Basketball rules for beginners

The goal of the game

Two teams try to score by shooting a ball through the opponent's hoop while stopping the other team from doing the same. When time runs out, the team with more points wins. If the score is tied, many leagues add a short overtime period, but youth leagues handle ties in different ways, so ask yours.

In standard rules, each team has five players on the court at a time. Youth leagues sometimes use smaller teams, lower hoops or smaller balls to help younger players learn. These details vary by league and age group, so check with yours.

How points are scored

• Field goal: a shot made during play is worth two points in standard rules.
• Three-pointer: a shot made from behind the three-point line is worth three points. Many youth leagues use a shorter line or no three-point line at all.
• Free throw: an uncontested shot from the free-throw line, worth one point, awarded after certain fouls (including technical fouls for unsporting behavior in many rule sets). If a shooter is fouled and still makes the shot, the basket usually counts and the shooter often gets an extra free throw.

Moving the ball

Players move the ball in two ways: by passing it to a teammate or by dribbling (bouncing it) while they move. The rules about this are some of the most common calls in beginner games.

• Travel: taking too many steps without dribbling. A player who has stopped dribbling and is holding the ball must keep one foot in place (the pivot foot) until they pass or shoot. The exact rules for steps when gathering the ball or finishing a layup are detailed, and youth referees often apply them loosely.
• Double dribble: dribbling, stopping and holding the ball, then starting to dribble again. Dribbling with both hands at once is the same violation.
• Carrying: turning the hand under the ball and pausing while dribbling. Referees at younger levels often call this loosely, and it varies by league.

Many new players commit these violations just because they are learning. A good referee and a patient coach will treat them as teaching moments. For a look at who does what on the court, see basketball positions explained.

Possession and out of bounds

The ball goes out of bounds when it touches the floor, a person or any object on or outside the boundary lines. The team that did not touch it last gets the ball and throws it in from the sideline or baseline. After a made basket, the other team usually takes the ball out from behind the end line, though some youth leagues handle this differently, so ask yours. In standard rules, once a team has brought the ball across half court it generally may not pass or dribble it back across (a backcourt violation).

Some leagues and levels also use rules to keep the game moving, such as a shot clock, a limit on how long a team has to cross half court or a limit on how long an offensive player may stay in the lane. These rules vary by league and age group, so ask yours.

Fouls and free throws

A foul is illegal contact, such as pushing, holding, hitting a shooter's arm or running into a player. Officials also call technical fouls for unsporting behavior, which can apply to players, coaches and bench personnel. A player who is fouled while shooting usually gets free throws. If the foul happens on a non-shooter, the team often gets the ball from the sideline instead. Once a team has committed a certain number of fouls in a period, the other team may shoot free throws on later fouls. That number varies by league.

Players are usually removed from the game after a set number of personal fouls. The limit varies, so ask your league. Fouls are the area where new parents are often most confused, and the glossary in basketball terms for new parents helps.

Game time and how it is organized

Basketball is played in timed periods, called quarters or halves depending on the level. The clock usually stops for fouls, timeouts and balls that go out of bounds. How long each period lasts, and whether the game is split into halves or quarters, varies a lot by league. Many youth leagues also have rules about making sure every player gets to play, so check with your coach.

Once you know the basics, the best way to learn is to watch one game together and talk about what you saw. Our season preparation guide covers what to expect before the first practice, and the basketball hub has more.