FIBA 2026 · violations and ball control
Basketball violations: travelling, double dribble, time limits and backcourt
A practical FIBA 2026 guide to common violations: travelling and the pivot foot, illegal second dribbles, the 3-, 5- and 8-second limits, and returning the ball to the backcourt.
Travelling and the pivot foot
Travelling is illegal movement of one or both feet while holding a live ball. After catching the ball or ending a dribble, a player must respect the pivot-foot rules. A pivot foot may be lifted to pass or shoot, but the ball must leave the hands before that foot returns to the floor.
Dribble, double dribble and carrying
A dribble ends when a player touches the ball simultaneously with both hands or lets it come to rest in one or both hands. After the first dribble ends, a second dribble is normally illegal unless control was lost because of a shot, an opponent touching the ball, or a pass or fumble touched by another player. Letting the ball come to rest and then continuing the dribble is also illegal.
The 3-, 5- and 8-second limits
An offensive player may not remain in the opponents’ restricted area for more than 3 consecutive seconds while the team controls a live ball in the frontcourt and the game clock is running. A thrower-in has 5 seconds to release the ball, and a closely guarded player must pass, shoot or dribble within 5 seconds. A team must move the ball from its backcourt to its frontcourt within 8 seconds.
Backcourt violation and what happens next
After a team establishes control of a live ball in its frontcourt, it may not be the last team to touch the ball in the frontcourt and then the first to touch it in the backcourt. Most violations stop play and give the opponents a throw-in; they are violations, not personal fouls.