Basic Basketball Officiating

• Basketball

  • It is played by two teams with five players each.
  • The goal of the game is to shoot the ball in the basket and prevent the other team from scoring.
  • It is played for four quarters with 10 minutes each.
  • The team who has the highest score wins the game.
• Playing Time

  • Basketball is played in four quarters with 10 minutes each quarter.
  • In case of a tie, a game shall continue with a five-minute overtime to break it.
• Beginning and End of the Game

  • The game begins with a jump ball made by a referee.
  • Inbound or Throw-in
  • occurs when a player passes a ball from the out-of-bounds area toward the court.
• The ball is live

  • after a jump ball;
  • during a free-throw, after the ball leaves the hand of a player; or
  • during the throw-in after the ball leaves the ball of the player.
• The ball is dead when

  • a field goal or a free throw is made;
  • the official blows the whistle for any reason;
  • the game clock signals to tell an end of a quarter or overtime; or
  • a player commits a foul.
• Jump Ball

  • signals the start of a game
  • The referee stands at the center line to toss the ball up in the air.
• Alternating Possession


  is the method used to make the ball live again rather than doing a jump ball.
• Goal

  • is made when the ball enters the basket
  • A free throw counts for one point.
  • A goal released in the two-point field area counts for two points.
  • A goal released in the three-point field area counts three points.
• Time-out

  • A coach or assistant coach can call a time-out
  • The time-out happens for a minute.
  • There are two time-outs during the first half and three time-outs during the second half.
  • There is also one allotted time-out for every overtime.
• Substitution


  occurs when there is a request for a different player to enter the playing court
• Violations


  infractions of rules.
• A ball is out-of-bounds when

  • it touches another player or object who is outside the court; or
  • it touches the backboard or any object above the playing court.
• Traveling

  • It is a movement of holding a live ball without dribbling it.
• Dribbling


  is the act of bouncing the ball on the floor
• Pivot


  a legal movement in which a player whose one foot is planted on the floor, tries to move the other foot once or more than once in any direction.
• Foul

  • It is an illegal contact made by a player during a live or dead ball.
  • For a player not to commit a foul, he or she must follow the cylinder principle.
• Cylinder Principle

  • It states that a guard player must maintain a cylindrical position when at court.
  • It is limited to the position of palms in front, the position of buttocks at the back, the position of outer arms and legs at the sides.

  
• Personal and Team Fouls

  • A player is allowed to commit five fouls in a game
  • Four team fouls are allowed in a quarter.
  • After the fourth team foul, the team will have a penalty
  • Two free throws will be awarded to the opponent instead of a throw-in, whether the involved player is in the act of shooting or not.
• Number of Free Throws Awarded

  • If a player commits a foul during the act of shooting and the shot is counted, he will be awarded one free throw.
  • If a player releases the ball in the two-point field area and the shot is unsuccessful, he will be awarded two free throws.
  • If a player releases the ball in the three-point field area and the shot is unsuccessful, he will be awarded three free throws.