List of Basketball Violations: Every Violation by Level

A list of basketball violations from the NCAA, NBA and FIBA books with NFHS notes: ball handling, time counts, out of bounds, throw-ins, free throws, goaltending.

A violation is a rules infraction that gives the ball to the other team, and this list sets out every violation in the NCAA, NBA and FIBA books by level, with NFHS notes from the NCAA differences chart.

A violation in basketball is an infraction of the rules that is not a foul. FIBA defines it in one line as an infraction of the rules (Art. 22.1), and in every book the usual penalty is the same idea: the ball goes to the other team for a throw-in, with no free throws. This list of basketball violations is built from the official books themselves. The NCAA men's book collects its violations in Rule 9, Violations and Penalties, in 16 sections. The NBA book does the same in Rule 10, with goaltending in Rule 11, and FIBA's 2026 book in Rule Five (Arts. 22 to 31). Every line below carries its level. 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 the chart does not cover says to check your state association rulebook. Fouls are a separate list, on basketball fouls list, and the wider rules are on basketball rules and regulations.

Check the level before you teach a violation. The backcourt count is 10 seconds in the NCAA and 8 in the NBA and FIBA, the free-throw clock is 10 seconds in the NCAA and NBA and 5 in FIBA, and some violations exist in only one book.

The List of Basketball Violations at a Glance

The table lists each violation with the place to find it in each book. A dash means the book has no separate rule by that name.

Violation	NCAA men	NBA	FIBA 2026
Traveling	Rule 9 Sec. 5	Rule 10 Sec. XIII	Art. 25
Double dribble	Rule 9 Sec. 7	Rule 10 Sec. II	Art. 24
Carrying or palming	Ends the dribble (Rule 4 Sec. 13 Art. 4)	Rule 10 Sec. II(d)	Art. 24.1.2
Kicking or striking with the fist	Rule 9 Sec. 6	Rule 10 Sec. IV	Art. 13.2
Ball out of bounds	Rule 9 Sec. 2	Rule 10 Sec. I	Art. 23
Player out of bounds	Rule 9 Sec. 3	Rule 10 Secs. II(b) and XV	Art. 23
Throw-in	Rule 9 Sec. 4	Rule 10 Sec. III	Art. 17.3
Backcourt (over and back)	Rule 9 Sec. 12	Rule 10 Sec. IX	Art. 30
Backcourt count	10 seconds, Rule 9 Sec. 10	8 seconds, Rule 10 Sec. VIII	8 seconds, Art. 28
Shot clock	Rule 9 Sec. 11	Rule 7	Art. 29
Three seconds	Rule 9 Sec. 9	Rule 10 Secs. VI and VII	Art. 26
Closely guarded	Rule 9 Sec. 14	-	Art. 27
Free throw	Rule 9 Sec. 1	Rule 9 Sec. I	Art. 44
Jump ball	Rule 9 Sec. 8	Rule 10 Sec. V	Art. 12.2
Goaltending and basket interference	Rule 9 Sec. 15	Rule 11	Art. 31
Swinging the elbows	Rule 9 Sec. 13	Rule 10 Sec. X	A technical foul (Art. 36.2.1)
Ball through the basket from below	Rule 9 Sec. 6	Rule 10 Sec. XI	Reaching through from below is basket interference (Art. 31.2.4)
Using the basket to gain height	Rule 9 Sec. 16	Rule 10 Sec. XII	-
Back-to-the-basket dribble	-	Rule 10 Sec. XVI	-

The NCAA women's book follows the same Rule 9 order through Sec. 15, with Sec. 12 titled Frontcourt/Backcourt and Sec. 13 Arm(s)/Elbow(s), and it has no illegal assistance section.

What Happens After a Violation

NCAA men and women. The ball becomes dead and goes to the opponents for a throw-in at the designated spot nearest the violation (the Rule 9 penalty sections, using Rule 7-3.2). For violations such as out of bounds, throw-in and closely guarded, a basket scored in the dead-ball period right after the violation does not count.
NBA. Loss of ball. After a dribble, traveling or elbow violation the ball goes to the opponents on the sideline nearest the spot, no nearer the baseline than the free-throw line extended (Rule 10 Secs. II, X and XIII). Backcourt and eight-second violations put the ball at the midcourt line (Rule 10 Secs. VIII and IX).
FIBA 2026. A throw-in for the opponents from the place nearest the infraction, never from directly behind the backboard, unless a rule says otherwise (Art. 22.2).
NFHS. Check your state association rulebook for each violation's penalty and throw-in spot.

Ball-Handling Violations

Traveling

NCAA men: after the pivot foot is set, it may be lifted to pass or shoot but not returned to the floor first, and it may not be lifted before the ball leaves the hand to start a dribble (Rule 9 Sec. 5 Art. 5). Falling to the floor while holding the ball without keeping a pivot foot is also traveling (Art. 7). NCAA women: the same rule, with a jump stop that lands on both feet "at approximately the same time" (Rule 4 Sec. 19). NBA: a player who gathers while moving may take two steps to stop, pass or shoot (Rule 10 Sec. XIII(b)), and a hop on the same foot after ending a dribble is a violation (XIII(h)). 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). High school: check your state association rulebook. Full guide: traveling in basketball.

Double dribble

NCAA men and women: dribbling a second time after the first dribble ended is a violation unless control was lost on a try for goal, a bat by an opponent, or a pass or fumble touched by another player (Rule 9 Sec. 7). NBA: the same idea, but a missed shot only restarts the dribble if it touches the backboard or rim (Rule 10 Sec. II(e)). FIBA 2026: a second dribble is allowed only after a shot, a touch by an opponent, or a pass or fumble touched by another player (Art. 24.2). High school: check your state association rulebook. Full guide: double dribble in basketball.

Carrying or palming

NBA: a dribbler may not put any part of his hand under the ball and carry it from one point to another, or bring it to a pause and dribble again (Rule 10 Sec. II(d)). NCAA men and women: a dribble ends when the dribbler carries or palms the ball by letting it rest in a hand (Rule 4 Sec. 13 Art. 4), so dribbling again is a double dribble. FIBA 2026: a dribbler may not put any part of the hand under the ball and carry it, or bring it to a pause and dribble again, and a dribble ends when the ball comes to rest in one or both hands (Art. 24.1.2). High school: check your state association rulebook. More on what a carry is.

Kicking or striking the ball

NCAA men and women: it is a violation to kick the ball on purpose with any part of the leg or foot, or to strike it with the fist, and accidental contact with the foot or leg is not a violation (Rule 9 Sec. 6). NBA: the same, only an intentional act counts, and a player may not use his leg to move or secure the ball (Rule 10 Sec. IV). FIBA 2026: a player may not deliberately kick or block the ball with any part of the leg or strike it with the fist, and accidental leg contact is not a violation (Art. 13.2). High school: check your state association rulebook.

Time Violations

Shot clock. NFHS: a state adoption of 35 seconds, per the differences chart, so check your state association. NCAA men and women: 30 seconds (Rule 2 Sec. 11 Art. 1), and the violation happens when the try is not released before the horn or is released and then misses the ring and flange (NCAA men Rule 9 Sec. 11 Art. 4). NBA: 24 seconds (Rule 7 Sec. I). FIBA 2026: 24 seconds (Art. 29.1.1). More on basketball shot clock rules.
Backcourt count. NFHS: 10 seconds, per the differences chart. NCAA men and women: 10 seconds (Rule 9 Sec. 10). NBA: 8 seconds (Rule 10 Sec. VIII). FIBA 2026: 8 seconds (Art. 28). More on the 10 second rule.
Three seconds. NCAA men: no part of the body in the lane for more than three seconds while the team controls the ball in its frontcourt, not in effect on a throw-in (Rule 9 Sec. 9). The differences chart says NCAA men count one foot out and one in the air as out, while NFHS and NCAA women need both feet on the floor outside the lane. NBA: offensive three seconds (Rule 10 Sec. VI). FIBA 2026: the restricted area, while the game clock runs, both feet outside to be out (Art. 26.1). More on the 3 seconds rule.
Closely guarded. 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 has 5 seconds to pass, shoot or dribble (Art. 27). NFHS: the differences chart lists holding or dribbling for the count, so check your state association rulebook for the count and distance. NBA: no closely guarded count was found in the book. More on the 5 seconds rule.
Throw-in and free throw. Five seconds to release a throw-in at the NCAA (Rule 9 Sec. 4 Art. 1.d), NBA (Rule 10 Sec. III) and FIBA (Art. 17.3.1) level. Ten seconds for a free throw at the NCAA (Rule 9 Sec. 1 Art. 1.a) and NBA (Rule 9 Sec. I(a)) level, five at FIBA level (Art. 44.2.3). High school: check your state association rulebook.

Out of Bounds and the Backcourt

Ball out of bounds. NCAA men: a player may not cause the ball to go out of bounds, and the ball is out when any part of it passes over the backboard from any direction (Rule 9 Sec. 2). NBA: a player may not be the last to touch the ball before it goes out (Rule 10 Sec. I). FIBA 2026: the ball is out when it touches a player who is out of bounds, the floor or any object on or outside the line, the backboard supports, the back of the backboard or anything above the court, and the last player to touch it caused it (Art. 23). More on basketball out of bounds rules.

Player out of bounds. NCAA men and women: a player who steps out on his own and is then the first to touch the ball after coming back has violated, unless his momentum carried him out and he re-established a foot inbounds first (NCAA men Rule 9 Sec. 3, differences chart). NFHS: the differences chart says the violation is ruled when a player purposely or deceitfully delays coming back after legally being out, then is the first to touch the ball. NBA: a dribbler who steps on or outside a boundary line may not come back and keep dribbling, and may not be the first to touch the ball after returning (Rule 10 Sec. II(b)). FIBA 2026: a player is out of bounds when any part of his body touches the floor on or outside the boundary line (Art. 23.1.1).

List of basketball violations, a dribbler stepping on the sideline

Out of bounds. 2 dribbles onto the sideline. In the NCAA, NBA and FIBA books the line itself is out of bounds, so the ball goes to the other team.

Backcourt. Once a team controls 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, NBA Rule 10 Sec. IX, FIBA 2026 Art. 30. For high school, the NFHS interpretations treat the division line as part of the backcourt, and you should check your state association rulebook for the current wording. Full guide: backcourt violation in basketball.

Throw-In Violations

NCAA men and women list eight throw-in violations for the thrower (Rule 9 Sec. 4 Art. 1): leaving the designated spot before the release, failing to pass the ball directly onto the court so it goes out, a throw-in that lodges between the backboard and the ring, taking five seconds or more (the men's book says more than five, the women's book five), carrying or handing the ball to a teammate on the court, touching the court before the release, throwing the ball into the basket or off the back of the backboard, and touching the ball on the court before another player does.

The NBA (Rule 10 Sec. III) and FIBA 2026 (Art. 17.3.1) lists cover the same ground with a 5-second limit. The NBA limits the thrower to one step left or right of his spot and adds leaving the playing surface to gain an advantage. FIBA allows a total of 1 m sideways. In both books the ball then goes to the opponents at the original throw-in spot.

The defense has a throw-in rule too. The differences chart says NFHS defenders may not cross the boundary plane until the thrower releases the ball, a violation with a team warning and then a technical foul. NCAA men defenders may not cross it until the ball has crossed, a violation, with a Class B technical for a repeat. NCAA women: a team warning, then a technical foul. FIBA 2026 also bars any part of the body over the boundary line before the ball crosses it (Art. 17.3.2). Throw-in sets are on basketball inbound plays.

Free-Throw Violations

NCAA men list twelve free-throw violations (Rule 9 Sec. 1 Art. 1), among them the 10-second limit, a try that misses the ring and flange, faking a try, a lane player entering early and disconcerting the shooter. If the shooter or a teammate violates first, no point can score. If only an opponent violates, a made try counts and a miss is shot again.

When lane players may move. NCAA men and women: when the shooter releases the ball (Rule 9 Sec. 1 Art. 1.e). NBA: on the release (Rule 9 Sec. I(d)). FIBA 2026: when the ball has left the shooter's hands (Art. 44.2.4). NFHS: NFHS's own 2015 rules release says lane players may enter on the release, so check your state association rulebook for the current wording.
When the shooter may cross the line. NCAA men and women: when the ball strikes the ring, flange or backboard or the free throw ends. NBA: when the ball touches the ring or backboard or the free throw ends (Rule 9 Sec. I(b)). FIBA 2026: when the ball has entered the basket or touched the ring (Art. 44.2.3). High school: check your state association rulebook.

List of basketball violations, a free-throw shooter stepping over the free-throw line too early

Free-throw violation. 1 steps over the free-throw line too early. In the NCAA, NBA and FIBA books a made free throw then does not count, and the moment the shooter may cross differs by level.

Lane spaces, who lines up where and the penalties are on basketball free throw rules.

Jump Ball Violations

NCAA men: a jumper may not touch the ball before it reaches its highest point, leave the center circle before the ball is touched, catch the jump ball or touch it more than twice, and a non-jumper may not break the plane of the center circle's cylinder before the ball is touched. If both teams violate at once, the toss is repeated (Rule 9 Sec. 8). The differences chart says NCAA men and women let any two players take the re-jump, while NFHS requires the players involved before team control is established. NBA: a player shall not violate the jump ball rule, and the ball goes to the opponents on the nearest sideline (Rule 10 Sec. V), and the eight non-jumpers stay outside the restraining circle until the ball is tapped, with the ball to the opponents out of bounds (Rule 6 Sec. VII(g)). FIBA 2026: a jumper may not leave his position before the legal tap or catch or tap the ball more than twice before it touches a non-jumper or the floor, and no non-jumper may be on or over the circle line before the tap (Art. 12.2). More on basketball jump ball rules.

List of basketball violations, a non-jumper stepping into the center circle before the tap

Jump ball. 5 and X5 jump, and 2 steps into the center circle before the ball is tapped, a violation in the NCAA, NBA and FIBA books.

Goaltending and Basket Interference

NFHS, per the differences chart: goaltending is touching a try or tap on its downward flight while the ball is entirely above the ring and has a chance to go in, and also touching a ball after it hits the backboard while any part of it is above the ring. NCAA men use the same rule. NCAA women use it too, except that after the ball hits the backboard the entire ball, not any part of it, must be above the ring.

NCAA men: basket interference is touching the ball or the basket while the ball is on or in it, touching the ball inside the cylinder, or reaching up through the basket (Rule 9 Sec. 15 Art. 2), and touching a free throw outside the cylinder is goaltending (Art. 3.b). At the opponent's basket the points count, and at a team's own basket the other team gets the ball. NBA: the same family of rules, plus pinning the ball against the backboard (Rule 11 Sec. I). FIBA 2026: goaltending is touching a shot completely above the ring on its way down or after it touches the backboard, and touching a free throw before it reaches the ring. A defensive violation awards 1, 2 or 3 points and an offensive one scores nothing (Art. 31). Full guide: basketball goaltending rules.

List of basketball violations, a defender touching a shot on its downward flight above the ring

Goaltending. 3 shoots and X5 touches the ball on its way down above the ring. At the NCAA, NBA and FIBA level the shooting team is awarded the points.

Elbows, Kicking and Help From the Basket

Swinging the elbows. NCAA men: swinging an arm or elbow excessively is a violation even with no contact, while elbow movement from a pivot or a fake is not excessive (Rule 9 Sec. 13). NBA: no excessive or vigorous swinging of the elbows with no contact when a defender is nearby (Rule 10 Sec. X). FIBA 2026 lists excessive elbow swinging without contact as a technical foul, not a violation (Art. 36.2.1). Contact from a swung elbow is a foul, covered on flagrant foul basketball. High school: check your state association rulebook.
The ball through the basket from below. NCAA men and women: causing the ball to pass up through the basket from below is a violation (Rule 9 Sec. 6). NBA: a player may not be the last to touch a ball that rises above the rim inside the cylinder from below (Rule 10 Sec. XI). FIBA 2026 treats reaching through the basket from below and touching the ball as basket interference (Art. 31.2.4).
Using the basket to gain height. NCAA men: no using the ring, net, backboard or support to lift or hold yourself to score, to touch the ball after a try or to block a try (Rule 9 Sec. 16). NBA: no lifting yourself on the rim, net, backboard or support to score, and no lifting a teammate (Rule 10 Sec. XII).

NBA-Only Violations

The NBA book has violations the NCAA and FIBA books do not:

Defensive three seconds. A defender in the lane or the area 4 feet past it must be actively guarding an opponent within three seconds. It is penalized as a technical foul, and the offense keeps the ball (Rule 10 Sec. VII).
Five-second back-to-the-basket. An offensive player below the free-throw line extended in his frontcourt may not dribble with his back or side to the basket for more than five seconds (Rule 10 Sec. XVI).
Screen set out of bounds. An offensive player may not leave the floor over the end line in the frontcourt to set a screen (Rule 10 Sec. XIV).
Offensive player out of bounds. An offensive player may not leave the court without coming right back or keep leaving and returning, except for an injury, a throw-in or another unusual circumstance (Rule 10 Sec. XV).
Flopping. Listed in Rule 10 and penalized as a technical foul at the next neutral opportunity (Rule 10 Sec. XVII). See technical foul basketball.

List of basketball violations, the NBA five-second back-to-the-basket dribble below the free-throw line extended

NBA only. 4 is below the free-throw line extended and dribbles with his back to the basket. More than five seconds is a violation.

In the NCAA, NBA and FIBA books an illegal screen is a foul, not a violation. It is covered on illegal screen in basketball.

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Questions Coaches Ask

What are the violations in basketball?

The main ones are traveling, double dribble, carrying, kicking the ball, out of bounds, backcourt, the shot clock, the backcourt count, three seconds, closely guarded, throw-in, free-throw and jump ball violations, and goaltending and basket interference. The NBA adds defensive three seconds and a five-second back-to-the-basket rule.

What is the difference between a foul and a violation?

In the NCAA, NBA and FIBA books a violation is an infraction of the rules that gives the ball to the other team, usually with no free throws. In the same books a foul is illegal contact or unsporting conduct charged to a player, and it can bring free throws.

What happens after a violation in basketball?

The other team gets the ball for a throw-in. NCAA books use the designated spot nearest the violation, FIBA the place nearest the infraction, and the NBA usually the nearest sideline, with the midcourt line after backcourt violations.

Is goaltending a violation or a foul?

A violation. When the defense commits it at the opponent's basket, the NCAA, NBA and FIBA books award the points the shot would have scored.

How many seconds do you have to inbound the ball?

Five seconds at the NCAA, NBA and FIBA level. For high school, check your state association rulebook.

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