Basketball Glossary

The point difference while a player is on the court, calculated as the team's points minus the opponents' points during that player's minutes. A bench player who scores nothing can still finish at +10. JudgeMate does not calculate plus-minus.

When the ball touches the ring and the shooting team gets it back, the shot clock resets to 14 seconds; if the opponents gain control, to 24 (Art. 29.2.7). An air ball recovered by the shooting team resets nothing. After a defensive foul or violation in the frontcourt, the clock goes to 14 only when it shows 13 or less, and with 14 or more it keeps running (Art. 29.2.2). A throw-in from the frontcourt throw-in line after a flagrant, disqualifying or disruptive foul always starts at 14 (Art. 29.2.6).

An arc with a radius of 6.75 m from the point beneath the centre of the basket, joined to two straight lines 0.90 m inside the sidelines (Art. 2.5.4). The line itself is not part of the 3-point area, so a shooter with a foot on it scores 2. A goal released from the 3-point area counts 3 points (Art. 16.2.1).

An attacker 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 (Art. 26.1.1). Allowance is made for a player trying to leave, for one inside while a teammate's shot is leaving the hand, and for one dribbling in to shoot. A player is out only when both feet touch the floor outside the area (Art. 26.1.3).

Three-point field goals attempted and made; 3P% is made divided by attempted. FGA and FGM count all field goals, two-pointers and three-pointers together, while free throws have their own FTA and FTM.

A player holding the ball with an opponent in an active legal guarding position no more than 1 m away must pass, shoot or dribble within 5 seconds (Art. 27). In FIBA basketball, starting a dribble ends the count.

A team that gains control in its backcourt must bring the ball into its frontcourt within 8 seconds (Art. 28.1.1). After certain backcourt restarts, such as a ball out of bounds, an injury, a jump ball situation or a double foul, the count continues with the time remaining (Art. 28.1.3).

A throw-in that replaces a jump ball (Art. 12.5). The team that does not gain control after the opening jump ball gets the first alternating possession throw-in. An arrow at the table points to the opponents' basket of the team entitled to the next one and is reversed as soon as that throw-in ends. The JudgeMate basketball scoreboard shows this possession arrow.

Defined in Art. 15 for two kinds of shot. On a jump shot it starts when the player begins to move shoulders and ball upwards towards the basket. On a drive it starts once the player has gathered the ball after a dribble or a catch and continues the shooting motion. The 2026 text adds that the shooter must be in the frontcourt, except on the last action before the game clock or the shot clock runs out (Art. 15.1.4). The number of legal steps taken has no bearing on it.

A team's backcourt is the half with its own basket and its frontcourt the half with the opponents' basket (Art. 2.3–2.4). The centre line belongs to the backcourt. Several rules depend on this split, among them the 8-second rule, the ball returned to the backcourt and the 2026 act-of-shooting rule.

A team in control of the ball in its frontcourt may not let it return to its backcourt and be first touched there by one of its own players, when one of them touched it last in the frontcourt (Art. 30.1.2). A player who jumps from the frontcourt, gains control in the air and lands in the backcourt is not penalised. The opponents get a throw-in in their frontcourt (Art. 30.3).

Everyday name for the team foul penalty situation. On the JudgeMate basketball scoreboard the bonus marker lights up with a team's 5th foul in a quarter, the first one that can bring free throws under Art. 42. Team fouls start again from zero each quarter, and an overtime carries on the fourth-quarter count.

A flat, hard rectangle 28 m long and 15 m wide, measured from the inner edge of the boundary line (Art. 2.1). A clear lane at least 2 m wide surrounds it, so the floor measures at least 32 × 19 m (Art. 2.2). The boundary lines are not part of the court. From 2026 the lines may use different colours, provided each pair of markings matches on both halves (Art. 2.5).

The referees are a crew chief and one or two umpires (Art. 46.1). The crew chief inspects and approves the equipment, designates the official clocks and the table officials, and tosses the opening jump ball. The crew chief also signs the scoresheet last, which ends the referees' connection with the game (App. B.12).

Appendix D ranks teams in a round robin by win-loss record, with 2 classification points for a win, 1 for a loss, including a loss by default, and 0 for a loss by forfeit (App. D.1.1). A new basketball bracket or league in JudgeMate starts with these FIBA rules, and the organiser can switch to custom points.

Dribbling a second time after the first dribble has ended (Art. 24.2). A new dribble is allowed only after the player lost control because of a shot, a touch by an opponent, or a pass or fumble that touched another player. FIBA reworded this paragraph for 2026 so that the three cases sit in one list; what counts as a double dribble did not change.

Two opponents commit personal, flagrant, disqualifying or disruptive fouls on each other at about the same time, and both fouls involve contact (Art. 35.1). Each foul is charged, no free throws are awarded, and the team that had the ball keeps it. If neither team had it, a jump ball situation follows (Art. 35.2).

A foul category introduced on 1 October 2026 (Art. 37). It is an illegal contact that does not reach the level of a flagrant foul but breaks up the flow of the game and puts the opponent at a disadvantage. FIBA names three cases: an unnecessary contact to stop a team in transition, contact to stop the clocks at the end of a quarter, and contact from behind or the side on a player heading to the basket with no defender in between. The penalty is 2 free throws; if the fouled player was in the act of shooting, 1 after a made basket and 2 or 3 after a miss. Then comes a throw-in from the frontcourt throw-in line. It counts as a team foul but not towards game disqualification.

Any flagrant unsportsmanlike action by a player, substitute, coach, excluded player or delegation member (Art. 39.1.1). The offender goes to the dressing room for the rest of the game or leaves the building. The opponents usually get 2 free throws and then a throw-in from the frontcourt throw-in line. A disqualified head coach is replaced by the first assistant coach, or by the captain if no assistant is on the scoresheet (Art. 39.1.2).

The last FIBA criterion. If no other criterion separates teams, national teams are ranked by the FIBA ranking and all other teams by a draw (App. D.1.3). JudgeMate neither draws lots nor uses rankings; a tie the rules cannot break is shown to the organiser, who sets the order.

A player who has committed 5 fouls and is no longer entitled to play (Art. 4.1.3, 41.1). The referee informs the player, who must leave the game straight away; the substitution may take no more than 30 seconds (Art. 19.3.6). On the JudgeMate basketball scoreboard, a player whose fifth foul is recorded against their number is marked as out.

An uncontested chance to score 1 point from behind the free-throw line and inside the semi-circle (Art. 44.1.1). After a contact foul the fouled player takes the free throws (Art. 44.2.1). A set of free throws covers every free throw and any possession that follow from a single foul penalty (Art. 44.1.2).

A team loses by forfeit if it is absent or cannot field 5 players ready to play 15 minutes after the scheduled start, if its actions prevent the game, or if it refuses to play when the crew chief tells it to (Art. 20.1). The score is 20-0 and the forfeiting team receives 0 classification points. A second forfeit in a tournament disqualifies the team and voids all its results (Art. 20.2.3). In JudgeMate the basketball walkover score defaults to 20-0, and the organiser can change it.

The second foul category introduced in 2026 (Art. 38). Together with the disruptive foul it replaces the unsportsmanlike foul of earlier rulebooks. It is contact that violates the spirit of fair play and exceeds a personal or disruptive foul by its nature or severity, for example a reckless or dangerous act or excessive hard contact. Free throws and the frontcourt throw-in follow as after a disruptive foul. Two flagrant fouls, or one flagrant and one category 1 technical foul, mean game disqualification (Art. 38.2.3).

A free throw counts 1 point, a goal from the 2-point area 2 and from the 3-point area 3 (Art. 16.2.1). A player who accidentally scores in the team's own basket gives the opponents 2 points, recorded for their captain on the court. Gaining control on a throw-in or on a rebound after the last free throw and shooting needs at least 0.3 seconds on the clock; with 0.2 or 0.1 only a tap or a direct dunk can count (Art. 16.2.5). The JudgeMate scoreboard adds 1, 2 or 3 points and can credit them to a player's number.

A team with fewer than 2 players on the court ready to play loses by default (Art. 21.1). If the team awarded the game is ahead, the score stands; otherwise it becomes 2-0 in that team's favour. The defaulting team still receives 1 classification point (Art. 21.2.1), one more than after a forfeit.

Goaltending is touching a shot that is completely above the ring and on its way down, or that has already hit the backboard (Art. 31.2.1). Basket interference covers acts such as touching the basket or backboard while the ball is on the ring, or reaching through the basket from below. If a defender commits either, the points count as if the ball had gone in; if an attacker does, no points are awarded. Defensive goaltending on a last free throw gives 1 point plus a category 2 technical foul (Art. 31.3.3).

A player is disqualified for the rest of the game after two category 1 technical fouls, two flagrant fouls, or one of each (Art. 41.4). A head coach is disqualified after two category 1 technicals for personal behaviour ('C'), or after three that came from the bench ('B' or 'BD'), one of which may be a 'C' (Art. 41.5). The timer informs the person by raising the GD marker. The JudgeMate scoreboard records personal fouls only, so it does not count technical or flagrant fouls towards GD.

FIBA's head-to-head rule. When teams finish with the same record, the games among them decide first, by record in those games, then point difference and then points scored in them (App. D.1.3). Next come point difference and points scored across all group games. Once a team is separated, the procedure restarts for the rest (App. D.1.4). JudgeMate ranks a basketball group in the same order.

Two games decided on aggregate score are treated as one game of 80 minutes (App. D.6). If the aggregate is tied after the second game, that game continues with 5-minute overtimes until there is a winner (Art. 8.7). JudgeMate has no two-leg option for basketball and no best-of-3, best-of-5 or best-of-7 series.

The crew chief tosses the ball between two opponents in the centre circle to start the first quarter (Art. 8.6, 12.1.1). A held ball is called when players of both teams have their hands firmly on the ball and neither can gain control without undue roughness (Art. 12.1.2). After the opening toss, jump ball situations such as a held ball are settled by alternating possession.

FIBA's rulebook for five-on-five basketball. The FIBA Central Board approved it in Berlin on 23 April 2026, version 1.1 dates from July 2026, and it applies from 1 October 2026. FIBA lists Articles 1, 2, 4, 15, 24, 36, 37 and 38 and Appendices A, B, D and F as changed. The Official Interpretations (OBRI 2026, v1.0, August 2026) show how referees apply the text.

If the score is tied after the fourth quarter, play continues with as many 5-minute overtimes as needed to break the tie (Art. 8.7). Basketball has no shoot-out. The JudgeMate scoreboard adds 5-minute overtimes without a limit.

A player's illegal contact with an opponent, whether the ball is live or dead (Art. 34.1.1). A player fouled while shooting gets 1 free throw if the shot goes in, otherwise 2 or 3 depending on where it was released. Off the shot, the fouled team gets a throw-in, or 2 free throws once the offending team is in the team foul penalty. The JudgeMate scoreboard has a single personal foul button, optionally tied to a player's number.

Points, rebounds and assists, the first columns of a box score. REB is often split into OREB and DREB, offensive and defensive rebounds. An assist is a pass that leads directly to a made basket. In a JudgeMate league the public table ranks players by points, and the organiser's dashboard also counts fouls, both taken from player numbers assigned on the scoreboard.

Personal fouls charged to a player in the box score. In FIBA basketball a player's 5th foul ends their game (Art. 41.1), while the NBA allows 6 before a player fouls out.

A game consists of 4 quarters of 10 minutes (Art. 8.1). Intervals of 2 minutes separate the first and second quarter, the third and fourth, and precede each overtime; half-time lasts 15 minutes (Art. 8.3–8.4). The JudgeMate basketball scoreboard starts with 4 × 10 minutes, and the organiser can change the quarter length and the number of periods.

The rectangle under each basket that players call the paint. Its side lines have their outer edges 2.45 m from the middle of the endline, and it reaches the free-throw line, which is 3.60 m long with its far edge 5.80 m from the endline (Art. 2.5.3). An attacker may stay in the opponents' restricted area for no more than 3 consecutive seconds (Art. 26).

The chronological column on the scoresheet where the scorer records each team's points, with room for 160 points per team (App. B.10–B.11). A diagonal stroke marks a field goal and a filled circle a free throw, with the scorer's number beside the new total. A 3-point goal is shown by circling the player's number.

Only the substitute may request it, by going to the scorer's table or sitting on the substitution chair (Art. 19.3.1). It is granted when the ball is dead and the game clock stopped, or after a successful last free throw. In the last 2:00 of the fourth quarter and in each overtime, the team that has just scored may not substitute unless a referee has stopped the game (Art. 19.2.5).

The 24 seconds a team has to attempt a shot after gaining control (Art. 29.1.1). The shot counts only if the ball leaves the hands before the signal and then touches the ring or goes in. If the signal sounds with the ball in the air and the shot misses the ring, it is a shot clock violation, unless the opponents gain immediate and clear control. The JudgeMate basketball scoreboard runs a 24/14-second shot clock that pauses with the game clock.

The official record of the game, described in Appendix B. The scorer prepares it at least 40 minutes before the start (App. B.3); at the end all table officials sign it and the crew chief approves it last. From 2026 every foul that counts towards game disqualification is circled. JudgeMate does not produce a FIBA scoresheet. Its scoreboard keeps an event timeline of points and fouls instead.

Appendix B gives each foul a letter. P is a personal foul, T a technical foul, DI a disruptive foul, FL a flagrant foul and D a disqualifying foul. A head coach's technical for personal behaviour is C, one for other people on the bench is B, and BD marks an accompanying delegation member. The number of free throws (1, 2 or 3) goes beside the letter, and GD follows the foul that ends a person's game.

Basketball is played by two teams of five players on the court (Art. 1.1). A team has no more than 12 members entitled to play, including the captain, plus a head coach and up to 8 accompanying delegation members, assistant coaches among them (Art. 4.2.1). A JudgeMate club tournament uses the same squad limit of 12 for basketball.

A 1-minute break requested by the head coach or first assistant coach (Art. 18). Each team has 2 time-outs in the first half, 3 in the second half and 1 in each overtime. Once the game clock shows 2:00 or less in the fourth quarter, a team may use no more than 2 of its second-half time-outs, and unused time-outs never carry over. The JudgeMate scoreboard counts 2, 3 and 1 but does not apply the 2:00 limit, so the table has to watch it.

Illegal movement of one or both feet while holding a live ball on the court (Art. 25). A player who catches the ball while progressing or at the end of a dribble may take two steps to stop, pass or shoot, and must release the ball before the second step to start a dribble. Falling and sliding with the ball is legal. Rolling over or trying to stand up while holding it is a violation (Art. 25.2.2).

A foul of conduct, usually without contact (Art. 36). Since 2026 it comes in two categories. Category 1 covers behaviour such as disrespect towards officials, taunting, faking a foul or excessive swinging of elbows, and counts towards game disqualification. Category 2 covers delays and administrative infractions, such as hanging on the ring, and does not. The opponents get 1 free throw, and play resumes with the team that had the ball. A player's technical foul of either category is also a team foul (Art. 36.3.1).

Every personal, technical, flagrant, disqualifying or disruptive foul by a player is also a team foul (Art. 42.1.1). After 4 team fouls in a quarter the team is in the team foul penalty situation. From then on, each personal foul on a player who is not shooting gives 2 free throws instead of a throw-in, while a foul by the team with the ball still gives only a throw-in (Art. 42.2). Team fouls in overtime count towards the fourth quarter, and those in an interval towards the next period (Art. 42.1.2–42.1.3).

The scorer, assistant scorer, timer and shot clock operator (Art. 46.2), joined at some games by a commissioner who sits between the scorer and the timer (Art. 46.3). In a JudgeMate tournament the organiser enters results by default. Teams can report and confirm group and round-robin results only when the organiser switches that on, and knockout results are always confirmed by the organiser. In a league, results are entered by the organiser and co-organisers. A referee with the match QR code can keep the score on the scoreboard.

FIBA defines a violation simply as an infraction of the rules (Art. 22.1). In practice the word covers the ball-handling, time and position errors of Articles 23 to 31, such as travelling, 3 seconds or the shot clock. The opponents get a throw-in from the place nearest the infraction, never from directly behind the backboard (Art. 22.2). Fouls, which involve illegal contact or unsportsmanlike behaviour, are covered separately in Articles 32 to 40.