The rules of sport
The fundamental rules that shape how sports are played — explained simply and linked to the sports they belong to.
Browse rules
Each entry is cross-linked to the sports it belongs to and the terms around it.
Backcourt violation
A basketball rule breach for returning the ball into a team's own defensive half after it has crossed into the attacking half.
Badminton serve rules
The rules for how a badminton serve must be delivered and where it must land.
Ball-handling faults
Volleyball faults for catching, carrying or double-contacting the ball rather than cleanly hitting it.
Direct and indirect free kicks
The two types of free kick awarded in football to restart play after a foul or other stoppage.
Double dribble
A basketball violation for dribbling with two hands at once, or for dribbling again after picking up the ball.
Drafting rules
Rules that govern when a rider or athlete may sit in the slipstream of another to save energy.
False start
A rule breach in a race when a competitor begins to move before the starting signal is given.
Foot fault
A serving fault called when the server's foot touches the baseline or court before striking the ball.
Goaltending
A basketball violation for interfering with a shot while the ball is on its downward path to the basket or above the rim.
Handball offence
A foul in football committed when an outfield player deliberately handles or controls the ball with the hand or arm.
Lane discipline
The rule that competitors must stay within their assigned lane in lane-based races.
Let
A call that stops a point and has it replayed without penalty, used across several racket sports.
Offside
A rule that prevents an attacker from gaining an advantage by being positioned too close to the opponents' goal ahead of the ball and the last defenders.
Out of bounds
The rule that a ball or player leaving the marked playing area is out of play and possession is decided at the boundary.
Penalty kick award
A one-on-one kick against the goalkeeper awarded when a defending player commits a direct-free-kick foul inside their own penalty area.
Personal fouls and free throws
The basketball rules covering illegal contact and the uncontested shots awarded when a player is fouled.
Shot clock
A timing rule that requires the attacking basketball team to attempt a shot within a set number of seconds.
Swimming stroke rules
The technical rules that define how each competitive swimming stroke must be performed and how walls are touched.
Tennis serving rules
The rules governing how a tennis point begins, including where the server stands and where the serve must land.
Three-hit rule
The volleyball rule that a team may contact the ball at most three times before it must cross the net.
Throw-in
The method of restarting football when the ball fully crosses a side line, taken by throwing it back into play.
Touching the net
A net-play rule that penalises a player for contacting the net during a rally in net-divided sports.
Traveling
A basketball violation for moving illegally with the ball without dribbling it.
Two-bounce rule
A pickleball rule requiring both the serve and the return to bounce once before players may hit the ball out of the air.
Volleyball rotation
The rule that players rotate one position clockwise each time their team wins back the serve.
Yellow and red cards
The disciplinary cards a football referee shows to caution or send off a player for misconduct.
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