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Basketball Fouls List
Basketball ball fouls can be listed by category, of which there are personal, flagrant, and technical. Personal fouls can be broken down into all of their various types. Below you will find a complete basketball fouls list.
There can be slight differences in these rules based on what level of competition is being officiated. Calls are left up the the discretion of the referee. Youth, junior high, high school, college, and professional basketball all have the same general rules for fouls, although they may be interpreted and ruled differently. For example, youth and high school officials are much more strict and likely to give out technical fouls, while officials are more lenient at calling them in the NBA.
Categories of Fouls
- Personal Foul – A personal foul is the common foul in basketball. This is the usually foul that most people are aware of and if a normal foul is called, this is what they are referring to.
- Flagrant Foul – A flagrant foul is one that is considered violent in nature and is more extreme than the personal foul. It exists to discourage excessive violence and non-basketball movements. Depending on the level of competition, 1 or 2 of these may lead to an ejection.
- Technical Foul – A technical foul is assessed for non-physical reasons. The most common use of a technical foul is for unsportsmanlike conduct. It can be assessed to a player or coach. At most levels of competition, 2 of these leads to an ejection.
Types of Personal Fouls
Personal fouls are called when any illegal contact occurs over the course of a basketball game. The illegal contact is judged by the officials based off their interpretation of the rules. You are only allowed so many fouls in an individual game before fouling out. In high school, 5 fouls is cause for dismissal from the game. In the NBA, it takes 6 fouls.
Blocking – A foul called on the defender because they were moving when contact was initiated.
Charging – An offensive foul called because the offensive player made contact with a defender who was not moving.
Illegal Screen – Offensive players must remain still when setting a screen. A moving pick is cause for an offensive foul and turnover.
Pushing – Any push or movement that moves the opposition out of the way.
Holding – Grabbing or restricting the movement of an opposing player.
Illegal use of Hands – A general foul called for any time hands make contact with the opposition in an excessive way.
Hand Checking – A defensive foul for when the defender makes any contact or check that restricts movement of the offensive player.
Illegal Use of Elbow – Any unnecessary or malicious movement of the elbow.
Illegal Use of Legs or Knee – Any movement of the lower body that makes contact with the opposition and is deemed excessive.
These aren’t the only items that could be on this basketball fouls list, but these fouls are common at all levels of basketball. They may be ruled differently based on the crew of referees, but these are the common personal fouls that you could see at any basketball game. There are other rules and unique situations but those are based off of the individual governing bodies.
Photo By: daveynin
