-point line.
Free Throw Shooter
The player fouled must shoot the free throw unless she is injured or otherwise unable to shoot. If the fouled player cannot complete the free throws, the opposing team's coach can select a substitute from that player's bench to shoot the free throws. The fouled player cannot then re-enter the game. If the fouled player's injury was the result of an unsportsmanlike act, that player's coach can choose any player to shoot the free throw shots for her. In this case, the fouled player can freely re-enter the game.
Free Throw Procedure
To shoot free throws, you must stand behind the free throw line and inside the free throw circle. When the referee hands you the ball, you have ten seconds to attempt your free throw.
Other Players' Positions
Defenders get to occupy the two spaces outside the free throw lane closest to the basket. Offensive players can occupy the next closest spaces to the basket. In the NBA, WNBA, National Collegiate Athletic Association women's competition and International Basketball Federation, only five players can stand along the free throw lane, including three defensive players and two offensive players. In NCAA men's competition, six players can stand along the free throw lane, including four defensive players and two offensive players. All players not standing along the free throw lane must remain behind the three-point line.
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