Technical foul
A foul in basketball called for unsporting conduct or a rules breach not involving normal contact for the ball.
Definition
In basketball, a technical foul is charged for behaviour such as arguing with officials, taunting an opponent or certain administrative and procedural breaches, rather than for ordinary contact while contesting the ball.
The opposing team is usually awarded one or more free throws, and in some cases possession as well. Picking up technical fouls can also lead to a player or coach being ejected from the game.
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Rules
- Personal fouls and free throwsThe basketball rules covering illegal contact and the uncontested shots awarded when a player is fouled.
- 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.
- GoaltendingA basketball violation for interfering with a shot while the ball is on its downward path to the basket or above the rim.
- Foot faultA serving fault called when the server's foot touches the baseline or court before striking the ball.
Officiating
- RefereeThe primary on-field official who enforces the rules, controls play, penalises fouls, awards restarts, and blows the whistle to start and stop a match.
- ScorekeeperThe official who keeps the authoritative record of a contest — score, fouls, and statistics — usually seated at a scorer's table beside the timekeeper.
- Foul callA foul call is an official's ruling that a player broke a rule of contact or conduct, triggering a penalty such as a free kick, free throw or penalty.
- Penalty SignalA standardized hand or flag signal an official uses to announce a foul, penalty, or restart so players, teammates, and spectators can read the call.
Equipment
- BasketballA large, inflated ball with a dimpled surface used to play basketball.
- Football (soccer ball)A round, inflated ball used to play association football and futsal.
- Tennis racquetA strung frame with a handle used to hit the ball in tennis.
- Pickleball paddleA solid, flat paddle used to hit the perforated plastic ball in pickleball.
- Cricket batA flat-fronted wooden bat used by batters to hit the ball in cricket.
Positions
- Point guardThe point guard is basketball’s primary ball-handler and playmaker, running the offence and setting up teammates to score.
- Wing attackThe wing attack is a netball playmaker who feeds the ball into the shooting circle, moving through the centre and attacking thirds but not entering the goal circle.
- SetterThe setter is volleyball’s playmaker, taking the team’s second contact and delivering accurate sets for hitters to attack.
- CenterThe center is usually the tallest player on a basketball team, playing near the basket to score inside, rebound, and protect the rim.
- HookerThe hooker is a front-row forward in rugby who wins the ball in the scrum and typically throws the ball into the line-out.
Practice & sessions
- Technical sessionA session built around technique — grooving and refining the mechanics of how a movement or shot is executed.
- Conditioning sessionA session built around physical conditioning — developing the fitness qualities a sport draws on, rather than its skills or tactics.
- Tactical sessionA session built around tactics — how you use space, position and patterns of play, rather than the mechanics of a shot.
Adaptive sports
- Adaptive sport terminologyA plain-language guide to common, respectful terms used in adaptive and para sport — and why inclusive language matters.
- Adaptive sportsSport adjusted in its equipment, rules or format so that people with disabilities can take part, compete and enjoy it.
- Adaptive rulesAdjustments to a sport's rules — such as how a ball may bounce or how play is signalled — that keep the game fair and playable for everyone.
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- Provenance
- Tier A — evergreen educational
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- Content updated
- 2026-08-04
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