Basketball rules in five minutes
Rules baseline: FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2024, valid from 1 October 2024 through 30 September 2026. FIBA's 2026 edition becomes valid on 1 October 2026; NBA, WNBA, NCAA, and NFHS rules differ.
- Objective: score more points by putting the ball through the opponent's basket while stopping the opponent from scoring.
- Players, court, and equipment: FIBA play is five-a-side on a 28-by-15-metre court with two baskets; the ball, court markings, clocks, uniforms, and player equipment are regulated.
- How play begins: the opening period begins with a centre-circle jump ball; later periods and most held-ball situations use the alternating-possession throw-in.
- Possession: a team advances by passing or dribbling and must satisfy backcourt, closely guarded where applicable, shot-clock, and out-of-bounds limits.
- Scoring: a free throw is one point, a field goal inside the three-point line two, and a field goal from outside it three.
- Length and winner: FIBA plays four 10-minute quarters; tied games use five-minute overtimes until one team finishes ahead.
- Main violations and fouls: traveling, illegal dribbles, three seconds, shot-clock violations, illegal contact, unsportsmanlike fouls, and technical fouls cause possession changes, free throws, or disqualification.
- Restarts and penalties: throw-ins, free throws, jump balls, and alternating possession restart play; team-foul status and whether a player was shooting determine many penalties.
- Competition differences: NBA, WNBA, NCAA, NFHS, and FIBA differ on quarter length, court markings, foul limits, possession arrows, goaltending, defensive three seconds, replay, and bonus free throws.
- Go deeper: read scoring, traveling and the gather, fouls and free throws, timing violations, and the detailed pages below.