Rules of the Game
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Naismith's Original 13 Rules

International Court Diagram (PDF)

Official Equipment (PDF)

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RULE FIBA NBA NCAA
Duration of Game Four, 10 minute periods Four, 12 minute periods Two, 20 minute halves
Overtime Duration 5 minutes 5 minutes 5 minutes
Duration Between First-Second and Third-Fourth Periods 2 minutes 130 seconds not applicable
Length of Halftime 15 minutes 15 minutes 15 mihe nutes
Court Length 91' 10" x 49' 2.5" 94' x 50' 94' x 50'
Size of Lane 19 ' 8.2" x 19' 0.3" 16' x 19' 12' x 19'
Three-Point FG Distance 20' 6.1 " 23' 9" (22' in corner) 19' 9"
Shot Clock 24 seconds 24 seconds 35 seconds
Shot Clock Reset FG attempt hits rim FG attempt hits rim FG attempt hits rim
Back Court Violation 8 seconds 8 seconds 10 seconds
Game Clock Stops After Successful FG Last 2 minutes of 4th period and overtime Last 2 minutes of 4th period and overtime Last minute of second half and last minute of overtime
Player Foul Limit 5 6 5
Bonus Free Throw 5th foul per period (two FTs) 5th foul per period (one-and-one only) 7th foul per half (one-and-one) 10th foul per half (two FTs)
Number of Players Permitted On Free Throw Lane 5 (three defensive, two offensive) 5 (three defensive, two offensive) 6 (four defensive, two offensive)
Jump Ball Yes Yes Teams alternate possession after opening tip-off
Legal Alley-Oop Yes Yes Yes
Touch Ball On/Above Cylinder Yes No No
Closely Guarded For 5 Seconds Yes (while holding the ball) No Yes (while holding/dribbling ball)
Number of Referees Two (three can be used in competitions if the Zone or host federation wish to) Three Three
TIMEOUTS-GAME
Non-Televised Game 1 60-second in each of the first three periods, 2 60-second in 4th period 6 full, 1 20-second per half 4 75-second and 2 30-second per game
Televised Game 1 60-second in each of the first three periods, 2 60-second in 4th period 6 full, 1 20-second per half 1 60-second, 4 30-second per game; unused 60-second and max of 3 unused 30-second carry over to second half
Timeouts-Overtime 1 additional 60-second 3 additional full 1 additional 30-second timeout and unused second half 30-second timeouts carry over
Timeouts Called By Coach Player in game Head coach or player in game
Size of Basketball Maximum Circumference
78 cm (30.7")
Around channels
29 1/2" to 29 3/4"
Across channels
29 5/8" to 29 7/8"
Maximum Circumference 30"
Seams 1/4" Max.
Legal Jersey Numbers 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 All numbers 00, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 50, 52, 52, 53, 54, 55


Women's FIBA (International), WNBA, And NCAA Basketball Rule Differences
RULE FIBA WNBA NCAA
Duration of Game Four, 10 minute periods Two, 20 minute halves Two, 20 minute halves
Overtime Duration 5 minutes 5 minutes 5 minutes
Length of Halftime 15 minutes 15 minutes 15 minutes
Duration Between First-Second and Third-Fourth Periods 2 minutes not applicable Not applicable
Court Length 91' 10" x 49' 2.5" 94' x 50' 94' x 50'
Size of Lane 19 ' 8.2 " x 19' 0.3" 12' x 19' 12' x 19'
Three-Point FG Distance 20' 6.1 " 19' 9" 19' 9"
Shot Clock 24 seconds 30 seconds 30 seconds
Shot Clock Reset FG attempt hits rim FG attempt hits rim FG attempt hits rim
Back Court Violation 8 seconds 10 seconds No restriction
Game Clock Stops After Successful FG Last two minutes of 4th period and overtime Last minute of each half and overtime Last minute of game and last minute of overtime
Player Foul Limit 5 6 5
Bonus Free Throw 5th foul per period (two FTs) 8th foul per half (two FTs) On 3rd OT foul (two FTs) 7th foul per half (1-and-1) 10th foul per half (two FTs)
Number of Players Permitted On Free Throw Lane 5 (three defensive, two offensive) 5 (three defensive, two offensive) 5 (three defensive, two offensive)
Jump Ball Yes Yes Teams alternate possession after opening tip-off
Closely Guarded For Five Seconds Yes, while holding the ball No Yes, while holding the ball
Timeouts - Non-TV Game 1 60-second in each of the first three periods, 2 60-second in 4th period 1 120-second and 1 20-second in first half; 1 120-second and 2 20-second in the second half 4 75-second and 2 30-second per game
Timeouts - TV Game 1 60-second in each of the first three periods, 2 60-second in 4th period Same as non-TV game 1 60-second, 4 30-second first half; unused 60-second and max of 3 unused 30-second carry over to second half
Timeouts - Overtime 1 additional 60-second 1 120-second, 1 20-second; 1 unused 20-second second half timeout can carry over Any not used in regulation carry over plus 1 additional 30-second each OT
Timeouts Called By Coach Player in game Coach or player in game
Number of Referees Two (three can be used in competitions if the Zone or host federation wish to) Three Three
Size of Basketball Max. Circumference 78 cm (30' 7") Max. Circumference 29" -Max. Circumference 29"
-Maximum Weight 20 ounces
-Seams 1/4" wide max
Legal Jersey Numbers 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 0, 00, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 00, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55


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