The Most Misunderstood Basketball Rules Updated ...

[BillyMac]

A player who steps out of bounds under the player's own volition and then becomes the first player to touch the ball after returning to the playing court and has gained an advantage has committed a violation (exception for loss of team control or advantage negated by time). A player whose momentum causes that player to accidentally go out of bounds may be the first to touch the ball inbounds if such player immediately returns inbounds. That player must have something in, and nothing out. It is not necessary to have both feet back inbounds.

It is a technical foul for a player to leave the playing court for an unauthorized reason to demonstrate resentment, disgust, or intimidation. It is a technical foul for a player to purposely or deceitfully delay returning after legally being out of bounds.

To be out of bounds, a player must touch the floor, or some object, on or outside a boundary line. People are not considered to be objects, so a player inadvertently touching someone who is out of bounds (another player, a photographer, a coach, an official, a cheerleader, etc.), without gaining an advantage, is not considered to be out of bounds. A player is out of bounds if contact by a person outside the boundary line provides an advantage, allowing the player to remain in bounds.

A dribbler has committed a violation if they step on or outside a boundary, even though the dribbler is not touching the ball while they are out of bounds. Out-of-bounds violations do not apply to players involved in interrupted dribbles.

A moving screen is not in and of itself a foul; illegal contact must occur for a foul to be called. If a blind screen is set on a stationary defender, the defender must be given one normal step to change direction, and attempt to avoid contact. If a screen is set on a moving defender, the defender gets a minimum of one step, and a maximum of two steps, depending on the speed, and distance of the defender. Players setting screens must have both feet inbounds.

It is legal use of hands to accidentally hit the hand of the opponent when it is in contact with the ball. This includes holding, dribbling, passing, or even during a shot attempt. Striking a ball handler, or a shooter, on that player's hand (in contact with the ball) that is incidental to an attempt to play the ball is not a foul.

Reaching in is not a foul. There must be illegal contact to have a foul. The mere act of reaching in is, by itself, nothing. If illegal contact does occur, it’s probably a holding foul, an illegal use of hands foul, or a hand check foul. When a player, in order to stop the clock, does not make a legitimate play for the ball, holds, pushes, or grabs away from the ball, or uses undue roughness, the foul is an intentional foul.

The following acts constitute a foul when committed against a ball handler. This would include a player in a post position: Placing two hands on the player; placing an extended arm bar on the player; placing and keeping a hand on the player; contacting the player more than once with the same hand or alternating hands.

Over the back is not a foul. There must be illegal contact to have a foul. A taller player may often be able to get a rebound over a shorter player, even if the shorter player has good rebounding position. If the shorter player is displaced, then a pushing foul must be called. A rebounding player, with an inside position, while boxing out, is not allowed to push back, or displace, an opponent, which is a pushing foul.