There are tens of thousands of basketball leagues around the world, spanning all ages and skill levels. Despite the incredible diversity of personnel and geography, most basketball leagues derive their rules from NBA, collegiate, or European professional standards, all of which recognize nearly identical core rules covering violations like traveling, double dribble, and personal fouls.
Out of Bounds
An offensive player must be sure not to step out of bounds when he's dribbling the basketball, or catch a pass with his foot on the baseline or sideline, or he'll be out of bounds and the team will lose possession.
Traveling
The traveling rule states that an offensive player cannot take more than two steps after picking up the basketball. Once she has picked up the basketball, her only alternatives are to pass, shoot, or call timeout.
Double Dribble
The double-dribble rule states that a player cannot bounce the ball again after he has picked up his dribble, or dribble the basketball with two hands.
Carrying Violation
Carrying rules stipulate that a basketball cannot be bounced in a manner that involves the offensive player's palm facing upward with the ball. This violation is also appropriately called palming, and results in a turnover if caught by the referee.
Defensive Fouls
A defender can only place a bent forearm on the back of an offensive player when that player has his back to the basket. If he places two hands on the offensive player, or makes excessive frontal contact, he has committed a foul.
Shooting Foul
If an offensive player is fouled when she is in the act of shooting, she will be given two to three free throws, depending on whether she was inside or outside the 3-point arc.
Charging Violation
A charging foul is called if an offensive player runs into a stationary defender. This most often occurs when the player with the ball drives toward the basket, and runs into a defender near the basket. A charging violation results in a turnover, and a foul being charged to the offensive player.
Screen Violation
An offensive player must keep his hands below his waist and his feet stationary when setting a screen, or he'll be called for an offensive foul.
Shot-Clock Violation
If a league uses National Basketball Association (NBA) rules, the offense has 24 seconds to get a shot off; the ball must make contact with the rim. If using National Collegiate Athletic Association standards, the offense has 35 seconds.
Game Clock
Regulation games can either follow the NCAA model of two 20-minute halves, or the NBA model of four 12-minute quarters. All shots must be taken before the game-clock buzzer, or they are disqualified.
Personal Fouls
If the league uses NBA rules, players are allowed six personal fouls before being ejected. If using NCAA rules, each player is allowed only five fouls.
Team Fouls
Each team is allowed five fouls per quarter, or seven fouls per half, per college rules. If they exceed this total, the opponent will automatically get two free throws or one free throw and possession of the basketball, even if their player was not in the act of shooting when the foul was committed.
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