Basketball is played by jumping-jack athletes, ball-handling wizards and deadeye shooting marksmen. Pure talent and learned skill aren't the only factors that determine which teams wins and which team loses any given game. Knowledge of -- and strict adherence to -- the sport's many rules will also provide you an advantage when it comes to becoming a champion of the hardwood.
Defensive Fouls
Though physical contact between players occurs in basketball, it also has its limits. On defense, any contact that directly re-routes the positioning of the offensive player is considered a foul. This applies not only to ball handlers but also players who don't have the ball, such as would-be rebounders. These are known as "off the ball" fouls. Any foul committed on a player who is in the act of shooting -- a slap to the arm or a body bump -- is considered a shooting foul. The offensive player is rewarded two free throws. The free-throw discrepancy often determines who wins the game.
Offensive Fouls
A charging foul, also known as a player-control foul, occurs when an offensive player initiates unacceptable physical contact. Once a defensive player has established his position in front of an offenisve player, it's the offensive player's duty to avoid contact by changing is direction. If an offensive player charges into a settled defender, an offensive foul is called and the ball is handed to the other team. This is considered a turnover because the team in possession of the ball is turning it over to the opposition without taking a shot. Turnovers, like free throws, are often cited by coaches in post-game analysis of their game's result.
Ballhandling Rules
A player in possession of the ball may only dribble with one hand at a time to avoid being called for double dribble. The same violation is called when a player discontinues his dribble and, without any deflection of the ball by a defender, restarts his dribble. Ball handlers may also only take two steps without dribbling the ball; otherwise, a traveling violation will be called. Any player who goes out of bounds must re-establish position in bounds before touching the ball. Ball handlers may also receive screens -- in which a player stands in the way of a teammate's defender -- from teammates, but screeners must have both feet planted and remain stationary upon approach by the defender.
Other Key Rules
In international competition, players can grab the ball off the rim at any time without repercussion. In American leagues, though, goaltending is called when a player touches the ball that sits on the rim or is aloft in the imaginary cylinder above the rim. The NBA, NCAA and many high school leagues also have a shot clock requiring teams to shoot the ball within 24 to 35 seconds of the start of an offensive possession. This encourages stout defense and keeps teams from simply stalling once they've gained the lead.
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