Basketball Substitution Rules: When and How Players Can Enter the Game
Substitutions in basketball follow strict timing and procedural rules. Learn when players are allowed to enter or exit the game, how substitutions are made during dead ball situations, and what counts as a legal or illegal substitution.
Illegal Screen Violation in Basketball: What It Is, Common Mistakes, and How to Avoid It
Setting screens is essential to basketball offense — but if you move, lean, or crowd the defender, it could cost you possession. Here’s how to avoid an illegal screen violation and set smarter picks.
The Free Throw Penalty in Basketball: Understanding Team Fouls and Bonus Rules
Too many fouls? Get ready for free throws. In basketball, once a team crosses a foul limit in a period, the opposing side gets bonus free throws—even if no one was shooting. This guide breaks down how the bonus rule works, what "one-and-one" means, and how smart teams use foul management to stay in control.
Technical Fouls in Basketball: Unsportsmanlike Conduct and Game Control
Every team needs intensity—but discipline wins championships. This breakdown of the technical foul rule gives coaches the tools to train emotional control, model leadership, and keep their team out of trouble.
Unnecessary Contact in Basketball: When It Becomes a Flagrant Foul
Basketball thrives on intensity, but when force turns into recklessness, it’s no longer just physical play — it’s a flagrant foul. This guide breaks down the rules, penalties, and how to avoid getting ejected for going too far.
What Is the 5-Second Back to the Basket Violation in Basketball?
If you’ve ever watched a basketball game and suddenly heard the whistle blow during what seemed like a routine post-up move, you might have witnessed the 5-second back to the basket violation.
Over-the-Back Foul in Basketball: What It Means and How to Avoid It
You don’t need to foul to dominate the glass. Learn how to rebound with intensity and integrity by mastering what triggers an over-the-back call — and how to outwork your opponent without going through them.
Reaching In Foul in Basketball: What It Really Means and How to Avoid It
You don’t get beat by hustle — you get beat by habit. Reaching in isn’t about effort, it’s about control. Learn how to guard the ball without fouling, move your feet instead of your hands, and stay aggressive and legal on defense.
Blocking vs. Charging in Basketball: What's the Difference and How to Make the Right Call
Was it a block or a charge? That split-second decision can shift the momentum of the game. This article breaks down how to recognize the difference, what refs look for, and how to master the art of smart positioning — on both sides of the ball.
Shooting Fouls in Basketball: What They Are and When Free Throws Are Awarded
Clean contests win championships. This breakdown of shooting fouls walks through what constitutes a foul during a shot, how to avoid them without backing down defensively, and what every coach should be drilling to keep their team out of foul trouble.
Personal Fouls in Basketball: Body Contact, Pushing, and Holding Explained
Clean defense wins games. This guide to personal fouls breaks down exactly what counts as illegal contact—whether it’s a push, a hold, or just sloppy footwork—and shows players how to stay aggressive without giving up easy whistles or bonus free throws.