Basketball Rules and Regulations by Level: NFHS, NCAA, NBA, FIBA

Basketball rules and regulations from the official books by level: court, clock, shot clock, fouls, violations, free throws and timeouts for NFHS, NCAA, NBA, FIBA.

Basketball rules and regulations come from five official books, and this guide sets out the court, the clock, the shot clock, fouls, violations, free throws and timeouts for each level, with a note on middle school and youth play.

Basketball rules and regulations are not one book. High school games in the United States follow the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), college men and college women each have an NCAA book, the NBA has its own, and international play follows FIBA. The basics of the game match across all five, but the clock, the shot clock, the three-point line, the foul limits and many violations differ. This guide to basketball rules regulations labels every rule with its level and gives the rule number where the official book was read. The NFHS book is not free to read, so NFHS lines come from the NCAA-published rules differences chart and NFHS's own interpretations and news releases, and anything those do not cover says to check your state association rulebook. Every rules page on the site is listed on the rules hub. New to the game? Start with basketball rules for beginners.

Know which book your game uses before you teach a rule. The same play can be legal at one level and a violation at another, and the NCAA men's and women's books differ on several points.

Official Basketball Rules and Regulations at a Glance

Level	Periods	Overtime	Shot clock	Fouls to foul out	Team-foul penalty
NFHS	Four 8-minute quarters	4 minutes	35 seconds where the state adopts it	Five (personal and technical)	Two free throws from the 5th team foul in a quarter
NCAA men	Two 20-minute halves	5 minutes	30 seconds	Five (personal and Class A technical), or a third flagrant 1	One-and-one from the 7th team foul in a half, two shots from the 10th
NCAA women	Four 10-minute quarters	5 minutes	30 seconds	Five (personal, flagrant 1 and all technical)	Two free throws from the 5th team foul in a quarter
NBA	Four 12-minute periods	5 minutes	24 seconds	Six personal fouls	Two shots after four team fouls in a period (three in overtime)
FIBA (2026)	Four 10-minute quarters	5 minutes	24 seconds	Five fouls	Two free throws after four team fouls in a quarter

Sources for the table: the NCAA rules differences chart rows for game length, overtime, shot clock, disqualification and bonus (NFHS). NCAA men Rule 5 Secs. 6 and 9, Rule 2 Sec. 11 Art. 1, Rule 4 Sec. 12 Art. 1, Rule 10 Sec. 1 PENALTY. NCAA women Rule 5 Sec. 6, Rule 2 Sec. 11 Art. 1, Rule 4 Sec. 12 Art. 1, Rule 8 Sec. 2 Art. 1. NBA Rule 5 Sec. II, Rule 7 Sec. I, Rule 3 Sec. I(a), Rule 12B Sec. V. FIBA 2026 Arts. 8, 29, 41 and 42. The same rules side by side for the three main books are on high school vs college vs NBA rules, and the high school and FIBA books are compared on FIBA vs NFHS rules.

The Court, the Players and Scoring

Players. NCAA men and women (Rule 1 Sec. 1 Art. 1), the NBA (Rule 3 Sec. I(a)) and FIBA (Art. 4.2.2) all put five players from each team on the court.
Court size. NCAA men and women: 94 feet by 50 feet (Rule 1 Sec. 2 Art. 2). NBA: 94 feet by 50 feet on the court diagram (Rule 1 Sec. I). FIBA: 28 m by 15 m (Art. 2.1). For high school courts, check your state association rulebook. Markings are drawn on basketball court dimensions.
The three-point line. NCAA men and women: 22 feet 1 3/4 inches from the center of the basket, and 21 feet 7 7/8 inches in the corners (Rule 1 Sec. 7 Art. 1). NBA: an arc of 23 feet 9 inches with lines 3 feet from the sidelines, 22 feet in the corners on the diagram (Rule 1 Sec. I(d)). FIBA: an arc of 6.75 m joined to lines 0.90 m from the sidelines (Art. 2.5.4). For high school, check your state association rulebook.
Points. A free throw counts one, a field goal two, and a field goal from beyond the three-point line three (NCAA men Rule 5 Sec. 1 Arts. 3 and 4, NBA Rule 5 Sec. I, FIBA Art. 16.2.1).

Basketball rules and regulations two-point and three-point field goals on a high school court

Two or three points. A shot from behind the three-point line counts three and one from inside it counts two. The line's distance changes by level, and this diagram uses a high school court.

Game Clock, Overtime and the Shot Clock

NFHS. Four 8-minute quarters and 4-minute overtimes. The differences chart lists the shot clock as "State adoption - 35 seconds" and gives no NFHS reset rule.
NCAA men. Two 20-minute halves with a 15-minute halftime, and as many 5-minute extra periods as needed (Rule 5 Secs. 6 and 9). A 30-second shot clock, reset to 20 seconds when the offense is first to control the ball in its frontcourt after a missed try that touches the ring or flange (Rule 2 Sec. 11 Arts. 1 and 6.d.1).
NCAA women. Four 10-minute quarters and 5-minute overtimes (Rule 5 Sec. 6 Art. 1). A 30-second shot clock with the same 20-second reset after the shooting team controls a missed try that touches the ring or flange (Rule 2 Sec. 11 Arts. 1 and 6.d.1).
NBA. Twelve-minute periods and five-minute overtimes (Rule 5 Sec. II). A 24-second shot clock, reset to 14 when the offense is first to gain possession after a missed try that contacts the ring or a missed free throw that stays in play (Rule 7 Secs. I and IV(d)).
FIBA. Four 10-minute quarters and as many 5-minute overtimes as needed (Arts. 8.1 and 8.7). A 24-second shot clock. After the ball touches the ring it resets to 24 if the opponents gain control and to 14 if the same team keeps it (Arts. 29.1.1 and 29.2.7).

More detail is on basketball shot clock rules, high school shot clock rules and basketball overtime rules. When the game clock runs and stops is on basketball game clock rules.

Fouls and Foul Limits

A personal foul is illegal contact with an opponent. NCAA men define it as illegal contact while the ball is live (Rule 4 Sec. 15 Art. 2). FIBA 2026 defines it as illegal contact whether the ball is live or dead (Art. 34.1.1). The full list of foul types is on basketball fouls list.

Fouling out. NFHS: a fifth foul, personal and technical (differences chart). NCAA men: a fifth foul counting personal and Class A technical fouls, or a third flagrant 1 (Rule 4 Sec. 12 Art. 1). NCAA women: a fifth foul, including personal and flagrant 1 fouls and all technical fouls (Rule 4 Sec. 12 Art. 1). NBA: a sixth personal foul (Rule 3 Sec. I(a)). FIBA: five fouls (Art. 41.1).
The bonus. NFHS: two free throws from the fifth team foul in a quarter, no one-and-one, team fouls reset after each quarter (differences chart). NCAA men: a one-and-one from the seventh team foul in a half and two shots from the tenth (Rule 8 Sec. 2). NCAA women: two free throws from the fifth team foul in a quarter (Rule 8 Sec. 2 Art. 1). NBA: four team fouls per period, then one free throw plus a penalty free throw, three per overtime (Rule 12B Sec. V). FIBA: in the penalty after four team fouls in a quarter, then two free throws (Art. 42).
Technical fouls. NFHS: two free throws, then the ball at the division line opposite the table (NFHS interpretations), and check your state association rulebook for the current wording. NCAA men: two free throws for a Class A technical and one for a Class B (Rule 10 Secs. 3 and 4). NCAA women: two free throws, then the ball at the division line (Rule 10 Sec. 12). NBA: one free throw, and the team in possession keeps the ball (Rule 12A Sec. V). FIBA 2026: one free throw, then a throw-in for the team that had control (Art. 36.3). Full guide: technical foul in basketball.
Flagrant fouls. At NCAA, NBA and FIBA level the penalty is free throws plus the ball. An NCAA flagrant 2 and an NBA flagrant penalty (2) eject, and FIBA disqualifies after two flagrant fouls. NFHS ejects on a single flagrant foul (differences chart). For the high school penalty, check your state association rulebook. Full guide: flagrant foul in basketball.

Violations

A violation gives the ball to the other team without free throws. The main ones, by level:

Traveling

NCAA men: after the pivot foot is set, the player can lift it to pass or shoot but cannot put it back down first, and to start a dribble the ball has to leave the hand before that foot comes up (Rule 9 Sec. 5 Art. 5). NCAA women's jump stop allows landing on both feet "at approximately the same time" (Rule 4 Sec. 19). NBA: a player who gathers while progressing may take two steps to stop, pass or shoot (Rule 10 Sec. XIII(b)). FIBA 2026: two steps after gaining control while moving, with the ball released before the second step to start a dribble (Art. 25.2.1). For high school, check your state association rulebook. Full guide: traveling in basketball.

Double dribble

NCAA men and women: a second dribble after the first has ended is a violation unless control was lost on a try, a bat by an opponent, or a pass or fumble touched by another player (Rule 9 Sec. 7 Art. 1). The NBA allows a new dribble after a shot only if the ball touches the backboard or rim (Rule 10 Sec. II(e)). FIBA's exceptions are a shot, a touch by an opponent, or a pass or fumble touched by another player (Art. 24.2). For high school, check your state association rulebook. Full guide: double dribble in basketball.

Backcourt and the backcourt count

Once a team has the ball in its frontcourt, it may not be the first to touch the ball in the backcourt after sending it there (NCAA men and women Rule 9 Sec. 12 Art. 4, NBA Rule 10 Sec. IX, FIBA Art. 30). The team must get the ball into the frontcourt within 10 seconds at NFHS (differences chart) and NCAA level (Rule 9 Sec. 10), and within 8 seconds in the NBA (Rule 10 Sec. VIII) and FIBA (Art. 28). Full guide: backcourt violation in basketball.

Basketball rules and regulations backcourt violation with a pass from the frontcourt back across the division line

Over and back. 1 has the ball in the frontcourt and passes back across the division line to 2. The NCAA, NBA and FIBA books call that a violation when 2 is first to touch it.

Three seconds in the lane

NCAA men: no part of the body in the three-second lane for more than three consecutive seconds while the team controls the ball in its frontcourt (Rule 9 Sec. 9). The differences chart says NCAA men count one foot out and one in the air as out of the lane, while NFHS and NCAA women need both feet outside (NCAA women Rule 9 Sec. 9 Art. 2). FIBA 2026 applies the rule in the restricted area while the game clock runs, and both feet must be outside (Art. 26.1). The NBA has the offensive rule (Rule 10 Sec. VI) and a defensive one: a defender in the lane must be actively guarding an opponent within three seconds (Rule 10 Sec. VII). More on the 3 seconds rule.

Basketball rules and regulations three-second lane rule with an offensive player stepping out of the lane

The three-second lane. 5 may not stay in the lane more than three seconds while his team has the ball in the frontcourt. NCAA women, NFHS (per the NCAA differences chart) and FIBA need both feet outside to be out. NCAA men count one foot out and one in the air as out.

Closely guarded and five-second counts

NCAA men and women: a player holding the ball in the frontcourt with an opponent in a guarding stance within 6 feet has five seconds (Rule 9 Sec. 14). FIBA 2026: a player holding the ball with an opponent within 1 m must pass, shoot or dribble within 5 seconds (Art. 27). For high school, check your state association rulebook. The NBA has a different rule: no dribbling with the back or side to the basket below the free-throw line extended for more than five seconds (Rule 10 Sec. XVI). More on the 5 seconds rule.

Basketball rules and regulations closely guarded count with a defender a step away from a player holding the ball

Closely guarded. NCAA men and women count five seconds on a player holding the ball in the frontcourt with a guard within 6 feet. FIBA counts five seconds within 1 m.

The complete list is on basketball violations list. The throw-in has its own page on basketball throw-in rules.

Free Throws

Time limit. NCAA men and women: 10 seconds from when the ball is at the shooter's disposal (Rule 8 Sec. 5 Art. 1.a). NBA: 10 seconds from when the shooter controls the ball (Rule 9 Sec. I(a)). FIBA 2026: 5 seconds (Art. 44.2.3). For high school, check your state association rulebook.
The lane. NCAA: at most six players in the lane spaces, four opponents and two teammates. The two spaces nearest the end line, below the blocks, stay open. From the first space above each block, an opponent, a teammate and an opponent line up on each side, and lane players may move when the shooter releases the ball (Rule 8 Secs. 4 and 5). NFHS lane players may also go on the release, per an NFHS rules story from 2015, and check your state association rulebook for the current wording.
The ring. NCAA men and women (Rule 8 Sec. 5 Art. 1.a), the NBA (Rule 9 Sec. I(a)) and FIBA 2026 (Art. 44.2.3) require the try to enter the basket or touch the ring.

Basketball rules and regulations NCAA free-throw lane spaces with opponents and teammates alternating along the lane

NCAA free-throw lane. The spaces nearest the end line, below the blocks, stay open. From the first space above each block, an opponent, a teammate and an opponent line up on each side, six players at most.

Full guide: basketball free throw rules.

Timeouts

NFHS: three 60-second and two 30-second timeouts (differences chart).
NCAA men: in games without the TV media format, four 75-second and two 30-second timeouts per team (Rule 5 Sec. 14 Art. 8.a).
NCAA women: in games without the media format, three 30-second and two full timeouts per team, plus one 30-second timeout in each overtime (Rule 5 Sec. 14 Art. 9).
NBA: seven charged timeouts in regulation, no more than four in the fourth period, two in each overtime, and two mandatory timeouts in every period (Rule 5 Sec. VI).
FIBA 2026: 1-minute time-outs, two in the first half, three in the second half with no more than two when the clock shows 2:00 or less in the fourth quarter, and one in each overtime. Unused time-outs do not carry over (Art. 18.2).

How to use them is on basketball timeout strategy.

High School, Middle School and Youth Rules

High school basketball in the United States is played under NFHS rules, applied by each state association. Some rules are state options, such as the shot clock, which the differences chart lists as a state adoption. The current NFHS rulebook is sold rather than posted, so a coach should get it, or the state association's adoption notes, from the state association.

There is no separate national middle school rulebook among the official documents used for this page. For middle school basketball rules and regulations, check your state association or league: it decides which book applies and what it changes, such as period length. The NCAA men's book likewise lets non-varsity periods be shortened by conference, league or association rules (Rule 5 Sec. 6 Art. 2). For youth leagues, check the league's own rule sheet. Coaching guides for those ages are on middle school basketball coaching and coaching youth basketball.

Rules Guides in This Section

Traveling in basketball: pivot foot, gather, jump stop and steps by level.
Double dribble: what ends a dribble and the exceptions.
Backcourt violation: over and back and the 10-second and 8-second counts.
Free throw rules: time limits, lane spaces and violations.
Basketball fouls list: every foul type and how each level counts them.
Technical foul: types, penalties and ejections.
Flagrant foul: flagrant 1 and 2, penalties and replay.
Illegal screen: legal screening position and contact.
Moving screen: when the screener is still moving.
FIBA basketball terminology: the coaching words and the 2026 rule words.

Terms are defined on basketball terms and definitions. The odd corners of the rulebooks are on unusual basketball rules.

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Questions Coaches Ask

Who makes the official basketball rules?

Each level has its own book: the NFHS for US high schools, the NCAA for college men and college women, the NBA, and FIBA for international play.

What rules does high school basketball use?

NFHS rules, as each state association adopts them. Some rules, such as the shot clock, are state options, so check your state association rulebook.

How long is a basketball game?

NFHS: four 8-minute quarters. NCAA men: two 20-minute halves. NCAA women and FIBA: four 10-minute quarters. NBA: four 12-minute periods.

How many fouls before a player fouls out?

Five at NFHS, NCAA and FIBA level, and six in the NBA. The kinds of foul that count differ, so check the level's rule.

What rules does middle school basketball use?

There is no separate national middle school rulebook among the official documents used here. Check your state association or league for the book it uses and any changes.

Is there a shot clock in high school basketball?

The NCAA differences chart lists the NFHS shot clock as a state adoption of 35 seconds, so it depends on your state association.

What is the difference between NBA and college basketball rules?

The NBA plays four 12-minute periods with a 24-second shot clock, and a player fouls out on his sixth personal foul. NCAA men play two 20-minute halves and NCAA women four 10-minute quarters, both with a 30-second shot clock and five fouls to foul out. The three-point line is also farther out in the NBA (23 feet 9 inches at the arc) than in the NCAA (22 feet 1 3/4 inches).

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