Double Dribble in Basketball: Rule, Examples and Calls

A double dribble is a second dribble after the first has ended. Rules by level (NFHS, NCAA, NBA, FIBA), what restarts a dribble, examples and how to coach it.

A double dribble is a second dribble after the first one has ended, and this guide covers what ends a dribble, when a player may dribble again, the penalty at each level and how to coach it.

A double dribble is a violation for dribbling a second time after the first dribble has ended. The dribble ends when a player catches the ball, lets it rest in a hand or puts both hands on it. After that the player may pass or shoot, and may not bounce the ball again unless a listed exception applies. The other team gets the ball. This guide explains the double dribble rule at each level (NFHS, NCAA, NBA and FIBA), the exceptions that let a player dribble again, the penalty, common youth examples and how to coach it.

Once a player ends his dribble, the next move is a pass or a shot. Teach players to decide before they pick the ball up.

Double Dribble in Basketball at a Glance

Question	Answer
What is it?	A second dribble after the first dribble has ended
What ends a dribble?	The player catches the ball, lets it rest in a hand or touches it with both hands at once
Who gets the ball?	The other team, on a throw-in
Is there a foul or a free throw?	No. It is a violation
When may a player dribble again?	After control is lost to a try for a field goal, a touch by an opponent, or a pass or fumble that another player touches

Double dribble diagram showing a legal sequence where the point guard dribbles, stops and passes to the wing

A legal sequence. The point guard (1) dribbles, stops and passes to the wing (2). The dribble is over, so the next move has to be a pass or a shot.

What Ends a Dribble

A dribble is movement of the ball by a player in control who throws, taps, rolls or bounces it on the floor. At NCAA a player may start it by pushing, throwing, tapping or batting the ball down, and may bat the ball in the air as long as it hits the floor before he touches it again. Each level ends the dribble in a slightly different set of ways.

NCAA men and women: the dribble ends when the dribbler catches the ball, carries or palms it, lets it rest in a hand, touches it with both hands at once, an opponent bats it, or the ball becomes dead.
NBA: the dribble ends when the player touches the ball with both hands, lets it rest, tries for a field goal, throws a pass, touches it more than once before it hits the floor, loses control or otherwise gathers it.
FIBA: the dribble ends when both hands touch the ball at once or the ball comes to rest in one or both hands.
NFHS: Rule 9-5 covers the illegal dribble. The exact current wording sits in the paid rule book, so check it with your state association.

The two-hands rule catches many youth players. A player who bounces the ball with both hands at the same time has ended his dribble. If he bounces it again, that is a double dribble.

When a Player May Dribble Again

A second dribble is legal when control was lost between the two dribbles for one of three reasons. The rule reads nearly the same at NCAA and FIBA. The NBA adds a condition to the first reason.

A try for a field goal. At NCAA and FIBA any try counts. In the NBA the try must touch the backboard or the rim.
A touch by an opponent. NCAA words this as a bat by an opponent. The NBA says an opponent touching the ball. FIBA says the ball touched by an opponent.
A pass or fumble that another player touches. In the NBA the pass or fumble can also touch the player's own backboard or rim.

Suppose a player dribbles, shoots and misses, and gets his own rebound. At NCAA or FIBA he may dribble again. In the NBA he may dribble again only if his shot hit the backboard or the rim. FIBA adds that throwing the ball off an opponent's leg on purpose does not restart a dribble.

Double dribble diagram showing a defender knocking the ball loose so the dribbler may dribble again

Legal in NCAA, NBA and FIBA. A defender (X1) bats the ball loose, so the point guard (1) may recover it and dribble again.

Fumbles and Loose Balls

A fumble is an accidental loss of control. At NCAA it covers a muffed pass between teammates as well, and any player may recover it. FIBA describes a fumble as accidentally losing and regaining control of a live ball.

NCAA also has an interrupted dribble. If the ball deflects off the dribbler or gets away from him, nobody has player control, and the dribble is not over. He can chase the ball down and keep dribbling. FIBA lists fumbling at the start or end of a dribble among the things that are not dribbles. Ask your state association how the NFHS book words fumbles and interrupted dribbles.

Officials decide whether the player ever gained control. A tap at a bouncing ball he never held does not end his dribble.

The Penalty for a Double Dribble

The call is a violation. There is no foul, no free throw and no warning. The ball goes to the other team for a throw-in.

NCAA men and women: the ball is dead and the opponents throw it in from the designated spot nearest the violation.
NBA: the opponents throw it in from the sideline nearest the spot, and no nearer the baseline than the free-throw line extended.
FIBA: the opponents throw it in from the place nearest the violation, except directly behind the backboard.
NFHS: the opponents get a throw-in. Since 2023-24 a violation that gives a team the ball in its frontcourt is thrown in from one of four set spots, so check the details with your state association.

Rule by Level

Level	Rule	Dribble again after a shot	Opponent touch	Throw-in spot
NFHS	Rule 9-5	Ask your state association	Ask your state association	Nearest designated spot, one of four set spots when the ball is in the frontcourt (since 2023-24)
NCAA men	Rule 9-7-1	Any try for a field goal	A bat by an opponent	Nearest designated spot
NCAA women	Rule 9-7-1	Any try for a field goal	A bat by an opponent	Nearest designated spot
NBA	Rule 10, Section II	Only if the try touches the backboard or rim	Opponent touching the ball	Sideline, no nearer the baseline than the free-throw line extended
FIBA	Article 24	Any shot	Ball touched by an opponent	Nearest place, not directly behind the backboard

The biggest split is the shot. The NBA needs the try to touch the backboard or rim, and NCAA and FIBA accept any try. Rules checked against the current NBA, NCAA and FIBA rulebooks in September 2026. High school rules follow the NFHS book, so confirm the details with your state association.

Double Dribble Examples

Double dribble diagram showing a point guard dribbling, holding the ball and dribbling a second time

A double dribble. The point guard (1) dribbles, holds the ball, then dribbles a second time. The referee ends the play and the other team takes the ball out.

Dribble, stop, dribble again. A player dribbles into traffic, grabs the ball with two hands, sees an open lane and bounces it again. A violation at NCAA, NBA and FIBA, and under the NFHS illegal dribble rule.
Two hands on the ball. A player dribbles, then pats the ball with both hands at once to keep it alive. At NCAA, NBA and FIBA the dribble ended when the second hand touched the ball. The next bounce is a violation.
Catch a pass and dribble. Legal. No dribble has been used yet, so the player may start one.
A defender knocks the ball away. The dribbler recovers and dribbles again. Legal at NCAA, NBA and FIBA because an opponent touched the ball.
The ball gets away. A dribbler loses the ball off his foot or hand and chases it. At NCAA this is an interrupted dribble and he may keep going.
Shot, rebound, dribble. A player misses and rebounds his own shot. Legal at NCAA and FIBA. In the NBA it is legal only if the shot hit the rim or backboard.

Double dribble is a different call from a carry and from traveling. A carry is a hand under the ball. Traveling is illegal footwork. Read what is a carry in basketball and traveling in basketball for those.

How to Coach the Double Dribble

Youth players commit this violation far more than older players, because they dribble without a plan and restart when they see a lane. The rule exists to keep the defense from facing a player who can dribble, stop and dribble again forever. Explain that to players, since it is easier to remember a reason than a rule.

Call it every time in practice and in scrimmages from day one, even when the stoppages are annoying.
Teach the decision first. A player who picks up the ball needs a pass or a shot in mind before he gathers it.
Sort the turnover by cause. A forced pick-up is a decision problem that film fixes. A bad gather or a hand placed badly is a skill problem that a drill rep fixes.
Drill starting and stopping the dribble, since jump stops and stride stops cause a large share of preventable turnovers.
Use small groups of two or three so every player gets every rep and nobody hides.
Teach the defender the other side of it. When the dribble ends, crowd the player with both hands up.
Put defense on the drill quickly. Ball handling that only works against air breaks down in games.

Questions Coaches Ask About the Double Dribble

What is a double dribble in basketball?

A second dribble after the first dribble has ended. The dribble ends when the player catches the ball, lets it rest in a hand or puts both hands on it.

Is it a double dribble if you dribble with two hands?

Touching the ball with both hands at once ends the dribble at NCAA, NBA and FIBA levels. The player has not committed a violation yet. The next dribble is the violation.

Is it a double dribble if the ball gets away from you?

At NCAA, a ball that deflects off the dribbler or gets away is an interrupted dribble, and he may recover it and keep dribbling. For NFHS, check the current rule with your state association.

Can you dribble again after a missed shot?

At NCAA and FIBA, yes, after any try for a field goal. In the NBA, only if the try touched the backboard or the rim.

Is a double dribble the same as a carry or traveling?

No. A carry is a hand under the ball, and traveling is illegal footwork. Each has its own call.

What happens after a double dribble?

The other team gets the ball on a throw-in. There is no free throw. The spot depends on the level, as the table above shows.

More calls like this one sit under Rules and Terms and in the Basketball Rules and Regulations guide. Related pages: basketball violations list, basketball fouls list, backcourt violation, free throw rules, how to dribble a basketball, ball handling drills and basketball terms.

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