Start here
Pick a team to follow, then watch the score, the clocks and the referee after each whistle. You do not need to understand every call immediately.
This guide uses FIBA’s 2026 edition, effective 1 October 2026. NBA, WNBA and NCAA rules differ. For a child’s match, check the organiser’s age-group regulations before applying these numbers. FIBA’s edition announcement.
| Watch | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Objective | Five players per team try to outscore their opponents. |
| Score | Free throw: 1; inside the arc: 2; beyond it: 3. |
| Game clock | Time remaining: four 10-minute quarters, with halftime after two. |
| Shot clock | Usually 24 seconds: release before expiry, then hit the rim or score. |
| Possession | A defensive rebound or steal switches attack; an offensive rebound continues it. |
| Restarts | Opening jump ball; thereafter, held balls use the possession arrow. After scoring, opponents inbound behind the endline. |
| Whistles | Out-of-bounds and travelling normally give opponents a throw-in. Fouls can award free throws. |
| Stoppages | Whistles stop the game clock; time-outs, substitutions and injuries interrupt play. |
| Finish | Higher score wins. Ties require repeated five-minute overtimes, not shoot-outs. Aggregate series have separate provisions. |
Read the referee
Raised fist: foul. Rotating fists: travelling. Both arms raised with three fingers each: successful three-pointer.
Five fouls exclude a player. Discipline uses fouls and disqualification, not cards. Replay is conditional on IRS availability and permitted situations. Official rules, Appendix A and Appendix F.
Listen for the foul category
Older commentary may mention an “unsportsmanlike foul”. FIBA’s 2026 edition replaces that category with disruptive and flagrant fouls. Technical fouls also have two categories: some count toward game disqualification and others do not. The referee’s classification matters, so avoid importing NBA terminology into this match. FIBA explains the changes.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Rebound | Recovering a missed shot. |
| Inbound | Throw-in from outside the court. |
| And-one | Made basket plus one foul free throw. |
When a moment puzzles you
For example, after a whistle, look for who receives the ball and whether players gather at the free-throw line. After a missed shot, follow who collects it before looking back at the scoreboard.
Explore scoring, personal fouls and free throws, team fouls and the bonus, or time-outs and substitutions. Check each article’s edition and competition label: the library includes older FIBA editions and other leagues.
Official sources
- FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026, v1.1.
- FIBA announcement of the effective date and principal 2026 changes.
- FIBA’s rules overview: distinction from NBA, WNBA and NCAA rules.
Rule editions and sources
- FIBA · Official Basketball Rules 2026, version 1.1 · Standard five-on-five basketball; ordinary single-game format. Excludes NBA, WNBA, NCAA, 3x3 and modified youth competitions. — FIBA — Official Basketball Rules 2026 v1.1, Article 12 (published July 2026; valid 1 October 2026)