Double Dribble
A basketball violation for dribbling with both hands at once, or resuming a dribble after having stopped.
Definition
A double dribble is called in two situations: when a player dribbles the ball with both hands simultaneously, or when a player ends a dribble by catching or palming the ball and then starts to dribble again. Either action is a ball-handling violation, and possession is turned over to the opposing team.
The rule keeps ball control fair and continuous — once a dribbler picks the ball up, they must pass or shoot rather than begin a new dribble. It is closely related to carrying, where the hand travels too far under the ball during a single dribble, and to travelling, which concerns the feet rather than the dribble.
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Rules
- Double dribbleA basketball violation for dribbling with two hands at once, or for dribbling again after picking up the ball.
- TravelingA basketball violation for moving illegally with the ball without dribbling it.
- Backcourt violationA basketball rule breach for returning the ball into a team's own defensive half after it has crossed into the attacking half.
- Two-bounce ruleA pickleball rule requiring both the serve and the return to bounce once before players may hit the ball out of the air.
- GoaltendingA basketball violation for interfering with a shot while the ball is on its downward path to the basket or above the rim.
Skills
- DribblingThe skill of moving with the ball under close control to beat opponents or keep possession.
- ReboundingThe basketball skill of gaining the ball after a missed shot.
- BlockingThe skill of using the hands or body to stop or slow an opponent’s attack.
- ShootingThe skill of striking or releasing the ball toward the goal or basket to score.
Techniques
- Crossover DribbleA basketball dribbling move that switches the ball quickly from one hand to the other to change direction and get past a defender.
- Volleyball SetAn overhead pass using the fingertips of both hands to place the ball accurately for a teammate to attack.
- Free ThrowAn unguarded basketball shot taken from the free-throw line, relying on a calm, repeatable routine rather than power.
- Chest PassA two-handed pass thrown directly from chest height in a straight line to a teammate, the most basic pass in basketball and netball.
- Jump ShotA basketball shot released at the top of a vertical jump, letting the shooter get the ball over a defender with a soft, arcing release.
Skills Academy
Tactics
- Fast breakPushing the ball up court at speed after a turnover or rebound to score before the defence sets up.
- Full-court pressAn aggressive basketball defence that pressures the ball across the whole court to force turnovers.
- Doubles formationHow a pair positions itself on court — one up, one back, or both at the net — to control space in doubles.
- Pick and rollA two-player basketball action where one player screens for the ball-handler, then rolls to the basket.
- Zone defenceA defensive system where each player guards an area of the court rather than a specific opponent.
Disciplines
- ÉpéeÉpée is a fencing weapon with point-only touches valid anywhere on the body and no right-of-way, so both fencers can score at once.
- ScullingSculling is the discipline in which each rower uses two oars, one in each hand, propelling the boat symmetrically from both sides.
- Sweep RowingSweep rowing is the discipline in which each rower handles a single oar with both hands, driving one side of the boat as part of a crew.
- CombinedAlpine combined blends a speed run with a slalom run, adding the times together so the result rewards all-around skiers across both ends of the spectrum.
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- Content updated
- 2026-08-04
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